Summary
Christmas falls in the middle of summer, so many Australian families serve a cold lunch – the usual table includes a glazed ham, cold prawns and oysters, salads and roast vegetables, with pavlova, trifle or cold dessert to finish; roast turkey and a plum pudding with brandy butter are still served in many homes, especially those with strong British roots. This festive spread is a key part of the Christmas food Australia enjoys.
Australia’s Christmas table is multicultural – many families add dishes from their own heritage, such as the Filipino Noche Buena feast of lechon, hamon and queso de bola on Christmas Eve, or Indian Christmas favourites such as plum cake, Goan sweets and Kerala appam and stew. These diverse options enrich the overall experience of Christmas food Australia.
Most Christmas food can be bought and prepared ahead – ham and prawns can be bought cooked, cold dishes need no oven, and many families keep the day relaxed with barbecues, grazing boards and make-ahead desserts that showcase the best of Christmas food Australia.
The classic Australian Christmas lunch
Christmas traditions in Australia share a lot with British, Irish and American ones, but the summer timing has produced local habits. The traditional lunch combines European dishes with food suited to warm weather.
Mains
| Dish | What to know |
|---|---|
| Glazed ham | One of the most recognisable dishes on an Australian Christmas table. It is usually bought cooked, then glazed and served cold, often with cloves, mustard, honey or pineapple. Leftover ham is often frozen for soup after summer |
| Prawns | Cooked prawns have become closely associated with an Australian Christmas, served cold with lemon and bread. Many families buy them on 23 or 24 December |
| Oysters, smoked salmon and other seafood | Often served as a starter or a seafood platter |
| Roast turkey or chicken | Still served in many homes, particularly where families keep an English-style Christmas, and sometimes served cold |
| Barbecue | A popular way to cook mains outdoors without heating the house |
Salads and sides
Two or three salads, roast vegetables, fresh bread and a grazing board of cheese, crackers and condiments are common. Because everything can sit out for lunch, the day is relaxed, with people moving between the table and the garden.
Desserts
| Dessert | What to know |
|---|---|
| Pavlova | A crisp meringue with a soft centre, topped with whipped cream and summer fruit such as strawberries, passionfruit and kiwifruit |
| Trifle | A layered dessert of sponge, custard, fruit and cream |
| Plum pudding with brandy butter | A traditional British Christmas dessert that is still served in many homes |
| Fruit mince pies | A traditional Christmas baked treat |
| Fresh summer fruit | Cherries, mangoes, berries and stone fruit are in season |
The pavlova debate
Pavlova is a fixture of Australian Christmas tables, and Australia and New Zealand have argued for decades about which country invented it. It remains a friendly rivalry, and neither side has settled it. What most people agree on is that pavlova suits a hot Christmas Day, which is why it appears on so many tables on both sides of the Tasman.
Why Australians eat cold food at Christmas
The traditional British Christmas dinner is a heavy hot roast designed for winter. In Australia, Christmas Day is often 30 degrees or hotter, so:
- Cold food suits the heat. Ham, seafood and salads don’t need an oven.
- Prawns and ham can be bought cooked, which saves time on a busy day.
- Fresh produce is in season. Mangoes, cherries and berries are in season around Christmas.
- Outdoor eating is normal. Many families eat under the shade or at a barbecue.
Beyond the classics: Christmas tables from home
Many Australians bring dishes from their own heritage to the Christmas table, either alongside the classics or in place of them. Two examples reflect communities in OrbitRemit’s corridors.
Filipino Noche Buena
Filipino families celebrate Christmas with Noche Buena, a large feast shared late on Christmas Eve. There is no fixed menu, but the table commonly includes:
- Lechon, roasted pig, often the centrepiece
- Hamon, a sweet Christmas ham
- Queso de bola, a ball of Edam cheese in red wax, often served with the ham and bread
- Pancit, noodles served for long life
- Filipino-style spaghetti and macaroni salad
- Lumpia, embutido and morcon
- Bibingka and puto bumbong, rice cakes also eaten after Simbang Gabi
- Leche flan and fruit salad
Noche Buena shows how Spanish and American influences blended into the Filipino Christmas table. Some Filipino families in Australia keep the tradition, adapting it with locally available ingredients.
Sending money home for Christmas
If you are sending money to family overseas for the festive season, public holidays in Australia and in the destination can add time to a transfer. OrbitRemit’s Help Centre gives settlement guidance in working days, counted after your payment reaches OrbitRemit. In 2026, Christmas Day is Friday 25 December and Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, with a substitute holiday in many states on Monday 28 December. Check your state’s public holidays.
- Check the estimated delivery time in your account before you confirm. Delivery estimates are not guarantees.
- Complete identity verification early, and save your recipient’s details in advance.
- Compare the total your recipient would receive, not just the fee.
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
What do Australians eat on Christmas Day?
Commonly a cold glazed ham, cooked prawns and other seafood, salads and roast vegetables, followed by pavlova, trifle or other cold desserts. Roast turkey and plum pudding are also served in many homes.
Why do Australians eat prawns at Christmas?
Because Christmas falls in summer, and cooked prawns are served cold, need no oven and can be bought ready to eat. They have become closely associated with an Australian Christmas.
Do Australians eat turkey at Christmas?
Many do, particularly in homes with English or Irish heritage and in cooler regions. Plenty of families choose ham, seafood or a barbecue instead, or serve a mix.
Who invented pavlova?
Australia and New Zealand both claim it, and the question has not been settled. It is served at Christmas in both countries.
What is Noche Buena?
The Filipino Christmas Eve feast, shared late on 24 December. It commonly includes lechon, hamon, queso de bola, pancit, spaghetti and rice cakes such as bibingka and puto bumbong.
Important information
This article is general information about food traditions. Traditions vary between families and regions. Transfer times vary by destination and payment method, and delivery estimates are not guarantees. OrbitRemit does not provide advice on exchange rate timing, and its exchange rate includes a margin, with the rate and destination amount shown before you confirm each transfer.
Related guides
- Christmas food in New Zealand
- How international money transfers work
- What does my OrbitRemit transfer status mean?
Last updated November 2026.
Sources: Wikipedia, Christmas in Australia, Christmas ham, Christmas dinner and Kidyo | Coles, Australian Christmas recipes | The Gourmet Pantry and Tandoori Kitchen, Christmas food in Australia (2026) | Asia Media Centre, Ten ways of celebrating Christmas in the Philippines | Asian Journal, Noche Buena: the Filipino Christmas table and its traditions, and The noche buena spread | The Better India, India’s traditional Christmas food | The National, The many flavours of an Indian Christmas (December 2025) | Foodies Only, The history of Indian Christmas | OrbitRemit Help Centre, settlement guidance by destination
