Christmas lights? Aurora borealis - greens and reds.
coupled with the Röd flugsvamp of Sweden (fly agaric in English) hallucinogenic mushroom, red with white spots, eaten by Scandinavian deer and used by Vikings in their beer - no wonder Santa Clause, dressed in red and white trim, had a flying sleigh pulled by deer.
There are many myths surrounding the northern solstice. Perhaps this lack of a corresponding mythology in Aus is why we so fully adopt the northern celebrations.
