The Case for Heat: The Argument Against Frosty Festivities Are a Feeble Imitation to a Sunny Season's Celebration.

Should we have gleaned anything from the influx of holiday movies, ubiquitous decorations, and festively themed songs, it's that the cultural zeitgeist has determined Christmas is a holiday best served frosty. Whatever!

The powers that be in the top of the equator may have sold this idea globally, but that's only because they lack the inherent understanding we southern hemisphere folk possess: a warm Christmas is simply superior. This season is stressful enough – regardless of temperature – but at least we don't have to battle seasonal depression on top of it all.

Frosty Formative Years

And this isn't just hot air. I spent my entire childhood experiencing cold festive seasons. Despite my family hailing from 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 crisp sting on my cheeks. The sole silver lining? The fashion choices; layering is inherently stylish.

In all honesty, a cold Christmas has its charms. It's traditional, classic, and the possibility 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 true celebration that not even the richest hot chocolate could replicate.

The Southern Shift

Everything changed when another move brought my family to Australia. There, I finally experienced a proper festive family affair, joined by extended relatives for the first time. With a larger group to entertain, my father got experimental in the kitchen, concocting a heavily marinated vodka jelly that left everyone reeling. We slept soundly that night.

This became our tradition for years – sharing the day 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 expected a wave of nostalgic longing. Instead, I found myself yearning for everything that made a summer Christmas special. Sipping sangria in the sun. Feasting upon piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a short drive away. Hot-pink sunsets painting the sky. In that moment, I was a summer celebration advocate.

"That summer heat soothed the sorrow 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 loss palpable everywhere. Yet, being once more surrounded by family under the soft warmth of the summer sun alleviated the grief in profound 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 genuinely excited to wander around Seoul in my fluffiest coat, hoping for a glimpse of snow. The cold Christmas propaganda still has a little hold on me!

Still, I'm keen to return home for another New Year's Day under the Australian summer 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 hold a candle to that feeling.