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

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

The bigwigs residing above the equator may have sold this idea globally, but that's only because they lack the innate knowledge 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 contend with seasonal depression on top of it all.

A Chilly Childhood

And this isn't just an empty claim. I spent my entire childhood enduring 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 dark skies by 4pm and a biting chill on my cheeks. The sole silver lining? The style options; layering is inherently stylish.

In fairness, a cold Christmas has its charms. It's time-honored, classic, and the prospect of snow is undeniably magical. The cosy charm of a frosty gathering is hard to dismiss. Yet, with my extended family on the other side of the world, I always felt I was missing out an authentic celebration that not even the richest hot chocolate could replicate.

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 more family for the first time. With a larger group to entertain, my father got creative in the kitchen, crafting a heavily marinated 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 playful battles 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.

A Revelation in Reverse

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 special. Sipping sangria in the sun. Noshing on piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a short drive away. Hot-pink sunsets painting the sky. Suddenly, I was a hot-Christmas convert.

"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 profoundly difficult, his absence felt everywhere. Yet, being once again surrounded by family under the gentle heat of the summer sun helped ease the grief in monumental ways.

A Self-Proclaimed Hypocrite

All this said, I readily admit 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 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 newest member – will be close by as we enter the new year fills me with a joy my younger self always yearned for. Not even the fluffiest snow can hold a candle to that feeling.