[ambyr]

For the northerners that have moved to Florida...is it hard to get used to celebrating Christmas in the warm weather? I'm picturing eveyone in shorts, decorating their palm trees...Can you even buy a live Christmas tree there? (maybe that's a silly question). I've read that Floridians really get into decorating for the holidays, is this true?

[NHtoFLMom]

Ambyr,
I wondered that very same thing when I moved here from NH. We did purchase a "fake" tree when we moved here but only because I was really tired of vacuuming the dead fallen needles every day even up north. But there are actually MANY places to buy real Christmas trees here in Florida. Almost every corner gas station, Wal-Mart, grocery store and church sells real Christmas trees in their parking lots. People do alot of outdoor decorating down here. Probably because it is warm enough out to spend the time setting out all of the decorations and lights! I do miss the actual snow on Christmas morning, but as far as celebrations and traditions, you will find a way to enjoy Christmas in Florida just the same as you did in the north.

[aplacetocallhome]

I wondered that same thing too!
I'll miss NYC for the holidays, Florida might be nice but I don't think that it can top christmas in NYC with the Rockerfeller Tree or Macys decorations and the Christmas spirit in New York is all about the spirit, going ice skating, the snow and radio city with the rockets. I'm sure going to miss all that

[ambyr]

Yes, I agree...it's hard to top Christmas in NY. I went a few years back, did a carriage ride in the park...it was amazing. I can't imagine it really "feels" like Christmas when it's 75 degrees out but who knows..maybe I'll just go to the beach

[Racelady88]

The first Christmas that I spent in FL was hard. There were snowmen decorations all over the place, and here I was wearing shorts & flip-flops! It did not "feel" like Christmas. After that first winter, as I acclimated to the climate, it got easier. Many times on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve I would call my friends who were freezing their butts off up North somewhere and let them know that I was at a poolside party or cooking out. The first one was most assuredly the hardest, but palm trees look soooo cool with lights on them. Many of the small neighborhoods are very well decorated, and you can park your car and walk the sidewalks to look at the decorations and the homeowners might just be outside passing out cookies and spiced cider.

[cuse]

I found it very hard to adjust to the Holiday Spirit here in Fl. It is constantly hot here, and that it actually throws off your mental clock. I mean now is "Fall" and last week we were breaking record temps. here. I went with my daughter to pick out a pumpkin in shorts sweating my ..... off! Back in NY, fall has a certain smell in the air....cooler temps, autumn colors and cloudy skies.

Yes X-mas lights look beautiful but to me it's not the same! It's just summer here 24/7!

[pixiewytch]

Well, I've been here. all my life so I have nothing to compare it to but for me the weather has always been a huge factor. As many know, fall and winter in Fl is very unpredictable. That means that on the holidays it could be highs in the 40's to 50's or highs in the 70's. You just never know. I have spent holidays where I was bundled up in a coat and in front of a fireplace and I've seen holidays where everyone was wearing short sleeve shirts and sandals. For me personally it is much harder to get in the spirit when the weather is warm. That doesn't mean you can't but it just feels out of place when you can't wear sweaters, scarves, or sip cocoa by the fire.

My advice though is to make the holidays what you want. I suppose there are people here who go to the beach or hangout poolside on the holidays but my family doesn't and I just wouldn't enjoy that. If you don't want to be inundated with palm trees and beaches on xmas you don't have to be. A lot of that is just cliche and hype anyway I think. I've always thought the retirees are typically the ones who embody that sort of lifestyle, like those silly Bealls commercials. The rest of us are kind of tired of seeing them, lol. Most people here enjoy holiday traditions the same as people up north. We just have a hard time celebrating them if it's hot outside and naturally, there is never any snow.

All in all, it will be what you make of it. I'm sure it isn't like NY. One of my dreams has always been to visit there for the holidays because I'm sure it is just beautiful. Down here a lovely place to visit is Disney. Their decorations are breathtaking and they also have "snow" at certain times.

[NatureCoastFL]

I agree with the others, it what you make of it that matters the most.
Just in case you were wondering, here is the last temps for the last 11 years on 12/25 in tampa:

YEAR - HIGH & LOW
2005-70 & 57
2004-60 & 48
2003-66 & 47
2002-70 & 51
2001-58 & 51
2000-71 & 49
1999-58 & 43
1998-79 & 64
1997-73 & 67
1996-70 & 56
1995-56 & 33
1994-64 & 47
1993-59 & 46
1992-80 & 56