A white Christmas is not something many Australians have experienced, and certainly not in Australia. Yet it is an image we see every year as so much Christmas imagery (and movies and TV programs) is based on the Northern hemisphere.
Snow, bare trees and a warmly suited Santa. Or sunshine, heat and outdoor Christmas meals. Both are valid Christmas experiences.
What do you think – would you like to experience a white Christmas?
It sounds magical and exciting to experience a White Christmas – probably because it is so foreign to our experiences in Australia and because it is in so much imagery for Christmas.
I wouldn’t mind trying it but I just feel it would limit what we could do – too cold and wet for an after-lunch walk, no outdoor eating, no beach cricket (which I grew up with) and not able to walk around streets looking at lights and decorations. A day of snow and ice could be interesting but all the surrounding weeks as well would become a drag I think – I love the summer atmosphere that goes with our Christmas parties and events throughout December.
Yes, I think the imagery of pretty Christmas settings slides over the uncomfortable aspects of cold and wet when trying to move around on Christmas Day. And many like the freedom of being able to go outside rather than being stuck in a house with their extended family…
I’m not really tempted by a white Christmas either, although curious to give it a go someday.
I do think a winter Christmas could be easier for getting excited kids to bed on the 24th though – with it being light so late here it’s twice as hard to convince kids to go to sleep so parents can finish wrapping presents, etc before getting some sleep themselves!
I hadn’t thought of that, PreciousWater! being winter, it would get darker earlier on Christmas Eve in the northern hemisphere! I wonder how much difference that makes on getting excited kids to sleep though? 🙂
Snow is a bit of fun, followed by days of slushy ice, road closures, slipping up and general doom and gloom.
But it’s always worth it!
It’s what makes Christmas Christmas. Like Santa says, if you could go outside, you could avoid all the family rows. But in it’s own way that’s part of the fun, and long may it continue!
It’s the slushy ice and road closures, etc that I think would take away the fun of it but we’re not used to it at any time let alone for Christmas.
It’s sunshine, outdoor activities and beach holidays that help make Christmas Christmas for us!
Yes, family is what makes Christmas Christmas really – fun, arguments and all!
I live in the USA and we do sometimes have White Christmases. This is something beautiful to see with the lights glistening on the snow. But I am sure you have your own beautiful imagery that we cannot imagine here. And also, sometimes snow creates travel problems on Christmas and then people are not able to arrive to see family on time . So there is a downside to the snow. Not to mention that it is often very cold at Christmas and hard to enjoy the outdoors.
There’s no doubt that lights glistening on the snow is beautiful, mommy2senj. But I love the ability to go for evening walks all through December to admire lights or sit in a park for carols for candlelight.
I don’t think snow or otherwise is ‘better’, but it is interesting to consider what the other type of Christmas would be like. It’s not the white as such but the totally different lifestyle on Christmas Day that I can’t relate to.
There is something magical about a white Christmas. Beautiful snow all around, waking up and seeing decorations everywhere. IF you have a fireplace you can sit by it and enjoy the Christmas lights from outside. It’s just beautiful. But, there is also a bit of fun in it to. Sledding down a hill, or snow ball fights. Building forts in the snow till the sun comes out ruins it 🙂
I love the winter season. Probably because of my birthday being on Christmas but I enjoy every bit of it. My favorite thing to do is to shovel the snow on my drive way at 3am and just listen and stare at the moon. It’s so quite and peaceful, it’s just amazing! Ahh, winter.
Thanks for that great picture of enjoying a White Christmas, Romes 🙂
Shovelling snow at 3am is not something I would have thought of as a highlight but now I can imagine that peaceful and freshness, looking across pristine snow at the moon – beautiful!
You also got me with the open fire as I love sitting by a fire on a cold night – it’s just never around Christmas time for me!
It’s my dream to experience white Christmas especially the fact that I live in the Philippines. I always picture myself running on the snow and creating a snowman with my family. This year, my mom and I decided to come to New York for the holidays so finally my dream is going to come true this 2012!
How fantastic, difrancprod! I hope you and you Mum have an awesome time playing in the snow and experiencing a white and cold Christmas! Will you get a chance to see the suburbs (for decorated houses, etc) as well as the city itself?
Santa’s Elf, I think it would be nice to be able to take a nice walk in the warmth to enjoy Christmas Lights. There are some activities in the USA here for Christmas that are difficult to enjoy when it is cold or snowing.
