When it comes to certain Christmas traditions not a lot has changed in 80 years. Crowds of shoppers still line the streets of our capital cities as they did in Melbourne in 1928 (Christmas Hustle and Bustle: Crowds Leave for Well-deserved Holiday on 22 December) and Santa Claus takes time out to visit children in hospital (Here Comes Santa, 1929).

Santa’s sleigh isn’t much use in Australia, where Christmas means sun, sand and summer holidays rather than snow. A young Mel Gibson went in search of Summer City with his mates in 1977. The Summer of 77 offers a female perspective on the time, as a woman in her 30s relives a painfully funny 'summer love’ from the same year (you can watch the short film in full on ASO).

Christmas is often a poignant time for those reuniting with families or mourning the absence of loved ones. Christmas Crackers (1945) celebrates the return of four sons to their family after serving in the Second World War. For others, 25 December conjures memories of the devastation that Cyclone Tracy wreaked on Darwin on that day in 1974.

In recent Australian films, Christmas is more likely to appear as an ironic backdrop to dramatic events than as a focus of celebrations. There’s not a lot of festive cheer in Boxing Day (2007), directed by Kriv Stenders before he made the much more upbeat Red Dog (2011). The Square (2008) transposes outdoor summer Christmas festivities with a dark story of adultery, crime and murder.

See all films, home movies, newsreels, advertisements, TV and radio programs on ASO tagged Christmas.

With best wishes from ASO for a safe and happy holiday season. See you in 2012!