"We're doing a … and there's nothing Spanish about us," says chef and food tour host at Victoria's Dandenong Market, about their family's celebration plans for Christmas in Australia.
Hollands and his partner Leana Nguyen have very different Christmas experiences and meal traditions. Hollands, of English heritage, was born and raised in Japan and moved here in 1983, while Nguyen arrived in Australia from Vietnam in 1980.
The paella idea has stemmed from the shared plate style of dining Nguyen brought from her Vietnamese culture, in which most of their meals – not just at Christmas – involve shared plates, including . Share plates such as colourful have found their way to the Christmas table. "To me, it's communal, nearly bordering on a hot pot, right? It's inclusive. I think it meets somewhere in the middle for us," he says.
Meanwhile, Tim grew up in Japan. "I've never had a European traditional style Christmas." Together, Hollands and Nguyen have created their own, unique Christmas food traditions, which they describe as 'simple' and doesn't necessarily conform to a traditional festive meal of .
Credit: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
The challenges of multicultural Christmas celebrations
It's not always smooth sailing though. Kristy Tse, psychotherapist and founder of , says multicultural families can experience unique challenges during Christmas mealtimes due to diverse traditions and dietary preferences. "It's important to foster open communication where each can express what aspects of their cultural heritage they want to incorporate. A helpful approach is to create a menu that celebrates the culinary diversity, allowing everyone to introduce a dish significant to their culture."
April Benjamin, a psychologist at agrees saying, "Everyone could share the history of their dish during the meal or share an important cultural Christmas tradition."
"As well as being an opportunity to try dishes they may not usually consider, it's important to ask questions and show genuine interest in the traditions and preferences of others — it's a great way to learn and connect," adds Costa Vasili, founder and CEO of , a multicultural communications agency.
Everyone could share the history of their dish during the meal or share an important cultural Christmas tradition.
A practical way to do that is with clear communication. According to , "If large numbers of people are involved, using an online platform to communicate and make decisions may be helpful, as can having a dedicated person or two to coordinate the day.
"And, when there are mealtime rituals and processes, it is important to take the time in advance to explain these to those less familiar with them."
Tse suggests sharing the workload. "Encouraging shared cooking activities can not only ease the workload but also build mutual appreciation for each tradition," she says.
Christmas culture in Australia in one word - BBQ
Christmas in Australia is synonymous with barbecues, and they can also be a great way to incorporate different types of food easily.
Vasili says, "As a second-generation Greek-Cypriot Australian, my Christmas also includes relatives from Anglo-Saxon, Italian and Armenian backgrounds. A tradition we embrace is the includes Cypriot favourites like (a traditional Cypriot sausage) alongside Australian classics like prawns and turkey. It brings everyone together, creating a relaxed and festive atmosphere that highlights the best of a range of cultures."
Australia-born Creed Van Ryt, who has Dutch ancestry, and his German wife Anna, also love combining Christmas traditions. "As someone who grew up immersed in classic Australian holiday traditions, joining my wife’s German family traditions at Christmas has added a whole new layer to our celebrations," he says.
"I find myself balancing the Australian seafood and backyard BBQ, in contrast with the European warmth of stollen and homemade gingerbread from my wife's childhood. We have to work around language and cultural nuances, making sure that each dish speaks to a memory from both sides.
Creed Van Ryt's children enjoy celebrating Christmas with blended traditions
Not all children are that open to different types of food that may be different from, say, what their friends are eating, however.
According to Hollands, "The third generation is not as receptive to Lena's mum's traditional , so we also have simple foods such as spring rolls. The kids are really comfortable around sausage rolls and pies."
It’s not just about the food, but about sharing stories from each side.
He would love to incorporate a communal Asian-style into Christmas, but he says the kids might not be ready for it yet, and need to learn more about it first. "But I reckon that's going to be definitely on the family table at some point."
At the end of the day, it is important that everyone feels included. Tse sums it up saying, "The goal is to create a space of acceptance and joy where everyone feels seen and celebrated during the holiday season."
