The Case for Heat: Why Cold Christmases Are a Feeble Imitation to a Sunny Season's Celebration.
If we have gleaned anything from the influx of holiday movies, ubiquitous decorations, and jingle bell-infused songs, it's that the popular narrative has determined Christmas is a holiday best served frosty. So they say!
The powers that be residing above the equator may have sold this idea globally, but that's only because they are without the inherent understanding we denizens of the south possess: a warm Christmas is simply superior. 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 formative years enduring cold festive seasons. Despite my family hailing from New Zealand, my father's career led to inevitable international moves. My younger years were scattered across the UK and the US, meaning every December brought dark skies by 4pm and a crisp sting on my cheeks. The sole upside? The fashion choices; bundling up is inherently stylish.
In all honesty, a cold Christmas has its appeal. It's traditional, classic, and the prospect of snow is truly enchanting. The snug appeal of a frosty gathering is hard to disregard. Yet, with my extended family an ocean away, I always felt I was missing out an true celebration that not even the richest 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 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, crafting a potent vodka jelly that was famously strong. We all slept well 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 heeded the opportunity of a new job and moved to a particularly cold part of northern England.
A Revelation in Reverse
Visiting them for Christmas after a long absence, I anticipated a wave of fond remembrance. Instead, I found myself missing everything that made a summer Christmas special. Enjoying a cool drink in the sun. Noshing on piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a phone call away. Vibrant sunsets stretched across the sky. In that moment, I was a summer celebration advocate.
"That summer heat soothed the sorrow in monumental 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 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.
Conflicting Celebrations
All this said, I must confess to being a walking contradiction. This year, I'll be celebrating during winter in South Korea, and I'm genuinely excited to wander around Seoul in my fluffiest coat, hoping for a snowfall. The frosty festive ideal still has a little hold 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 newest member – will be close by as we enter the new year fills me with a happiness my younger self always yearned for. Not even the deepest powder can compare to that feeling.
