Christmas, Melbourne

A Melbourne Christmas – 2022

My mind gently wanders back to the times I found myself in places like Mainz (Germany), London (England) and Pistoia (Italy) for the holidays. The magic and lights of a Northern Hemisphere Christmas never seizes to astound me, but this year I’m preparing to celebrate at home yet again in Melbourne, Australia – during summer!

Melbourne has truly come through with the decorations this year. From the row of pink Christmas crackers lining the harbour at Docklands, to the iconic Nutcrackers standing proud at Melbourne Town Hall in front of the highly-entertaining singing reindeers and the traditional Myer Christmas windows pulling in the crowds, there is no shortage of fun to be had no matter your age.

Something new that I discovered this year was the immaculate building at 333 Collins Street. Stepping in from the street you immediately feel like you’ve gone back in time when this used to be the banking hall of the former Commercial Bank of Australia. Built between 1891-93, during the holidays there’s a sparkling tree in the centre and decorations to rival New York City or London. I highly recommend a visit there if you’re visiting Melbourne or perhaps you’re a local like me and have never heard of this place before. It’s magical!

Federation Square is Melbourne’s favourite meeting spot and every year its famous 16-metre tall Christmas tree stands front and centre, looking extra impressive as night falls. The Evan Walker Bridge is back with its golden star and this year the Southbank area is filled with attractions for children big and small including a festive playground, illuminated dance floor and poetic flowers in motion. Pop in to the The Block Arcade and see the most photographed cake window display in Australia at Hopetoun Tea Rooms and don’t forget to visit Melbourne’s famous laneways like Degraves St to see it sparkling at night. You’ll also find building projections on The Forum and the Town Hall creating a really cool vibe in the evening.

Of course there’s so much more to see and do in Melbourne! I would also suggest a visit to Crown Casino and a walk along the Yarra River towards Birrarung Marr for the Christmas Carnival. The atmosphere of a summer Christmas is different but still electric as long as you’re willing to seek out the places that inspire you. Wishing you all a wonderful festive season, wherever in the world you may be!

Christmas, Latest News, Markets

Christmas Events

Sorry for the lack of updates on here, dear friends. Somehow time just got the better of me.

I’m excited to share that this month, the very last in 2017, we’ll be at two Christmas events in Melbourne where you can buy our products. The first is happening this Sunday December 10th, at Sir William Fry Reserve in Highett. The event is called Carols by Kingston and for the first time we’ll be selling from inside a marquee!

We’ve been super busy getting everything ready for what promises to be a very exciting night filled with handmade goodies, gourmet food, cheerful carols and celebrity appearances. Please come along if you can! We’ll be there from 6.30pm until 10pm.

These are just a handful of products that you could expect to find when you shop at our stall. Your support means the world to us and we always get such a kick from interactive directly with our customers.

The second event this month is happening at Clarinda Community Centre on Friday 15th of December from 5pm – 9pm as a twilight Christmas market. We’re just as excited to be part of this smaller event.

Hope to see you at one of these great events soon! Have a lovely weekend!

Naira

Celebrations, Christmas

Christmas Snapshots – Melbourne

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The festive season is just around the corner and the streets of Melbourne have been tastefully decorated for the celebration. I must admit that I prefer the Northern Hemisphere traditional type of Christmas experience with snow dusting the streets, markets gracing town squares and the scents of cinnamon and roasting chestnuts filling the air. It’s such a beautiful time of year. In Australia however, we celebrate Christmas in summer and this mostly involves a trip to the beach and family gatherings over a backyard barbecue.

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There’s a wonderful Christmas tradition in our department store Myer which has been going since 1956. Animated Christmas Windows at their Bourke St. Mall store bring the magic of the holiday season to life like nothing else. It’s always wonderful seeing families with children lining the street to peek into windows and to hear a story along with moving characters and sets. This year they’ve brought to life a children’s book called “One Christmas Eve” by Corinne Fenton with illustrations by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. It took the team 40 weeks of total production time and 25 days to install the windows, and the result speaks for itself.

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Christmas is such a magical time of year, even without snow and cinnamon and Christmas markets!

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We hope everyone has a splendid time in the lead-up to Christmas. Don’t forget, our Mishka Mail monthly subscription club is taking sign-ups until the 11th of December and the last theme for 2016 is “Summer Vibes”.

Christmas, Travel

Melbourne at Christmas Time

For many people it’s extremely unusual to think about celebrating Christmas in the summer but for us Aussies, it’s what we do best. The streets of Melbourne are currently decorated in the traditional colours of Christmas and unlike our US/European friends, we can roam the streets in our T-shirts, indulge in ice-cream and go for a swim at the beach. While I prefer the traditional Christmas of snowy streets and warm homes filled with the scent of mulled wine and cinnamon, and the option of buying gifts at hearty Christmas markets, in many ways we are truly blessed to have our end of year holidays during the summer and a great atmosphere of Christmas cheer on the streets.

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Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Just wanted to get in early and wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I don’t usually feature in my posts but I thought I’d try something different and mix things up! Wishing you and your families lots of joy, laughter, happy times and peace. Stay safe. Be merry. Celebrate happily.
See you all in a little while.

Naira
Xoxo

Christmas

Merry Christmas!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

We’d like to wish you and your families a happy, safe and blissful Christmas Day! Thank you blog visitors for your continued support and a special thank you to all our customers in the UK and Australia this year, you’re all brilliant!

I bought this angel Christmas tree decoration in the UK last year to send to my family in Melbourne. When they’d hang it up on their tree it would feel like a part of me was there with them. This year I’m back home for Christmas and it’s lovely to see this angel with my own eyes again. Isn’t she beautiful?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas