Preparation and celebration of New Year begins in Australia from the middle of December. Australians celebrate New Year at work and at home with their friends.

As our compatriot, Armen Sargsyan, who lives in Sydney tells, even though residents of the remote continent celebrate New Year in summer – Australia is located at the southern part of the planet - they have fun no less than people in other parts of the world. People decorate Christmas trees in offices and houses.

 “Prior to this, each draws a lot with the name of his colleague, purchases a small gift for him/her, and puts it under the New Year tree. It is important, that the gifts are made with a humor. It is a common tradition. Christmas holidays are coming at around December 25. Many people prefer to go somewhere for a week,” said Armen Sargsyan.

For Australians, Christmas is a family holiday, to be met at home with their families. As for New Year, they spend it in noisy companies.

“By the way, there is a Chinatown in Sydney, and Chinese New Year is celebrated no less noisily,” said Armen. The most colorful show in Sydney on New Year's Eve is launching fireworks. People occupy spots in downtowns at all possible lawns from the morning.

“However, I haven’t seen any special decorations, like they are in Europe,” said our compatriot.

Armenians of the Diaspora mainly celebrate Christmas and New Year following the traditions, they had adopted in the countries they came from (Lebanon, Syria, etc.)

“As to the Australians, they like to grill shrimps at Christmas and New Year because it’s hot. They also cook fish and drink bear and white wine. They do cook turkey too, but shrimps are a more traditional Australian dish. As to dessert, they prefer mango and Pavlova cake, named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova,” he said.