Some Like It Hot: The Argument Against Frosty Festivities Are a Feeble Imitation to Celebrating in Summer.

Should we have learned anything from the deluge of holiday movies, ubiquitous decorations, and jingle bell-infused songs, it's that the cultural zeitgeist has determined Christmas is a holiday best served chilly. So they say!

The powers that be in the top of the equator may have sold this idea globally, but that's only because they lack the inherent understanding we southern hemisphere folk possess: a warm Christmas is simply superior. This season is stressful enough – irrespective 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 formative years experiencing cold festive seasons. Despite my family originating in New Zealand, my father's career led to inevitable international moves. My younger years were scattered across the UK and the US, meaning every December brought early nightfall and a crisp sting on my cheeks. The sole silver lining? The style options; bundling up is effortlessly chic.

In all honesty, a cold Christmas has its charms. It's traditional, iconic, and the possibility of snow is truly 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 lacking an authentic 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 extended relatives 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 tradition for years – celebrating together with family and friends, complete with playful battles 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 expected a wave of fond remembrance. Instead, I found myself missing 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. Suddenly, I was a summer celebration advocate.

"That summer heat 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 more surrounded by family under the gentle heat of the summer sun alleviated the grief in monumental ways.

A Self-Proclaimed Hypocrite

All this said, I must confess to being a walking contradiction. This year, I'll be spending Christmas during winter in South Korea, and I'm truly looking forward to explore Seoul in my warmest jacket, hoping for a snowfall. The frosty festive ideal still has a slight grip 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 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 deepest powder can hold a candle to that feeling.