How's The Weather By You?

How seriously do Americans and Canadians take that 'White Christmas' tradition? Is it "just not Christmas" without snow and frostbite? Obviously the Florida refugees can live without it but is 'white' important to the perfect, nostalgic Christmas?

I know if it isn't stinking hot with humidity hovering around 99% it "just doesn't feel like Christmas" to me. They were the kind of days we celebrated in when I was a kid and to me that's how it should be.

Retail used to suffer badly in OZ in delayed hot seasons due to people not feeling the pressure of the heat induced Christmas spirit urging them to go out and buy junk. Hence the increased advertising?

If the ground's too hot to walk barefoot on, the sunburn safety index is down to 4 minutes, the birds are draped in trees gasping, with wings hanging down, cicadas are screaming like air-raid sirens, the air is shimmering in heat haze, everyone's whingeing, fanning themselves and dripping recycled beer sweat, and there's a whiff of bushfire smoke wafting gently on a zephyr of air movement then it must be well into December. That was the 'spirit' trigger.

The seasons have gradually slipped and we more often have reasonably cool 'ordinary' days around the 25th now. It's just not the same buzz!
 
I love a white Christmas; just how it's always been for us, and I miss it when we don't have the snow. Kids could bundle up and play outside and make snowmen, whatever; then come in for cocoa and snacks, and/or an awesome dinner.

It's what you make it however, so we just enjoy it as it is, snow or no snow. I can't imagine a hot Christmas - but, it is what you're used to, I guess.
 
Diwundrin said:
How seriously do Americans and Canadians take that 'White Christmas' tradition? Is it "just not Christmas" without snow and frostbite? Obviously the Florida refugees can live without it but is 'white' important to the perfect, nostalgic Christmas?
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I think it depends upon what you grew up with as a kid - that's probably the strongest association.

I grew up in New York, which sees a decent amount of snow every year, at least enough so that the hope for a "white Christmas" isn't totally misplaced. Seeing all those Christmas lights as a kid while bundled up in 20 pounds of snow-gear, the light reflecting off the snow, IS a wonderful sight.

For the few that have "given up" on Christmas, however, I don't think it matters whether it's white or not. Certainly I could deal with laying at the beach and being fed coconut milk by bare-breasted natives while Bing Crosby croons in the background. :cool:
 
The early ones we remember seem to be the key to it. I know a lot of UK friends who had been here for decades still used to mourn their old traditional white ones.

It was those damned nostalgic Brits that imposed the tradition of cooking up huge roast dinner feasts eaten in the hottest part of the day upon us when we were a colony outpost.
It defies logic to do that but although it's changing rapidly to more sensible menus and times, that was the 'normal' Xmas impressed on me, and I just can't tolerate the pretence that a plate of prawns, lettuce and an avocado is 'Christmas Dinner.'

I opt to spend it alone and indulge in the lunacy of a hot and greasy meal than accept invitations to modern versions and spend the next year feeling 'ripped off' and deprived of 'my' Xmas.

The effort and 'theatre' of producing that dinner was every bit, even more, a vital part of the experience than decorations or religion ever played.
I wrote a piece about that, I'll post it if I find it, or rewrite it if the mood takes me.

Anyway, back to topic. The day is warm, overcast, and exceedingly boring.
 
Fern said:
Another warm one, but I'm lovin it.
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Believe me I know, Fern. I never ever complain about the heat no matter how high the temps and keep that a/c going all summer. I refuse to open doors & windows because of allergies and the stifling humidity, something I'm sure I don't have to explain to you. LOL
 
It's been pretty mild here lately, 50s - 60s F...but a cold front came in this afternoon, temps dropped and it's been lightly snowing for hours now. Tomorrow is supposed to be 30 degrees.
 
I hope you sat in your grandstand chair to watch the tourist circus tents blow around Jilly. I knew there had to something good about being surrounded by campers.

It's still blowing like a brass band here too but hasn't blown the gates out this time, haven't looked but they go booom every so often so I know they're still there.
 
Very warm in SE QLD (and the rest of the State) today .... waiting on a thunderstorm at the moment but it appears to have fizzed. Max. temp in our capital city was about 94F ... not unusual for this time of year.
 
In the middle of a blizzard right now but at least the temps have eased off a bit. I've never felt it as cold as it has been over the last few days. We have about 15 cm on the ground right now with another 20 to 30 expected (30 cm = 1 foot), but I don't think it is as bad as Boston and parts of Maine are getting. Car still won't start so I'm stranded but have no need to go out in this mess anyway. Staying in and hoping we don't lose power.
 
I believe I read that 2013 was the driest year on record since 18** something or other. Nary a drop in sight so far in 2014. It could all come in one horrendous flooding storm in April . . . or not...
 
Atlantic Ocean setting up some major monster waves! Upwards of 70 feet in some spots. Serious big wave riders are heading for the Azores, Portugal, Ireland, et cetera.
 
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