Even though I have now celebrated Christmas in New Zealand more than half a dozen times I still haven't quite gotten used to it being a summer event. Call me old-fashioned but something about the northern hemisphere version just appeals to me more: the cozy outdoor Christmas markets with mulled wine, the iceskating rinks on public squares, homes filled with crackling fires, and landscapes covered in snow (certainly this year!). Having said that, I do really enjoy the festivities at V's family's house in Taranaki because they have embraced their own unique Curd traditions. First up is the annual morning Christmas swim, which involves all of us taking a dip in the invariably cool Tasman Sea. This year the wind made conditions even more chilly but at least the sun was out to warm us up afterwards (the bottle of Port helped as well!). 
After some drinks & snacks it was then time for presents, expertly handed out by our four-year-old niece Maddie. This year her speed was impressive because everyone's gifts were delivered & unwrapped in under five minutes! 
It goes without saying that food features heavily on the day's schedule and my favourite is without a doubt Pavlova, NZ's national dessert. There were two pavs on offer this time so double the feast :-).
For an entirely different but equally jaw-dropping vista we could walk to the front of the house, where Mount Taranaki keeps the watch. Combined with an evening soak in the outdoor spa pool & a few glasses of wine from the award-winning local Sentry Hill Winery, this Christmas Kiwi style certainly had its perks :-). How about you - what are your Xmas traditions? 
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