The Case for Heat: The Argument Against Frosty Festivities Are a Feeble Imitation to Celebrating in Summer.

If we have learned anything from the influx of holiday movies, mass-produced decorations, and festively themed songs, it's that the popular narrative has decreed Christmas is a holiday best served cold. So they say!

The powers that be residing above the equator may have sold this idea globally, but that's only because they lack the innate knowledge 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 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 spent in the UK and the US, meaning every December brought early nightfall and a crisp sting on my cheeks. The sole upside? The style options; bundling up is effortlessly chic.

In all honesty, a cold Christmas has its appeal. It's traditional, classic, and the prospect of snow is truly magical. The snug appeal 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 full 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 potent vodka jelly that was famously strong. We slept soundly 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 notoriously chilly 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. Sipping sangria in the sun. Noshing on piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a phone call away. Vibrant sunsets painting the sky. In that moment, I was a hot-Christmas convert.

"That summer heat eased the grief in significant ways."

This feeling was cemented after my father passed away. My mother decided to move back 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 profound ways.

A Self-Proclaimed Hypocrite

All this said, I must confess to being a massive hypocrite. This year, I'll be spending Christmas during winter in South Korea, and I'm genuinely excited to explore Seoul in my warmest jacket, hoping for a snowfall. The frosty festive ideal 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 close by 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.