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

If we have learned anything from the influx of holiday movies, ubiquitous 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 in the top of the equator may have sold this idea globally, but that's only because they are without the inherent understanding we southern hemisphere folk possess: a warm Christmas is simply the better way. This season is stressful enough – irrespective 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 hot air. I spent my formative years enduring 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 silver lining? The style options; layering is effortlessly chic.

In fairness, a cold Christmas has its charms. It's traditional, classic, and the prospect of snow is truly enchanting. The snug appeal of a chilly celebration is hard to dismiss. Yet, with my extended family an ocean away, I always felt I was lacking an true celebration that not even the richest 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, concocting a potent vodka jelly that left everyone reeling. 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 notoriously chilly part of northern England.

A Revelation in Reverse

Visiting them for Christmas after a long absence, I expected a wave of fond remembrance. Instead, I found myself yearning for everything that made a summer Christmas unique. Enjoying a cool drink in the sun. Noshing on piles of fresh fruit. Loved ones being just a phone call away. Hot-pink sunsets painting the sky. In that moment, I was a hot-Christmas convert.

"The warmth soothed the sorrow in significant ways."

This feeling was reinforced after my father passed away. My mother decided to return home to New Zealand. The first Christmas without him was incredibly tough, his loss palpable 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 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 fluffiest coat, hoping for a glimpse of snow. 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 nearby as we enter the new year fills me with a joy my younger self always craved. Not even the deepest powder can compare to that feeling.