"Mum made a pav for Christmas."
Where "Pavlova" Comes From
Named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s, with the meringue dessert reportedly created in her honour, said to be as light as her dancing.
Its true country of origin is a long-running, good-natured rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, with both nations claiming the "pav" as their own.
How Aussies Actually Use It
A staple of Christmas and celebratory spreads, usually shortened to "pav" in everyday conversation — "Mum made a pav for Christmas" is an incredibly common summertime sentence.
It's typically topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, with the crisp-outside, marshmallowy-inside texture being the whole point of a well-made one.
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