The Case for Heat: Why Cold Christmases Pale in Comparison to a Sunny Season's Celebration.

Should we have gleaned anything from the deluge of holiday movies, ubiquitous decorations, and jingle bell-infused songs, it's that the cultural zeitgeist has decreed Christmas is a holiday best served chilly. 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 denizens of the south 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.

A Chilly Childhood

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 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 crisp sting 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 magical. The cosy charm of a chilly celebration is hard to dismiss. 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 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 creative in the kitchen, concocting a potent vodka jelly that was famously strong. We all slept well 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 heeded the opportunity 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 wave 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 stretched across the sky. In that moment, I was a hot-Christmas convert.

"That summer heat soothed the sorrow in significant ways."

This feeling was reinforced after my father passed away. My mother decided to move back to New Zealand. The first Christmas without him was profoundly difficult, his absence felt everywhere. Yet, being once more surrounded by family under the soft warmth of the summer sun helped ease the grief in profound ways.

Conflicting Celebrations

All this said, I must confess to being a massive hypocrite. This year, I'll be celebrating during winter in South Korea, and I'm truly looking forward to wander around Seoul in my warmest jacket, hoping for a glimpse of snow. The cold Christmas propaganda still has a little hold on me!

Still, 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 yearned for. Not even the deepest powder can hold a candle to that feeling.