Christmas south of the Equator means... hot summer nights, city crowds, last-minute shopping; the holly and the wreaths emerge from the shadows once again. Entertaining neighbours, family and friends; long lines at the liquor outlets. Here in Melbourne, Australia's second city, a visit to the Myer department store windows in Bourke Street downtown is part of the seasonal ritual for young families. Many city dwellers head for the seaside or the hill country soon after Christmas Day, and the metropolis remains eerily quiet until mid-January.