I love going for walks throughout December, Mommy2senj – even just around home it is lovely to spend time as a family enjoying the evening and seeing the flights. It’s also nice to see the decorations grow over December, too.
I think that is one of the hardest things I’d have to adjust to if I was in a colder place for Christmas.
This whole post seems to pay testament to the power of one song, and how well Bing Crosby sang it!
I can’t say that I know that song well or have heard it for years. There is so much more imagery around for snow at Christmas than one song – even if it’s just the background of many movies and TV shows, it’s there and looks different for those of us who don’t experience snow in December.
Does that song influence a lot of people who do get snow – I mean, doe stat song make them notice the snow specifically for CHristmas?
I really would love to experience a white Christmas. I live in the Philippines and it would be a bit expensive to go abroad just to experience a White Christmas. Besides, the best way to enjoy Christmas would be with the people I care the most – my family and friends. So, although I would like to try a White Christmas, I do think that it would still be nicer to celebrate the yuletide season in my country.
That’s a lovely though, jadeflowerjan – I agree that travelling at Christmas time has the disadvantage of leaving family and personal traditions behind.
Having a white snow period would be great. I live in Hawaii so i never get to wear heavy clothes. Sometimes I wanna wear a big nice jacket. Only for a day though! I wouldn’t like 24/7 white snow! 🙂
Yeah, it could be a bit of fun to have just a day of snow to try it out and have snowball fights 🙂 Thanks for giving a Hawaiian perspective, Randomhero 🙂
I think the song and movie have a lot to do with the reason that cultures where there can be snow for Christmas think that they “need” to have a white Christmas for their image to be complete.
It’s not just one song or movie that we’ve seen that influences everyone – we are constantly bombarded with White Christmas images despite it not being part of our experience. Most gift cards and Christmas books have snow or a snowman or rugger up carollers, etc and even general movies and TV shows have snow as the background in Christmas scenes.
Personally, I have have never seen snow at Christmas and I feel my celebrations are quite complete – I’m curious about how I’d experience it but don’t care if I never do. Likewise, I’ve had Christmases where it rained and felt cold – it is disappointing and annoying to not have the sunshine and warmth but we still enjoy Christmas. So I don’t really understand why it seems so important that snow falls on Christmas Day when you’re inside eating anyway.
I’d like to experience a white Christmas, too! I’m in a tropical country so there’s no snow here. I’d like to have snowball fights with my friends and family. Plus, I want to make a snow man and a snow angel.
However, even though there’s no winter season here, I don’t feel like I need the snow to complete my Christmas. We also have fun ways to celebrateit here.
Hi angeldrb, and thanks for adding your experience to the conversation.
I agree with your summary – things I would most like to try are a snowball fight and making a snowangel 🙂 And see the Christmas lights reflect off the snow.
But I’m content with our summer celebrations 🙂
I currently live in the northern part of the United States, so I do get to experience that white Christmas that everyone wants. I must say though, as long as your inside it’s nice. But otherwise it’s really cold outside. I’d prefer a warm Christmas any time.
Absolutely with you on liking a warmer Christmas, dkramarcyzk! Have you ever experienced one?
Snow is one of the main elements in Christmas. It brings the joy and happiness above most things. I live in Croatia, and we’ve only experienced white Christmas a few times. And those few times were magical.
Hope it snows next Christmas…
I don't doubt snow is magical on Christmas Day, Nero, but I have to disagree that it is one of the main elements of Christmas - family, food and the spirit are the essentials (not that I think you were ignoring those) and then I love the decorations and being abel to relax in a good place (for some that is in a warm house, for us it is in a friend's house or out in a garden somewhere).I guess if it's already cold, you may as well have the magic of snow as well!
I really want to experience a white Christmas. I mean, we all see it on the TV every year, but when we look outside it doesn’t seems like it’s Christmas lol. We all got used to summer and all, but would be cool if it snowed only once 😀
I think it’s a little sad that we see so much imagery of the northern hemisphere’s Christmas experience that we consider it ‘doesn’t look like Christmas’ when we have a perfectly natural dn enjoyable hot day/season.
