National Gravy Day: The Day Aussies Officially Declare “Shit Yeah, It’s Christmas!”

Sandy Shores | Editor in Chief | Sutherland Shire Gazette

21 December 2025

The unmistakable smell of sizzling gravy wafted across the Sutherland Shire this morning as locals embraced December 21 — National Gravy Day — a uniquely Aussie holiday inspired by Paul Kelly’s iconic ballad How to Make Gravy. Forget sleigh bells or snow; this is the day Australians unite over meat juices and flour, raising a collective toast to the start of the real festive season.

“It’s not Christmas until someone yells, ‘Sh*t yeah, it’s Christmas!’ while holding a jug of gravy,” declared Jacko O’Neill from Kirrawee, proudly brandishing his grandmother’s battered saucepan. “This is the one day we’re all on the same page, whether you’re a fancy turkey-gravy person or just microwaving Gravox for your chips.”

The Shire’s cafes have gone all in on the theme, with “Gravy Lattes” popping up at hotspots in Cronulla and Engadine. Local barista Ella Maree laughed, “Honestly, it’s just coffee with a beef stock cube. People love it. Someone even asked for oat milk with theirs.”

Across Facebook groups like @EverythingSutherlandShire, the gravy fever has hit new heights, with heated debates over the best thickening methods and whether Paul Kelly deserves an Order of Australia for his contribution to festive spirit. “The man turned gravy into a national symbol,” one commenter posted. “I get emotional every time I hear that song. It's like a hymn for our people.”

Even Sutherland Council has joined in the fun, erecting a 20-foot gravy boat in the town square and declaring free sausage rolls and gravy for all. Mayor Jack Boyd said, “It’s about time we gave Gravy Day the recognition it deserves. It’s not just a sauce, it’s a way of life.”

As the sun sets over the Shire, Paul Kelly’s anthem echoes from backyard BBQs and beachside picnics. Whether they’re stirring up a homemade batch or pouring straight from a packet, locals agree on one thing: today is the day Aussies remind themselves, and the world, that nothing says Christmas quite like gravy.