Deb Daniel
I don’t know about you but I don’t enjoy the winter as much as the summer. That being said, I want to make this a fair debate.
Pros of Winter
- Winter Holidays are the most wonderful time of the year.
We have to start with the winter holidays- Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa. You might feel cold in winter but my hope is that during the Christmas holidays you were not alone and that you enjoyed the warm embrace of family and friends.
Nothing beats the Christmas season; it’s a time of giving and a time of restored hope. Irrespective of your faith, most of us enjoy singing carols, sharing meals, and making memories.
As for a later winter holiday, we have Valentine’s day; a day filled with love and affection for love birds and galentines. These holidays are great if they are spent doing acts of kindness. In fact, Random Acts of Kindness Day is held Thursday 17th February.
2. The Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics are taking place from 4th to 20th February in Beijing this year and it is exciting to come together as a country and watch the games.
I’ll be honest I prefer the Summer Olympics because in my mind the Summer Olympics counts as the ‘normal’ Olympics. Although some countries are at an advantage in the Winter Olympics based on the weather they have, our own curling team have been put through the semi-finals in spite of their defeat to Norway. Unlikely Australia also won two games in curling recently against Switzerland and Canada, which are nations that are known for having the perfect environment for Winter Olympic sports!
The Winter Olympics are just as enjoyable as the Summer Olympics and despite all the divisions in the nation, we can turn on the tv and cheer on our very talented athletes.
3. Hot drinks
The winter season is perfect for teas, hot chocolate, and all types of coffee. Who doesn’t love hot chocolate? I’m more of a cold drinks person but there’s nothing like hot chocolate in Winter. Whittards is known for its unique collection of hot drinks. I would recommend the peanut butter hot chocolate.
Having to go out on a chilly winter day can always be made more bearable by your favourite hot drink.
My favourite places to get hot drinks:
- Independent cafes – they tend to have better tasting hot drinks and who doesn’t love supporting local businesses?
- Tim Hortons – you can’t complain, their drinks always taste delicious but, please note, they are better suited for sweet teeth.
- Starbucks – great for the picky people.
- Costa – they have a very delicious vanilla latte; you need to try it! Costa is great for getting together with friends or me-dates.
4. Snow days
Everyone loves snow days. We don’t get many of them in the UK. An inch of snow means that everything must stop. Everyone must stop work or their studies and have a snow day. Public transport just doesn’t work when it’s snowing. Part of that is because we are never prepared for anything but wind or rain. However, I think that a very small part of it is the unwillingness to let a very rare snow day go to waste.
5. Cuffing season
Cons of Winter
1. It’s too cold when you don’t want it to be and not cold enough for snow when you want it
It rarely snows at Christmas. Instead, what I experience is a cold and cruel breeze that makes me regret my outfit choices.
You can never predict British weather, so I constantly feel like I’m on a game show, risking going out with or without five extra layers!
2. Winter can be dark and depressing.
There is no denying that my mood is affected by the weather. I don’t like to leave the house in the dark but sometimes I’m required to be out by 7 am, and the darkness is not just literal. The weather can truly affect your spirits and motivation.
3. The dreaded bug and flu
People are more likely to get sick in winter, increasing the risk of cancelled plans. This has been an extra worry over the last couple of years with covid hanging about.
Pros of Summer
- Big Summer Break
Students don’t need to worry about their studies, giving them time to enjoy being young, wild, and free. Before the pandemic, I was an avid traveller. I love going to continental Europe. I love tasting culture and educating myself through experiences.
But you don’t need to travel abroad to enjoy your break; you can travel within the UK. The UK has the most beautiful cities and towns that often go unvisited by us Brits.
Use your time off to complete your bucket list and enjoy the time you have with friends and family.
2. Good weather for day trips/beach getaways
British Beaches have a lot to offer, some are quite remarkable. I like the beaches in Southend-on-Sea.
Did you know that Southend-on-Sea has the world’s longest pleasure pier in the world?
3. Walks are more enjoyable
The summer was made for walking!
When it’s too cold, I just don’t feel like going for a walk. During summer, you can walk all day long with the security of knowing you’re surrounded by nature and light that will guide your paths. I don’t know about you but I don’t feel as safe in winter, wandering the streets in the dark.
4. Commonwealth games
This year, the Commonwealth games are in Birmingham and, as a Brummie, it’s something I’m really excited about. The Commonwealth Games start on 28th July and end on 8th August 2022.
This might be the last Commonwealth Games as they’re so expensive to host; so please do take part in the excitement even if it’s just by sharing your reactions on Twitter.
Cons of Summer
- Expensive
Day trips, holidays, shopping trips, getaways are not cheap! It’s even more expensive if your birthday is in Summer! It’s important to cater for these events when financially planning your year. On the other hand, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time; you can host people at your house or go for very simple picnics (they don’t need to be excessive or expensive.)
2. Envying those that can afford to travel
Social media has become such a toxic place and it’s doesn’t get easier knowing that there are those that can afford to travel wherever they want when you can’t.
3. Long breaks can get boring
With so much time on our hands, summer days can be wasted as we get into the mindset that there is little to do. We all know it’s not true but it doesn’t stop you from getting bored.
Surviving summer involves being active, trying new things, and remembering to enjoy every hour.
My Verdict
I still much prefer summer but I can appreciate winter and I don’t want to let seasonal blues get me down. Therefore, I’ll be dreaming of a summer holiday whilst drinking my hot chocolate.
Do you prefer summer or winter?
Featured image courtesy of Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
