A Christmas tree in bloom

In Europe, we associate Christmas with cold weather and the smell of spices and pine cones. But what about when Christmas comes in the summer? New Zealanders have their own traditions, and these are not just about spending time at the beach. They decorate their own Christmas tree, the Pohutukawa, which has beautiful bright red flowers. These are popular decorations and often appear on Christmas cards. The Pohutukawa has been associated with Christmas since the 1800s and blooms from mid-December to mid-January.