Benjamin Werner:
‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Delicate snowflakes fall from the sky, filling the silence with wonder. Clouds of white hover above, and flurries sprinkle down like sugar on sugar cookies–sweet and ambrosial. Winter feels soft and fluffy, like a bunny that changes its fur for the chilly weather. Kids lace up ice skates and tug on gloves, ready for fun they will remember forever.
Starting in December, after Mariah Carey’s voice serenaded everyone’s ears, the holidays are long from over. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas! New Year’s, Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day! ‘Tis the season of celebration. Gather some loved ones, get cozy around a fire and don’t forget the food!
From jelly donuts during Hanukkah to dumplings on Lunar New Year, one can rely on food to do one thing: bring people together. Marshmallows for the cocoa; chocolate chips for the muffins; and ice cream for the pie. Now is the time to find that Pinterest recipe you’ve been saving and whip up something special.
Santa Claus is bound to shimmy down the chimney, decked in red and smelling like vanilla and gingerbread, ho-ho-ing to himself as he softly tip-toes. As Andy Williams says, “So hoop-de-doo and hickory dock / And don’t forget to hang up your sock.” Pop the popcorn and grab your card–it’s time to shop.
In addition to filling your cart, movies are a core tradition many look forward to. This is the time to decorate to your heart’s desire. This is the time to rent all the movies Disney+ doesn’t provide. This is the time to play ethereal sounds that taste like glazed raspberry scones and mocha cheesecake brownies.
The holiday spirit is truly a part of our culture, so much so that children are warned not to cry and to be good unless they want coal in their stockings. It’s the time of year when Anxiety allows Nostalgia to step out from her hidey-hole and embrace the magic–when midnight is the most treasured time of year for defrosting and a ball drop. Winter is the season of gifting. Winter is the season of cheer. Winter is the season of love. And so, Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.
Lucy James:
Imagine a sea of trees filled with scarlet, amber, and golden leaves. It’s just warm enough to be comfortable outside but cold enough to wear an extra layer. You’re holding your favorite drink, a warm coffee or a pumpkin spice latte and enjoying the outdoors. The season of fall is in full swing.
The season of fall, or autumn, is the best season of the year. It’s the perfect balance between warm and cool weather. It’s enjoyable to be outside, not sweltering like in summer, nor is it freezing like in winter. It’s the perfect time to do fall activities like carving pumpkins, apple picking, or getting lost in a corn maze.
The best foods and flavors always come from the fall season. Foods like sweet potatoes, apples, pomegranates, and citrus fruits are at their ripest in the fall. Flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, and of course the famous pumpkin spice, are all fresh. They all make warm and hearty meals like soups, hot cider, apple and pumpkin baked goods, and a soothing pumpkin spice latte.
Fall has the best holidays. Halloween comes with costumes, trick-or-treating, and watching spooky movies like nightmare before Christmas (which is a halloween, not christmas, movie). The second is Thanksgiving when we get nine days off school to relax and study ahead for the last month of the semester. These holidays are a great time to spend time with family and get a small break from school.
Autumn has the best color palette, with deep reds and oranges mixed with earth tones of green and brown, which is one of the easiest palettes to suit people. The different shades of leaves creates a colorful backdrop for perfect fall photos.
Now all these reasons also might be similar to winter, but fall is still superior. Snow in winter is great for about an hour, then the winter wonderland becomes more like an icy death trap. The snowy and frigid weather cause ice to form on roads which makes it dangerous to drive. The lack of sunlight causes more seasonal depression and the Christmas holidays include more expense for gifts, making the end of the year even more stressful.
Fall is, and will always be, the best season of the year.
