We can hardly believe that it’s time to start gearing up for Christmas already! The decorations are out, the shops are closing late and hosts and hostesses are already trying to figure out what to serve on the day. No matter how you slice it or dice it- there’s no denying that Christmas always holds a special place in our heart and it always will. Regardless of your age, gender or ethnicity, you love all the colours, lights, songs, food and festivity of Christmas that live up to the idea of Christmas, as the best time of the year. Surrounded by family, friends, delicious food and presents make a quirky take on holiday, just a couple of days before Christmas.



At Stephen’s Fine Foods, we’re obviously crazy about Christmas and we’ve decided to go through what makes Christmas time so special. Yes, it can be stressful and busy at the best of times, but it’s an occasion we all look food to deep down.

Let’s take a moment to find out some of the reasons (out of hundreds!) why we love Christmas so much and why it’s unapologetically the best time of the year.



1. Christmas cookie baking with family member

Christmas is an occasion that compels us to take some valuable family time like no other. For many of us, this means making trips interstate and reconnecting with cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even immediate family. The time of year and the closing down of most businesses allows us to do this and these family memories are something you don’t forget, even as you grow older.



Rolling out doughs and baking delicious Christmas cookies with all the family members is quite of a voluntary ritual than a tradition. Nobody wants to miss the chance of baking cookies and to gobble down some raw yet delicious cookie doughs during this festive season- which they shouldn’t! Like really, even other time of the year do you get the chance to have such priceless moments with your loved ones followed by unstoppable joy and laughter?

2. Gifts

Any parent will tell you how amazing an experience it is to give gifts to their children at Christmas time; the delight in their faces as they unwrap there presents is simply priceless. Obviously the excitement you experience as a child in the lead up to Christmas day is really something special.



As we grow older, however, we seem to get as much pleasure out of giving a gift to a loved one as we do receive. The exchanging of presents is something that enables us to show our love for friends and family and pay them back for the kindness they’ve shown to us.

3. Grand Christmas cuisine

You can’t leave the five-course degustation of the most savouring and satisfying traditional Christmas cuisine out of this list! Although Australia shares both British and American traditions at Christmas, the warmth of summer requires unique culinary creativity when it comes to Christmas special cuisine.

In many families, it’s customary to take an afternoon nap after Christmas lunch. People usually have their biggest eating day of the year and after all that hard work it can be very difficult to keep your eyes open. Between multiple courses that may include seafood, pork, turkey and of course - the best part - scrumptious plum puddings for dessert, you’re well and truly stuffed after Christmas lunch!

Signature European and American recipes are added to the most awaiting Christmas dinner with, such as Christmas ham, Prawns, Christmas Pudding on fancy moulds, Pavlova, Mince Pies and so on.

4. Backyard cricket and pool splash

Playing cricket at the backyard with family and friends putting the Santa hat on is probably the most Aussie way of spending Christmas day while waiting for a “prawn run” during Christmas lunch! This is also a great festive day to soak up to the festivity to the fullest by getting into the backyard pool, laying back and having a beer with friends. So basically, you can have the most of your Christmas festivity and summer ecstasy right there at your backyard!

5. Holiday movies on a reel

Christmas in Australia falls under the time of the most anticipating summer vacation, Boxer’s day comes right after! So there can’t be an any better time to watch holiday movies on a reel to complement the festive spirits even more. There are a lot more reasons why Christmas is literally the best time to watch movies, especially when it’s the summertime. Watching all the Christmas blockbusters at theatres or drinking beer (instead of a hot latte) binge-watching holiday movies with friends and family- the charm of Christmas is truly out of the world!

6. Memories

Christmastime has a certain nostalgia associated to it that perhaps comes from childhood memories of the holiday. The scent of summer, the smell of the Christmas tree and carols being sung remind us of Christmastimes pass, particularly the excitement and wonder we experienced during this period when we were younger! Christmas has a way of reminding us of times passed.

7. Everything with carols, candles and wreaths

Since the significance of Christmas carol, wreath and candles are closely associated with the very tradition of Christmas itself. So most families and cities love to make their wreaths and hosting their own Carols by Candlelight with professional performers. Only in Christmas, you don’t just spread the holy Christmassy spirit everywhere through Christmas carol, but directly help people in need but donating the proceeds to the charity. These Christmas carols come with many other outdoor events like camping, outdoor movie nights, family pack picnics and so on!

8. Boxing Day barbecues

Boxing Day comes right after Christmas, so the best way to celebrate both is to host a special barbeque with a group of your favourite people. In open grounds or even at the backyards, pouring endless liquor, lighting the charcoal barbecue, glueing eyes on the Boxing Day test match update and debating over the next day’s match have been one of the most anticipating Christmas traditions tied to The Boxing day. On top of that, this is also one of the days when you make a big shopping list for crazy Boxing Day sales and prepare yourself to battle the crowd and squeeze yourself into the first queue, before the New Year!

Stephen’s Fine Foods is more than able to help you out with the dessert portion of your meal. We stock a wide range of Christmas puddings, Christmas cakes and Christmas mince pies and even hampers if you’re out of gift ideas! The best part is these delicacies can be enjoyed all year round, though there’s nothing quite like a pudding during the holidays.

