Christmas Parade-Brisbane Style

The local department store puts on a parade and pantomime show every night for ten nights.  We decided to go and enjoy the Christmas spirit. I always love a good parade.  I like the actual parade, but come on pretty good people watching also.

The parade only went a half of a block.  This was the first "float."  I think they are trying to be like Macy's with the parade, but they have just a little bit of work to go.

They really did not have floats.  The parade was divided into three sections.  The first section was The Nutcracker. 

They did a great job telling the story of the ballet in a 5 minute span.  They had all the costumes, scenes, and dancers.  It really was neat.  

In between each section they had balloons.  Yes, do not worry, this parade was equipped with balloons.  They were just a tad bit smaller than Macy's, but hey Myer is trying at they really were neat.  I heard many kids say, "wow, look, they are so big."

The next section was the story of Christmas.  Do you see the problem in the picture above?  This picture was taken two weeks before Christmas, and Mary is already carrying baby Jesus.  Hey! they are leaving Christ in Christmas though.  Josh and I have really talked about this a lot.  Australia prides their self for being a secular country, but you never see Happy Holidays.  Everywhere you go, it is Merry Christmas.

It kind of is neat, even if they do not know it, they are celebrating Jesus.

The last section was none other that Ol' St. Nick.  He was pulled by real reindeer.  I thought that was a really neat touch.  I guess the other seven reindeer were resting up for the big night, but I was so glad we got to see two of his helpers.

The parade ended at city hall at the square.  In St. George square they had their pantomime show.

Now, I thought a pantomime show was a show with mimes, but it was not that at all.  It was a musical about saving Christmas.  When they first came out and started the show, Josh and I looked at each other, and started laughing.  Look at their outfits.  Come on you can't tell me you didn't have the same thought as us.  Our first thought was Mean Girls, their outfits were identical.

In Australia they still sing all the traditional Christmas songs.  I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Let it Snow, Jingle Bells, and all these songs about snow.  Well, it is never going to be a white Christmas in Brisbane.  I loved how they spun having a white Christmas in this skit.  They were trying to save City Hall.  They said it was freezing, and if it was frozen, no one could drive around, everyone would be stuck in their houses, and Christmas would be ruined.  The whole skit was about trying to make City Hall warm again.

Once Christmas was saved City Hall had an eight minute show, that started every fifteen minutes, on the front of their building.  The show was their rendition of The Nutcracker.  It was really neat.  Josh and I ate dinner around City Hall, and got to see the show six times.  

We really enjoyed the show, but the more we watched it we started talking about how camera phones really have changed our life.

No one could enjoy the show because they all had to get it on the camera.  We really, me included, need to remind ourself to enjoy the now, who cares if we miss something on our camera.  

We really need to appreciate every minute.  Merry Christmas!

What is something your town does for Christmas?

-EAT