Some Like It Hot: Why Cold Christmases Are a Feeble Imitation to Celebrating in Summer.

If 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. So they say!

The bigwigs residing above the equator may have sold this idea globally, 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 fraught 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 originating in New Zealand, my father's career meant inevitable international moves. My younger years were spent in 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; layering is inherently stylish.

In fairness, a cold Christmas has its appeal. It's time-honored, iconic, and the possibility of snow is undeniably magical. The snug appeal 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.

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 creative in the kitchen, concocting a heavily marinated vodka jelly that left everyone reeling. 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 expected a surge of nostalgic longing. Instead, I found myself missing everything that made a summer Christmas special. Sipping sangria in the sun. Noshing on piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a phone call away. Hot-pink sunsets painting the sky. Suddenly, I was a hot-Christmas convert.

"The warmth soothed the sorrow in monumental 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 again surrounded by family under the gentle heat of the summer sun helped ease the grief in monumental ways.

Conflicting Celebrations

All this said, I readily admit to being a massive hypocrite. 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 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 Australian summer 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 yearned for. Not even the deepest powder can hold a candle to that feeling.