On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 09:59:03PM +0000, Phil Pugliese (via tml list) wrote:
> I've read a lot about how it came to be that students in the
> northern hemisphere get a break from school during the summer
> butI've always wondered about european-influenced societies in the
> southern hemisphere.Frankly, I don't even know what sort schedule
> schools follow 'down under'.  Would anyone care to elaborate?

Schools generally have a long break for the summer, typically 8-12
weeks.  Usually starting just before Christmas Day for primary
schools, or (from the point of view of students) a few weeks earlier
for high school and universities where exams need to be marked.
Classes generally resume in February.  There are a few smaller breaks
during the rest of the year.

We do carry over a few traditions like giving christmas cards in full
summer with lots of pictures of snow, singing carols with words full
of wintry descriptions, decorations of non-native trees (or replicas
of them), and eating and drinking some foods and drinks more
appropriate to winter than the heat of summer.

- Tim