Canberra has welcomed its first Christmas Day baby for 2025, a beautiful girl who decided to make her entrance weeks ahead of schedule. Zolile Ganya-Jones was born at approximately 4am on December 25 at the Canberra Women's and Children's Hospital, bringing immense festive joy to her parents, Juanita Ganya and Hugo Jones.
A Festive Surprise Arrival
The newborn was expected to arrive closer to New Year's Eve, but had her own plans for a Christmas debut. Zolile is the first child for the couple and also marks the arrival of the first grandchild on her father Hugo Jones's side of the family. "They're very excited about her ... she'll be spoiled," a delighted Ms Ganya said about the family's reaction.
Ms Ganya expressed her particular excitement about having a daughter. "Since I found out she was a girl, I've been very excited to do little girly things," she shared. In a happy coincidence, the new mother's favourite colour is pink, which matched the festive spirit of the day, even though her hairstyle wasn't specifically planned for the occasion.
A Themed Welcome in the Maternity Ward
The antenatal ward was decorated with a charming candyland and winter theme to celebrate the season. Adding to the special welcome, one of the hospital's midwives had handcrafted beanies, which baby Zolile wore to fit perfectly with the Christmas celebrations.
The new parents had prepared thoroughly for the hospital trip, with snacks playing a key role in their go-bag. They packed watermelon and other foods when they began their journey to the hospital on Christmas Eve. "I feel like people don't have enough snacks or enough food," Ms Ganya remarked, highlighting their practical preparations.
Navigating Future Christmas Birthdays
With her daughter's birthday now forever falling on December 25, Ms Ganya is already thinking about future celebrations. While she admitted she wasn't entirely sure how she would navigate celebrating Christmas and a birthday on the same day in the coming years, she liked the idea of possibly spending time away or travelling to make both occasions distinct and special.
The couple's usual Christmas traditions, which typically involve enjoying trifles and cocktails at a friend's house, were happily set aside this year for the best possible reason. Mr Jones is a Canberra local, while Ms Ganya has moved back and forth from the capital but has called it home for the last nine years. With the arrival of Zolile, Ms Ganya joked about the new family dynamic: "Hugo is outnumbered now, as long as she needs me and can't talk back yet ... there's two of us."
The birth of Zolile Ganya-Jones adds a heartwarming chapter to Canberra's 2025 Christmas story, a gift of new life that her parents and extended family will cherish for all Christmases to come.
