Christmas takes place in the summer in New Zealand, but that doesn't keep "Father Christmas" from making his rounds in a flowing red robe with white trim. Taking advantage of the flourishing gardens around him, Father Christmas poses here surrounded by bright flowers as well as a sweet little lamb and a bag chock full of toys. Santa offers all his visitors the traditional New Zealand Christmas treat-Pavlova. This sweet and light dessert combines whipped egg whites and sugar. It's baked lightly in the oven and decorated with kiwi and strawberries, then topped with lots of whipped cream. In some New Zealand towns Santa makes two appearances a year--one on the actual day of Christmas and another in July, which is mid- winter in the southern hemisphere. This second Christmas allows New Zealanders who remember cold-weather Christmas dishes from other parts of the world to indulge themselves on turkey, roast lamb, and plum pudding. The New Zealand Christmas tree is called Pohutokawa, and it's decorated with bright scar- let-red flowers. While the tree and much of New Zealand's tra- dition fits with the nation's British heritage, the culture of the Maori people now influences Christmas as well. Maori spirits and creatures actually fit in well with the gnomes and elves Europeans associate with Christmas. BACK-LIMITED EDITIONS
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