Christmas in Australia doesn't really feel like Christmas.  It's hot, for one thing. And my family isn't here.

But unique to my Christmas experience this year was a Midnight Mass at St. George's Cathedral in Perth. It started at 11:30 p.m., and finished at 1am Christmas morning. Dave's Grandma came with us, then stayed the night at our home.

The mass was interesting, but I didn't understand a lot of what was happening in terms of symbolism and ritual. It was a worthwhile experience, however.

Christmas morning we woke up and the three of us (David, his Grandma, and I) went to a Christmas morning service, followed by lunch at the his parents. David and I came home for a nap, which is when we opened presents. After the nap was dinner with the family, and the next day (Boxing Day) was lunch with the relatives. Followed by a nap.

We were wondering what traditions we would start from our first Christmas together, but we didn't do much outside of being with family, eating, and sleeping!