Weather Watch: A Different White Christmas

Growing up along the gulf coast, high humidity and warm temperatures on Christmas day was somewhat common. Cold weather and the occasional miracle snow would have make it dream-like. You know, I was always dreaming of a white Christmas, but that never happened, for Texans or anyone along the gulf coast for that matter.

Of course, there are those folks who live a little farther north that see their fair share of the white stuff and don’t really like it. These people, also known as “snow birds” make an annual pilgrimage to more temperate climates like those in Texas, Arizona, Florida and even further south to Cancun!

Honestly, I’m starting to understand this desire as I get older. There is nothing unnatural about celebrating Christmas with 80 degree temperatures, a drink with those cute little umbrellas and sand within sight! All of those snow bird destination places I mentioned are warm and dry in late December and the perfect climate for older people who struggle with arthritis and other conditions.

As you know, here is Arkansas, we get some of both. It can be 70 and dry one Christmas and a foot of snow the next!  Arkansas’ climate is enough to give someone weather whiplash.

While some love the “over the river and through the woods” of a winter’s day on the way to Grandma’s house, there are those of us who would rather not travel in the snow and ice and I am one of them. I never experienced a white Christmas growing up, but as an adult, once I did have the white fluffy stuff on Christmas Day in Arkansas, it wasn’t as magical as thought it would be. Sliding all the way downtown to the TV station made me long for the days of playing outside in my shorts with the toys Santa delivered the night before.

Regardless, I understand white Christmas lovers. Enjoy it when you can. What’s in store for Christmas 2016? Well, we’ll have to wait and see.

Now, many of us can choose to have a warm or cold holiday, but the people who live down under, or in the southern hemisphere, don’t have as much of a choice.

Lest we forget, Christmas is celebrated all over the world, in all types of climates. December 21 is our Winter Solstice, but to the south, it’s the beginning of summer. Imagine your Christmas on the 4th day of summer! The folks who live in those areas don’t know any different and have their own traditions. I imagine their traditional songs don’t mention dreaming of white Christmases or dashing through the snow!

Of course, family and food are still the main themes. In Australia, traditional British fare of meats and puddings is common with turkey being a seasonal favorite. As you would expect, decorations are much different.

While we decorate mainly fir trees for Santa to leave his gifts under, warm weather countries and island nations often turn palms into Christmas trees, decorating them with their own lights and island flora and fauna. And the gathering place? Bondi Beach in Sydney. It’s estimated that close to 40 thousand people celebrate Christmas Day there frolicking in the sand wearing Santa suits in a conga line.

The more I think about it, I may check into that next year for a different white Christmas.