Kreso93, I hope you get to experience a white Christmas soon and enjoy it more than you expect to.
i also haven’t experienced a white christmas T_T but i want to take it a try though and want to go outside this tropical country for good. .hehe
better make sure you move to somewhere that often snows in December, then, renusuke! Hope you enjoy a white Christmas this year 🙂
A white Christmas is an amazing thing to behold. I have only ever experienced two in my life that I can remember, but I would love to experience another soon.
The year before last we had a white Christmas. And it snowed a great deal! We live here in the north GA mountains and our winters are typically mild in December, but this one year was the exception. My family and I had a fantastic time playing out in the snow, building snowmen, and just enjoying the day. It was a Christmas I will never forget.
It sounds like fun Anna. Where are the north GA mountains? Do yo normally have cold Christmases that keep you indoors anyway, despite no snow most years?
Family fun – that s what makes the most memorable Christmases – hope you get to enjoy another like it soon!
The last white Christmas I can remember was in 2010. It wasn’t that long ago, but the only other one I can recall was in the 80s when I was still a child. It’s such a magical thing and so rare in Georgia in the US. I’m really glad that my girls got to experience a white Christmas while they were still young.
Maybe you have the best of both worlds, BonnyC 🙂 You get to experience white Christmases occasionally so they are enjoyable without the annual hassles of cold and ice!
I am from Chicago so I have had a white Christmas 95% of my life. The only time that we have not had a white Christmas was this year :(. It probably ended up being my worst Christmas throughout my entire life! I feel bad for those of you that have not experience a white Christmas, it truly is amazing!
Was it your worst Christmas because it wasn’t white, or just coincidental?
it may be amazing, but I enjoy our hot Christmas celebrations so don’t worry about us missing out on a good time 🙂
Ofcourse I have been dreaming of a white Christmas My whole life. It would be incredible to make this possible for me and my childrem who love santa and Christmas. Sometime I think they are really Santasa helpers.
Thanks for your comment, babydollw. Do you really think your kids would love Santa and Christmas any more/less because there was snow outside?
I would love to to experience one. I live in the tropics and have never seen snow let alone a white Christmas.
I’m guessing you would find it very cold, benleem 🙂 But I hope you get to experience it at least once.
A white Christmas is pretty much everyone’s dream about Christmas, but only a few places in the world got them. I already lived in two countries, Portugal and Brazil, and none of them have a white Christmas.
So, yes, I’d like to experience a white Christmas. 🙂
I think that’s the point, Irr – only a few places actually have a white Christmas but the rest of us are so bombarded with those images it’s almost as if we are hard done by for not having snow on a certain day!
Hope you get to experience a white Christmas one day, Irr.
I love having a white Christmas as long as I get to stay warm. I have only actually had a couple of white Christmas’s and they were so beautiful. But the down side is being so cold! Who wants to freeze when they are trying to have a good time?
I think I’m with you Kayde – being warm has a lot of appeal! maybe we’re luckier for having warm Christmas celebrations and watching white Christmas images on TV and in movies 🙂
I would love to have a white Christmas I have only had one as a child but I would love to have another perfect one.I can just think of how nice it would be to drink hot chocolate inside and watch the snow come down you wouldn’t need presents for that
I’m impressed you think a hot chocolate and snow is worth more than presents!
Was your one white Christmas at home or did you go somewhere else one year? Either way, I hope you get your wish for a perfect Christmas 🙂
Of course! I would love to experience a White Christmas even just once in my life. I guess it would make my imaginations come true. It is true that White Christmas is the most popular. Maybe it’s because of Santa? Or the snowman? Haha! I am becoming excited! 😀 I hope I get to experience it 🙂
What fun to be excited! I hope you get to experience a white Christmas soon, iloveyou78 🙂
There is nothing more beautiful than a white Christmas. Building a snowman, snowball fights, and of course don’t forget the hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Are things you would do on Christmas Day, or just in winter in general?
As much as I would love a white Christmas, it would only ruin it fo rmy family. My husband works for a aprtment complex and part of his job is snow removal. He would have to leave us to remove snow.
That’s really interesting – snow making more work for some people so they have to miss family celebrations is something I had never thought of. Thanks for telling us a different point of view, Jlovesj35
I have always wished for white Christmases, however most of my Christmases have not been “white”. But, Christmas is a happy time, whether or not it is white.
I agree ANgelb4 that the weather isn’t the key ingredient for a good Christmas.
Hope you get to experience another white Christmas though 🙂
I personally have experienced a white Christmas and it’s truly a magical thing. Waking up in the morning already excited by what’s to come can only be beat by a fresh blanket of snow. I know it doesn’t matter as much as family but it really makes it perfect.
