"Dashing through the
In a rusty
Kicking up the in the by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It's summer time and I am in
My , shorts & .
Oh, Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Christmas in Australia
On a summer's day
Jingle bells, Jingle bells
Christmas time is
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty...."
In the southern hemisphere, Christmas falls during the summer season. While the well-known traditional carols are still sung here in Australia, the vibe doesn't really feel right to sing of snow while sweating in 30 degree heat (or more). In 1992, Australian singer and song writer Colin Buchanan wrote an Aussie version of the famous carol "Jingle Bells" which better suited an Aussie Christmas day. The song has since become a classic and is popular at end of school concerts, with the school year end being just before Christmas.
Some of the words used in the carol are common Aussie slang and explained below:
-The bush - Colloquially, this term is used for rural areas beyond the coastal region.
-Holden Ute - This is a classic Australian car. Holden was the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. Ute is slang for a utility vehicle or pickup truck.
-Esky - A food cooler or ice box
-Boot - The trunk of a car, same as in UK English.
-Kelpie - Cattle dog
-Thongs - Not what you think! In Australia, flip flops (light sandals) are called thongs.
-Beaut - Slang for beautiful
The 2nd verse finishes with a typical Aussie Christmas lunch - a barbie (barbeque).
"Engine's getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboard (*Swaggy is short for swagman, a travelling labourer*)
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbecue!"
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
