Why Warmth Wins: The Argument Against Frosty Festivities 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. Is that so?

The bigwigs in the top of the equator may have convinced the world, but that's only because they lack the innate knowledge we denizens of the south possess: a sun-drenched Christmas is simply superior. 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 an empty claim. I spent my formative years enduring 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 early nightfall and a biting chill on my cheeks. The sole upside? The style options; layering is effortlessly chic.

In all honesty, a cold Christmas has its charms. It's traditional, iconic, and the possibility of snow is undeniably enchanting. The cosy charm 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 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 full festive family affair, joined by more family for the first time. With a larger group to entertain, my father got experimental in the kitchen, crafting a heavily marinated 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 notoriously chilly part of northern England.

A Revelation in Reverse

Visiting them for Christmas after a long absence, I anticipated a surge of nostalgic longing. Instead, I found myself missing everything that made a summer Christmas special. Sipping sangria in the sun. Feasting upon 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.

"The warmth eased the grief in monumental 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 profoundly difficult, his absence felt everywhere. Yet, being once again surrounded by family under the soft warmth of the summer sun alleviated 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 celebrating during winter in South Korea, and I'm truly looking forward to wander around Seoul in my fluffiest coat, hoping for a glimpse of snow. The frosty festive ideal still has a little hold on me!

Still, 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 joy my younger self always yearned for. Not even the deepest powder can compare to that feeling.