The Case for Heat: Why Cold Christmases Pale in Comparison to Celebrating in Summer.
If we have learned anything from the influx of holiday movies, ubiquitous decorations, and jingle bell-infused songs, it's that the popular narrative has decreed Christmas is a holiday best served chilly. So they say!
The powers that be in the top of the equator may have convinced the world, but that's only because they are without the inherent understanding we southern hemisphere folk possess: a warm Christmas is simply the better way. This season is stressful enough – regardless of temperature – but at least we don't have to contend with seasonal depression on top of it all.
Frosty Formative Years
And this isn't just an empty claim. I spent my entire childhood experiencing cold festive seasons. Despite my family originating in New Zealand, my father's career meant inevitable international moves. My younger years were scattered across the UK and the US, meaning every December brought early nightfall and a biting chill on my cheeks. The sole upside? The fashion choices; layering is inherently stylish.
In fairness, a cold Christmas has its appeal. It's time-honored, iconic, and the prospect of snow is undeniably enchanting. The cosy charm of a chilly celebration is hard to dismiss. Yet, with my extended family an ocean away, I always felt I was lacking an authentic celebration that not even the most decadent hot chocolate could make up for.
A Move to Summer
Everything changed when another move brought my family to Australia. There, I finally experienced a proper festive family affair, joined by more family for the first time. With a bigger crowd to entertain, my father got experimental in the kitchen, concocting a potent vodka jelly that left everyone reeling. We slept soundly that night.
This became our tradition for years – celebrating together with family and friends, complete with water gun fights across the table. That was, until my parents answered the call of a new job and moved to a notoriously chilly part of northern England.
A Revelation in Reverse
Visiting them for Christmas after a long absence, I anticipated a surge of nostalgic longing. Instead, I found myself yearning for everything that made a summer Christmas unique. Enjoying a cool drink in the sun. Noshing on piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a phone call away. Hot-pink sunsets stretched across the sky. In that moment, I was a summer celebration advocate.
"That summer heat eased the grief in significant ways."
This feeling was cemented after my father passed away. My mother decided to return home to New Zealand. The first Christmas without him was profoundly difficult, his absence felt everywhere. Yet, being once more surrounded by family under the gentle heat of the summer sun alleviated the grief in monumental ways.
A Self-Proclaimed Hypocrite
All this said, I must confess to being a walking contradiction. This year, I'll be spending Christmas during winter in South Korea, and I'm truly looking forward to explore Seoul in my fluffiest coat, hoping for a snowfall. The cold Christmas propaganda still has a slight grip on me!
Nevertheless, I'm eager to return home for another New Year's Day under the bright southern sun. Knowing my family – including a newborn nephew – will be close by as we enter the new year fills me with a joy my younger self always craved. Not even the deepest powder can compare to that feeling.
