Summary

The article discusses the possibility of experiencing a cold Christmas in Australia, contrasting the typical hot and humid summer weather with uncommonly cold spells that can make the holiday season feel more like a European winter.

Abstract

The author reflects on the unusual experience of a cold Christmas in Australia, a country known for its hot summers during the festive season. They recount how, in December 2020, the weather turned unexpectedly cold, reminiscent of European winters, allowing for a Christmas feel without the need for air-conditioning. The article highlights the stark contrast between the sweltering Australian summer heat and the chilly office environments due to overzealous air-conditioning. It also touches on the sustainability concerns regarding energy use in creating artificially cold environments. The author shares personal anecdotes of enjoying the cold weather by the fireplace, reminiscent of German Christmases, and expresses a preference for the unique experience of a cold Christmas in a typically warm country.

Opinions

The author finds the concept of a warm Christmas in Australia unappealing and prefers the rarity of a cold Christmas.
Overly air-conditioned offices and shopping malls in Australia can create an artificial winter atmosphere that is both enjoyable and excessive in energy use.
There is a sense of irony in the author's appreciation for the cold weather during an Australian summer, as it is a departure from the usual desire for warmth and beach activities.
The author expresses a longing for traditional European Christmas experiences, which the cold snap in Australia evoked.
Despite the enjoyment of a cold Christmas, the author acknowledges the environmental impact of excessive energy use for artificial cooling and questions the commitment to sustainability.
The article conveys a fondness for the diversity of Australian weather and its ability to surprise with conditions that are both a blessing and a curse, such as the cold weather that also caused damage to the author's property.

Cold Christmas in Australia?

Yes, it’s possible, and not always because of the air-conditioners

My home office is ready to celebrate Christmas. This year, the air-con is going on full strength to make the time more enjoyable, but it isn’t always the case. Sometimes, it can be cold without the air-con. (Photo by Author)

I wrote this article in December 2020 and originally posted it on my blog. In the following years, however, I had a déjà vu (we had a few years with cold Xmases in Australia), so I decided to share the story here, too. Maybe it is just me dreaming about a cold Christmas again, as this year we are having a heatwave…

In Australia, in December, it hardly ever feels like Xmas to me. It’s the middle of Summer, hot and humid, and I just don’t know where to hide to escape the relentless sun. To be honest, looking at colourful lights to make me feel warmer is the last thing I wish for.

And who on earth would like to feel warmer by close to 40 degrees Celsius?! The only dream everyone has is to go to the beach with an Esky to keep the stubby cold and enjoy the sun, sand, waves and a cool breeze. And it is how most Australians celebrate this festive season — at the beach.

It is how Christmas is usually celebrated in Australia — somewhere on the beach (Photo by Author)

When I think about that, then, actually, there are times during Australian summer when you are longing for a bit of warmth. And it is usually when you are in a corporate office or in a shopping mall — the air-conditioners there usually work excellently! They definitely make you feel like Xmas, and you love the colourful lights giving you some warmth and comfort.

After entering your office, in the first few minutes, you feel wonderful — some relief from the heat and burning sun. However, half an hour later, you start wishing you had brought your winter jacket with you as it’s getting really cold.

It doesn’t take long, and your imagination takes you to the places where, for the last time, you experienced such cold (other than in your office or the shopping mall), and you see yourself playing in the snow…

This is how I feel when I’m in a corporate office or a shopping mall — the aircon is working so well that I feel as if I was on the way to the North Pole (Photo by Author)

And if you are “lucky” to sit under the aircon outlet vent, a couple of hours later, you start googling winter in Siberia or Alaska, wondering how Eskimos survive their winter, and in no time, you find yourself on eBay searching for a beanie, gloves, scarf and a parka. The ice-cold air coming out of the vent makes you feel as if you were sitting somewhere in the middle of a blizzard.

After two hours of sitting under the air-conditioning outlet vent, my ears and nose are frozen, I hardly can move my fingers, and I’m transplanted to the place where, for the last time, I experienced white Xmas. (Photo by Author)

Yes, I know, we all talk about sustainability and living environmentally friendly, saving energy and so on, but sometimes it feels like just a fashionable talk, and nobody cares about how much energy is used; we just turn the office into a freezer…

However, there were years when we didn’t need to create artificial feelings of European Christmas, and the aircon could stay off or even be switched on for heating.

So it was during the last few Xmases starting from 2020. That year, the first weekend in December was still hot. I spent the entire days sitting in the car-port removing stones from apricots I collected from my tree the weekend before (I had bucket-loads of them), avoiding any movements. The only trips I did were to the fridge to get some ice-cold drinks.

However, everything changed at the third Advent weekend. The temperatures dropped, it was cold and gloomy, and it really felt like Christmas! (And the air-con was off)

While strolling in a park along a creek. As you can see, at the hottest time of the day, the thermometer was showing below 15 degrees Celsius. (Photo by Author)

The maximum temperatures struggled to get to 15 degrees Celsius, the wind was blowing mercilessly, and it was raining. (Oh well, the strong wind wasn’t that great as it broke many of my trees, all my fruit fell on the ground, and most got wasted. But that’s a different story).

The cold, humid weather reminded me of all the Xmases I spent in Germany! I almost got the urge to go out and check out all the beautiful Christmas Markets (I think everyone who heard anything about Europe and Germany heard about the famous Christmas Markets, or the Black Forrest villages turning into fairy-tale places) or jumped into my car, took the skis and went sliding through the Alps!

On my farm, December 2020. I know, it looks a bit green for a “European Winter”, but it was really cold! (Photo by Author)

But, I love Australia too much to leave, so I was happy to spend the entire weekend sitting in front of the fire-place (yep, I made a fire; 12 degrees in the house felt quite cold), listening to Christmas carols and enjoying colourful lights decorating my room. How cool was that!

It was December 2020, the middle of Australian summer, but it was so cold that I had a fire burning in my fireplace, and I loved it! (Photo by Author)

This year, in Australia, it is back to hot weather and air-conditioners going on full speed. Yet I love the enchanted time of the year, and I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and all the best in the New Year! And, depending on where you are, keep warm or cold, but never let the warmth in your heart go out!

For those who would like to read more about a life of an immigrant (me) on an Australian farm, you can check my articles in the list below

City Girl on The Farm

I'm not a farmer (I'm an IT consultant), yet I chose to live on a farm. I love it. I don't have much experience in…

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