Anything that adds to the magic of Christmas is special and worth appreciating 🙂
Here in Michigan, we seem to always end up having a white Christmas. Although I must say, this year was a VERY mild winter. It might even be the first Christmas in history (my history, anyway) to not have any snow on Christmas or Christmas Eve. But normally, yes, I do prefer it to be snowing around the Holidays. And a snowstorm, even better. 😉
I’m curious, M-Marie34 – why would you prefer a snowstorm on Christmas Day? Having never been in one, I don’t see the appeal 🙂
I live in New Zealand and have yet to experience the magic of a white Christmas.
Last year my auntie’s friend from Canada spent Christmas which us and found it so bizarre that it was so hot and sunny on Christmas. A typical New Zealand Christmas for me is lunch outside on the deck overlooking the beach.
I’d love to experience a white Christmas perhaps in Germany. I’ve only read good things about their Christmas winter markets. Christmas in the US would also be interesting as they put so much effort into decorating their homes etc.
I guess it would be even stranger to come from cold Christmases to hot ones – we at least have been exposed to so many cold Christmas images, but those in the snow probably don’t see much about our hot celebrations.
But sitting on a deck with good food and drinks, great company and a beach view sounds like a great way to spend Christmas (or any other!) day!
I live in a part of California that gets snow about once every 15-20 years. When I see images of snowmen and snowy landscapes on Christmas cards and decorations, it doesn’t really seem to reflect the Christmas season to me because it’s not what I know. I think I’d love to experience a White Christmas once. Then, that would probably be enough for a lifetime.
I understand what you mean – thse images just aren’t part of my Christmas experinece either. I wonder if that’s stranger when part of your country does have a white Christmas or for us where none of us do…
I am originally from the Chicago suburbs and now live in North Carolina. Back home, we always had nice white Christmases. Now in NC, it’s rare we see snow. While I can do without snow for the winter season, I like for it to snow at least for December 23-26, for a White Christmas. At least you can have the ambiance without all the mess. =)
Ah, the best of both worlds 🙂
So if you’re happy no avoid snow in winter, what is it about the snow that makes Christmas special? It’s just so different to an Aussie Christmas that I cna’t relate!
I also live in Australia, and I must admit I’ve always wanted to experience the cosy feeling of a white Christmas like they experience in the northern hemisphere.
One day I plan to visit my aunt in Oregon, USA during the Christmas holidays, so I can be sure to check a ‘white Christmas’ off my bucket list! 🙂
It would certainly be an experince, GigBiz 🙂 Staying with family to experience a white Chirstmas will be very nice – much nicer, I think, than a white Christmas in a hotel or something as many of us would have to do if we travelled.
I live in Florida and I’ve never seen snow in real life. I’ve heard stories that when I was 3 years old in New York, I used to play in snow. But I have no memory of it. In Florida we have actually had hot Christmases where every fan in the house was running. That seems wrong. I’m a little envious of people that get the whole white Christmas experience.
Fans running for Christmas Day sounds normal to me, but I think it must be strange to be in part of a country focussed on white Christmases that doesn’t get snow in December (or at all).
I hate snow but I love whites Christmas. Don’t try to understand. We had some in Belgium but it generally means that it is a white December. I wish it snowed on the 24th from noon and that the snow disappeared on the 26th. That would be perfect 😀
I think I do understand Laura – you like the magic of a white Christmas (because we are so exposed to that as perfection for Christmas) but not the inconvenience or cold of living in snow 🙂 Anybody know how to book snow for that 36 hours each year? NO, oh well 🙂
I don’t think you need a white Christmas for it to be or feel like Christmas. I do think it adds a touch of magic too it thought. If I could have my choice, I would have a white Christmas every year. Living in Pa. we have had our share of white Christmass’, so I guess I’m lucky. That being said, I can do without a snowy winter and all the chaos that goes along with it. So Mother Nature, if you could please I would like snow from 9pm Christmas Eve until 6 am Christmas morning, please see to it that it is melted and cleaned up by 8 am.
Love how specific you are with that wish, pocs – and the being cleaned up part 🙂
The only time I have encountered snow was in Zurich some years back when I used to travel there for work. So since I too have dreamed of white Christmases, maybe I’ll merge the two images in my imagination for that fairytale feeling! But snow makes no difference to the Christmas feeling at all. The Christmas feeling is far too precise to be disturbed by anything on earth.
