It’s that time of year again! Classes are winding down, festive lights and decorations are being put up, and the weather is getting colder…unless you live in the South, that is. For as long as I can remember, South Carolina always has what’s fondly called a “Green Christmas.” Instead of snow and sweaters, you’ll see sun and shorts. While warmer-weather places can sometimes feel less like a winter wonderland than you may initially want for the holiday season, it definitely comes with some perks  to keep in mind.

First and foremost, warm weather can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. Don’t get me wrong, I love the cold season as much as anybody else. Getting snuggled up in blankets in front of a fireplace with a steaming cup of hot chocolate is the dream! However, I’m less of a fan of cold weather when I have to walk a long distance from a building to my car in the freezing cold with the wind at full blast. Shivering uncontrollably can be a fairly easy way to forget about the holiday spirit, especially when all you can focus on is trying to get inside. Cold weather practically guarantees having to wear layers upon layers of clothes just to keep warm enough to not lose complete feeling in your toes and fingers. Not to mention the discomfort you’ll probably have for the rest of the day when you’re inside somewhere with a lot of heat while still wearing long sleeves. 

The next benefit that can come from a warmer climate during the holidays is the sunshine. One of the negatives with cold weather is the grey cloudy skies blocking out the most natural way to get the very important Vitamin D we need on a daily basis. A lot of people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can leave you feeling hopeless and depressed due to a lack of sun exposure. And while during the actual day we may all want a white Christmas, pretty quickly after it’s over, most people are ready for the sunny weather to return. Luckily, when the weather is always warm, the amount of people experiencing SAD noticeably decreases due to the sun not disappearing. 

There are a lot of good things to come out of the holiday season. Whether it’s cold or hot, rain, snow or sunshine, at the end of the day, this time means a lot more than that. What truly matters is being with friends and family, celebrating the lives of those we love while exchanging fun gifts with delicious food.