Victorians prepare for subdued festive period compared to other states’ restrictions
Carols and sitting on Santa’s knee is out this festive season as Victoria prepares for a quieter Christmas than the rest of Australia.
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Victoria’s scaled-backed Christmas celebrations are starting to spread cheer, despite other states enjoy more festive freedoms.
Christmas lights and even sitting on Santa’s knee will be absent from yuletide celebrations in Victoria, where just 30 people are allowed to visit a home, putting a squeeze on larger families’ Christmas dinners.
It’s one of the smallest limits across Australia, with Queensland and NSW allowing up to 50 people to visit and Tasmanians allowed 40 guests.
But families are hoping that could change on Sunday when the state government makes further coronavirus-related announcements.
At present, even a visit to Santa has to be a socially distanced event at Victorian shopping centres this year.
“Even Santa Claus is being COVID-safe this Christmas, so the only thing he will be spreading will be festive cheer,’’ a Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said.
The City of Melbourne’s festival hub in Federation Square will feature Santa’s workshop, instead of a grotto, where children can visit. “Kids will be able to chat to Santa as he tinkers away in his toy workshop and have a photo taken, but they won’t be close enough to give him a high five,’’ a council spokeswoman said.
At Dandenong Market, children can chat to Santa via Zoom this weekend.
Dandenong Market manager Jennifer Hibbs said kids could chat direct to Santa and Mrs Claus at the North Pole.
“We believe it could be a world first for Santa to be ‘Zoomed’ in to discuss your Christmas wish list and admit to being naughty or nice this year,” she said. Free sessions can be booked on the market website.
One tradition to beat COVID has been the Country Fire Authority’s annual Santa runs, which will go ahead in a COVID-safe way.
But the Christmas lights that have decorated the Boulevard at Ivanhoe for several years will not be illuminated. At another Boulevard, in Thomastown, a popular Christmas lights display at Antonio and Matilde Filippini’s home will also not go ahead.
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