Nothing creates Christmas spirit like winter

The novelty may have worn off for those who only know darkness at 4pm and odd looking pine trees, but for an Aussie abroad there’s something special about this Christmas, writes Stephen Drill.

I have just bought an alien Christmas tree.

It’s green, has a trunk and smells nice, but other than that it bears no resemblance to the trees we have back home in Australia.

It’s not like the Alien Sigourney Weaver style of the 1979 film, more like E.T. - it’s really weird, but you still want to bring it home with you.

The main difference is that they are grown to have so-called no drop needles, but as a result they are a bit sparse. The trees back home have full luscious, scratchy needles that, granted, do fall everywhere, but look great.

MORE OPINION: Christmas cards are more important than ever

The UK Christmas trees do give more chance to add decorations though, somewhat of a blank canvas. The tinsel has become part of the tree inside the gaps between the branches, rather than sitting awkwardly on top.

There’s nothing quite like getting cosy during a winter Christmas. Picture: iStock

Christmas trees are my favourite part of the season even though most traditions are the same in Britain, they feel different. It’s mainly because its cold, and dark.

When you’re wearing a beanie that you had to pick up at a Christmas market because you forgot to bring one, sipping a cup of mulled wine and standing under fairy lights, it just makes sense. Christmas is really a bright spot in the darkness, which currently starts here at 4pm each day.

MORE FROM STEPHEN DRILL: Want to offend a Londoner? Try jumping a queue

I can now see why people do Christmas in July in Australia. But even then, it’s still not cold enough to really make it worthwhile.

When you look at the forecast and you’re happy with 3 degrees because it was -1 the other day, the idea of a hot roast meal seems a lot more attractive.

However, there have been some scrooges this Christmas. The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust has complained that a German-themed Christmas market in Trafalgar Square, which it described as a “hurdy gurdy of kitsch” was “spoiling the noble view”.

Christmas markets have a certain magic to them. Picture: iStock

After reading the report of their complaint, I remembered that Charles Dickens wrote most of his books, including A Christmas Carol that featured Scrooge from a desk in London. Perhaps he only needed to look out the window for inspiration.

MORE OPINION: Confessions of an office Christmas party DJ

I say bring on the kitsch and let everyone have fun buying overpriced shiny things that make them feel good. If we follow the stuffy art commission’s logic, we would never celebrate at all, rather just silently enjoy a view while keeping a stiff upper lip.

And while I am missing my family and friends in Australia, the novelty of the potential for snow at Christmas is keeping me going. There’s already been some frosts, (remember the -1 degrees) and they just look brilliant on the parks. It’s a little taste of what might be.

However, if you ask a Londoner, perhaps not wearing the rose-coloured glasses of someone on a work secondment in the UK, they always say it never snows. But I’m a believer and I’m looking forward to throwing some snowballs, and some very naff Christmas Day UK television.

Excuse me, I’ve got to watch Love Actually.

Stephen Drill is News Corp’s UK correspondent.

Originally published as Nothing creates Christmas spirit like winter