The Case for Heat: The Argument Against Frosty Festivities Are a Feeble Imitation to Celebrating in Summer.
If we have gleaned anything from the deluge of holiday movies, mass-produced decorations, and jingle bell-infused songs, it's that the popular narrative has decreed Christmas is a holiday best served frosty. So they say!
The powers that be residing above the equator may have convinced the world, but that's only because they lack the innate knowledge we southern hemisphere folk possess: a sun-drenched 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 enduring cold festive seasons. Despite my family hailing from New Zealand, my father's career led to inevitable international moves. My younger years were spent in the UK and the US, meaning every December brought dark skies by 4pm and a biting chill on my cheeks. The sole upside? The fashion choices; bundling up is inherently stylish.
In all honesty, a cold Christmas has its charms. It's time-honored, classic, and the prospect of snow is undeniably enchanting. The cosy charm of a chilly celebration is hard to disregard. Yet, with my extended family on the other side of the world, I always felt I was missing out an authentic celebration that not even the most decadent hot chocolate could replicate.
The Southern Shift
Everything changed when another move brought my family to Australia. There, I finally experienced a full festive family affair, joined by extended relatives for the first time. With a bigger crowd to entertain, my father got experimental in the kitchen, concocting a heavily marinated vodka jelly that was famously strong. We slept soundly that night.
This became our routine 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 particularly cold part of northern England.
Nostalgia's Surprise
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. Feasting upon piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a phone call away. Hot-pink sunsets painting the sky. In that moment, I was a summer celebration advocate.
"The warmth eased the grief in significant ways."
This feeling was reinforced after my father passed away. My mother decided to return home to New Zealand. The first Christmas without him was incredibly tough, his absence felt everywhere. Yet, being once more surrounded by family under the soft warmth of the summer sun helped ease the grief in monumental ways.
A Self-Proclaimed Hypocrite
All this said, I readily admit to being a walking contradiction. This year, I'll be spending Christmas during winter in South Korea, and I'm genuinely excited to explore Seoul in my fluffiest coat, hoping for a snowfall. The cold Christmas propaganda still has a slight grip on me!
Still, I'm keen to return home for another New Year's Day under the bright southern sun. Knowing my family – including a newborn nephew – will be nearby as we enter the new year fills me with a happiness my younger self always craved. Not even the fluffiest snow can compare to that feeling.