Here in Perth, in this great southern land, the end of the year is actually the hottest time of year. That's why the mostly European winter-themed celebrations can seem so incongruous.

But there's one aspect of them that probably benefits from the hot, arid setting. And that's the Christmas Nativity play that is performed during the evenings in mid December in Forrest Place.

Haven't seen the production myself -- just passed the set during the day. But I suspect most of the action depicted is set in the middle east. So watching it on a hot summer night would actually heighten the experience.