For Australians in December, dreams of a “white Christmas” and roasting chestnuts by open fire are unlikely to be fulfilled. Instead, a December in Australia consists of warm days and outdoor barbeques.
In Australia, what would often be considered “winter months” like December are instead the “summer months,” filled with beach days and sunshine. However, the city of Sydney offers a special Christmas tradition that brings extraordinary Christmas cheer.
In December, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney becomes a magical Christmas wonderland through “Christmas at the Cathedral.”
Created by the Archdiocese of Sydney, “Christmas at the Cathedral” is a tremendous celebration, drawing thousands of visitors from Australia and from around the world.
A free festival, “Christmas at the Cathedral” offers fellowship, food, performances, and more. However, the main event is the animated light show that is projected on the outside of the Cathedral.
Electric Canvas is the company that produces this light show. Using over 30 million pixels, Electric Canvas creates beautiful images showing the Christmas story and symbols of Christmas, all sprawled across the Cathedral’s exterior. Peter Milne, Project Designer and Director, discusses this project.
PETER MILNE
Project Designer and Director, Electric Canvas
It’s turned into a really major Christmas festival in the city of Sydney. For our part, mapping the magnificent facade of the Cathedral is just a joy. It’s such a beautiful example of its kind of architecture in the city, and we just love working with it.
Milne continued to explain the process for the light show and the impact it has.
PETER MILNE
Project Designer and Director, Electric Canvas
You know, we put a great deal of effort into soundtrack as well, because we believe that soundtrack is a very very important element of the whole presentation it´s an immersive theatrical presentation, and that´s why we treated it its not a light show, its not just a projection. It’s an immersive experience, a theatrical experience for the people that come here.
“Christmas at the Cathedral” brings all visitors closer to the joy of Christ’s birth through the beauty and spectacle of the light show. It also provides a place of unity for people to celebrate Christmas.
Even though an Australian Christmas may be warm and without snow, that does not stop the people from celebrating Christ’s birth with joyous holiday spirit at “Christmas at the Cathedral.”
GS