That’s lovely. I agree – the spirrit of CHristmas is not about snow or its absence, or tinsel or presents, but the special feelings we cna’t see or buy.
I recently experienced a white Christmas. Having never had one as a kid, I moved to the UK a couple of years ago. While it was very pretty and magical, I didn’t feel like it was Christmas as it wasn’t what I was used to. I was used to sunbathing and swimming at Christmas-time and putting on layer after layer of clothing was just wrong. Plus I was away from my family, so that added to the ‘not-Christmas’ feeling, as I think that family is what Christmas is all about.
Pretty, magical but not ‘usual’ for us – a nice summary of a white Christmas, chocbunny80 🙂
Such a total change (cold and no family) would make it feel not so Christmassy, I’m sure.
I actually had a white Christmas in 2010. I live in the southern United States, and it usually only snows a few times each winter, and usually not before January. Well, Christmas 2010 proved to be the exception to the rule. We woke up that morning to see nearly a foot of snow outside. Our plans were to go to my husband’s grandparents’ house (which is only a mile away), but we just decided to stay safe at home. We opened presents. Watched the kids play with their new toys, then for Christmas dinner, we had leftovers from our Christmas Eve supper. It was one of the best Christmases we’ve had in the 18 years my husband and I have been married. It was nice to be able to stay at home, not having to rush to anyone’s house.
So snow was the catalyst for a quiet day rather than being a central theme of your day, ChristiQ – that’s a different response altogether 🙂
When I’m rushing around Christmas morning, collecting all the things needed for our day with family, I fully understand the appeal of a quiet Christmas Day, ChrisitQ 🙂 I had a friend a few years ago who cancelled all family things and had a day at home for the four of them, and she also said it was a lovely Christmas Day. I keep Boxing Day (26th December) quiet as our family day at home to explore presents and talk.
I finally had a White Christmas a couple of years back for the first time and I must say we all loved it. It made it seem more like Christmas with the snow, the hot cocoa upon waking up. Would been nicer to have had a fireplace too! It was so magical, all the decorations and the snow falling as we had our Christmas Dinner and opening the gifts around the Tree!! Even got to build a snowman with the kids, have snowball fights , it was beautiful!! I wish every Christmas could be like that.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Dorothy – it sounds like you got outside and made the most of it. The snow part (snowmen, snow fights, etc) does have an appeal but I just can’t comprehend being so cold for Christmas!
All in all, though even so, as long as we have good friends and family we love to spend Christmas with, it is just as magical even if we don’t have the snow, but the snow is a nice touch,but Christmas is magical either way, in my opinon!
I totally agree, Dorothy – it’s the people and magic that makes Christmas special and that would work no matter what the weather was up to 🙂
It’s absolutely wonderful to have a white Christmas, we have some sometimes here in the UK. But I remember a couple of Christmases ago that the snow arrived a bit to early before Christmas and getting up country to stay with parents was an absolute nightmare. We got there in the end! So yeah, I do love a white Christmas…as long as it is on Christmas day!
Ah, if only we had the power to choose the weather for certain dates, Natasha 🙂
I live in Indiana and we occasionally have a white Christmas. I love the snow and all that the snow brings. A White Christmas for me is fun. My family can have a snow ball fight and we get to go sledding. The only down side is the slick roads to get to Mom’s for Christmas.
Glad you enjoy those Christmases, Lisa.
It’s thsoe slick roads that worry me – I know a lot of people drive to various events on Christmas Day in Australia, so lots of people on slick roads and possibly distracted makes me nervous. Maybe people move around less on Christmas Day in snow-prone areas?
I hope everyone gets a chance to experience it at least once. It makes EVERYTHING beautiful. There are no bad neighborhoods, no roads in need of repair, no abandoned houses, etc. It truly makes everything look like one big beautiful white world. I have some of the best childhood memories in the snow.
Wow, they are some different aspects of a white Christmas, mcamf – I guess snow does make everywhere equal and hides the faults.
Merry Christmas!
We’ve got a white Christmas here in Utah. It snowed all evening, and this morning the ground and mountains are white, and the sky is an incredible shade of blue. It looks like a good day.
merry Christmas to you, too, Kally! I hope you enjoyed your day and played in the snow with your family.