Heat Waves & Holidays

While many dream of a white Christmas, half the world dreams of a bright one. In the Northern Hemisphere, the holiday season is synonymous with cold weather, snow, and steaming cups of cocoa. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, the holidays tell a different story — trading snowflakes for sunshine and chilly nights for blazing summer days. These opposite climates have shaped holiday celebrations around the globe, with people adapting these originally ‘winter holidays’ to fit their own environments.

To understand how climate shapes holiday traditions, we must first look at the climates themselves and why they’re so different.

The Southern vs Northern Hemisphere

The earth is split into two equal halves by the equator: the Northern and Southern Hemisphere (half sphere). The Northern Hemisphere includes North America, Europe, the northern part of South America, most of Asia, and the upper two-thirds of Africa. The Southern Hemisphere covers the remaining third of Africa, most of South America, Australia, Antarctica, and many islands in Asia and the Pacific. 

The biggest difference between the two hemispheres is their seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, summer runs from June to September, while in the Southern Hemisphere, summer doesn’t begin until December and lasts through March.

These seasonal differences become especially pronounced during the holiday season, when winter traditions make their way to the sun.

The Two Major Holidays of the Season

The two major holidays often celebrated during the winter months are Hanukkah and Christmas. While for many these are winter holidays, for millions of others around the world they are celebrated in the summer heat.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days instead of one. Families light one candle on the menorah each night for eight nights. The date changes annually in relation to the Hebrew calendar — this year Hanukkah runs from December 14 to 22.

Christmas, celebrated every year on December 25, is a Christian holiday that marks the birth of Jesus Christ, though it has become a globally celebrated holiday over the years, growing far beyond its religious roots.

Though both of these holidays originated in the Northern Hemisphere, each has become a globally celebrated holiday, meaning that for half the world these “winter holidays” are marked not by snow boots and scarves, but by sandals and shorts.

One of the most intriguing ways these holidays have been adapted to the sun can be found in Australia.

Christmas in July

Now, I have always adored Christmas, but Australia has taken the celebration to a whole new level — by celebrating it not just once, but twice a year. Once in December with the rest of the world, and then again in July. In doing so, they get the best of both worlds. In December, they are privy to a hot christmas with 45°C heat and not an ugly sweater in sight. However in July, they get to experience a holiday season that feels more like ours in the northern hemisphere, and though this may not be an official holiday, this fun tradition is beloved by many.

According to the BBC, Christmas in July party host Neil Ferro explained, "Christmas has always been barbecues and beaches but it feels more Christmassy if it's cold." This unusual tradition of a “double” Christmas allows Australians to brighten up their winter and embrace the cozy holiday feeling we take for granted. Joshua Robb, a resident of Newcastle, told the BBC,  "We've all got the ugly Christmas sweaters that you wear in the UK… [This] gives us the chance to wear them because you can't on a 45°C day." 

This unique Australian tradition of a “double-Christmas” proves the spirit of the season can thrive whether you're sweating in the sun or wrapped in winter wool — and by embracing it, you just might get to experience both.

However, Australia isn’t the only place that celebrates Christmas in the sun.

South African Christmas Traditions

1. Christmas braais (barbecues)

You would be hard pressed to find a South African who doesn’t love a braai, and Christmas is no exception. While many families enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch, dinner often turns into a braai where friends and family gather to grill a variety of meats, including boerewors (traditional sausage), chicken, and lamb chops.

2. Not-so-polar plunges

Many people travel to coastal towns for the holidays, so Christmas day often includes at least one trip to the beach, and in the blistering heat of a South African Christmas, a swim in the ocean is the perfect way to cool off.

3. Carols by candlelight

Carols by candlelight events are a beloved South African tradition, often held in parks or outdoor arenas. Participants gather under the stars to sing traditional carols while holding candles. Many families spread out picnic blankets to watch the performances under the warm summer night sky.

But climate isn’t the only factor shaping holiday traditions — culture is often just as important.

Navidad

In Latin America, Christmas is celebrated quite differently from western traditions. Most festivities take place on Christmas Eve — more widely known as “Navidad”— rather than on Christmas Day. As one Latina woman, María, explained, “Navidad is the 24th. Presents at midnight. Christmas day is for sleeping and playing with your new toys.”

Food is also a huge part of Latin American Christmas traditions. Some favorites include tamales — steamed corn dough wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves with sweet or savory fillings — as well as coquito, a Puerto Rican holiday drink made from creamy coconut and rum punch. Other staples include ponche, a warm Mexican Christmas punch, and buñuelos, fried dough fritters often compared to doughnuts.

Latin American traditions are far less centered around the weather and aesthetics, and instead are centered around family and food, it’s put best by columnist for the Hispanic Executive, Laura Martinez, who wrote “I always felt Christmas in the US was more like a monthlong TV commercial, featuring reindeers, chubby white men dressed in red, and snow-covered things that were quite foreign to me.”

Not only has Christmas adapted to the heat, but Hanukkah, too, has transformed in surprising ways.

A Mango Menorah

In Australia, Hanukkah has also taken on traditions that are uniquely its own. Many major cities host “Hanukkah in the Park” events, where locals gather to enjoy barbecues (or “barbies,” as Australians call them), watch fireworks, and participate in the festivities. However in the town of Cairns in Queensland, Rabbi Ari Rubin has made it his mission to embed local culture into the holiday. In 2019, he replaced the traditional menorah with one crafted from local mangoes, inspired by the region’s tropical climate. The following year, he created a menorah made from didgeridoos — an Aboriginal Australian wind instrument — after receiving permission from aboriginal elders. Rabbi Ari Rubin stated in an interview that “The aboriginal elders we sought permission from to use didgeridoos for our menorah were very supportive and thought it was a great way to commemorate our freedom of religion in Australia, as well as emphasize the sense of kinship that many Jewish people feel with the Indigenous community.”

Rabbi Ari Rubin's efforts are a testament to how people all across the globe have adapted these traditional winter holidays to reflect both their climate and their culture.

However, not every tradition adapts easily to summer conditions.

The Challenges of Celebrating Hanukkah in The Summer

While celebrating Hanukkah in the heat may sound ideal in theory, in practice it comes with its own challenges — especially the timing of lighting the menorah, which traditionally happens after dark. However in the summer, when the sun sets much later, many families are unable to light the menorah until late at night, often disrupting bed times.

Wrapping It Up

Though these holidays may have originated in colder climates, they truly have become global celebrations, adapting to different climates and cultures around the world. Whether you're celebrating in snow boots or sandals this holiday season, Happy Holidays!