"If we have learned anything from the influx of holiday movies, mass-produced decorations, Mariah Carey and the smorgasbord of other jingle bell-infused songs that Big Northern Hemisphere has embedded into our lives, it's that the cultural zeitgeist has determined that Christmas is a holiday best served cold. Whatever! The bigwigs in the top of the equator might have convinced the world of such, but that's only because they lack the innate knowledge that us southern hemisphere folk know all too well:"
"And I'm not just speaking from the orifice that doesn't have teeth, I spent my entire childhood in the cold during the festive season. Despite my entire family hailing from New Zealand, Dad's job meant that big international moves were inevitable. I spent most of my younger years scattered across the UK (plus a quick stint in North Carolina), meaning that every time December rolled in I could expect a dark sky by 4pm and a crisp sting on my cheeks."
Northern Hemisphere holiday media and commercial traditions have normalized a cold, snowy image of Christmas worldwide. Southern Hemisphere residents prefer warm Christmases and consider them superior, partly because summer timing reduces the risk of seasonal depression. Cold Christmases retain appeals: tradition, the possibility of snow, cosy charm, and stylish layering. Personal experience includes childhood winters spent in the UK and North Carolina because of a parent's international job, with early dark evenings and cold cheeks each December. Geographic separation from a New Zealand extended family created longing for larger reunions and envy toward those who celebrate with nearby relatives. Warm holiday settings offer more family-centered, authentic merrymaking.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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