By Clara Pressey
It may be the New Year, but Winter is still upon us in the Northern Hemisphere. Last month, I checked in with our VofZ staff and asked them to share some of their experiences with Winter. So here are the Winter experiences of some of our contributors.
Lily Spencer; Arts and Pop Culture Co-Editor (she/her)
What is your favorite movie to watch around the winter season?
A Christmas Story
What is your favorite food/drink/treat that you tend to enjoy during the winter season?
hot chocolate!! I love sitting on the balcony at my house, looking out over the river, and drinking cocoa with a good book!
Do you have any song(s) that you enjoy listening to during the winter season? “Underneath The Tree”- Kelly Clarkson, “All I Want for Christmas is You”- Mariah Carey
Freestyle
The older I get, the more I think I appreciate the Holidays! Finishing up finals for my first semester of college, I feel the most festive I ever have!! I’ll be so happy to be home with my family to celebrate each other and continue traditions from my childhood, but I’m also forming new memories and traditions with my friends from college! I’ve been through a lot this semester, with things happening out in the world, things happening at my school, and personal hardships, I’m so ready to have no obligations except what I want to do, making me feel like a kid again!
Kirsty Freeman; Writer (she/her)
What is your favorite movie to watch around the winter season?
Love Hard with Nina Dobrev it’s sooo good
What is your favorite food/drink/treat that you tend to enjoy during the winter season?
irish hot chocolate - muchos delicious
Do you have any song(s) that you enjoy listening to during the winter season?
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” [originally by Gayla Peevey]
Freestyle
Im obsessed with the Icelandic one of Jólabókaflóðið. When I first came across it during my research into different national Christmas traditions, I was utterly captivated. Can you imagine anything nicer than curling up on Christmas Eve with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, in front of the Christmas tree, with a roaring fire basking the room in a honey-glaze, surrounded by your nearest and dearest, and then cracking open a brand new .... book?
Yes, you read that right, a new book!
Jólabókaflóðið can be roughly translated as “Christmas Book Flood.” This tradition originated during the dark days of World War Two when paper was one of the only things not rationed in Iceland. When Icelanders finally gained their independence from Denmark in 1944, the event was celebrated through the tradition of giving books as Christmas gifts. This is why, still to this day, Icelanders purchase more books per capita than any other people. According to a 2013 study, 50% of Icelanders read more than eight books a year and 93% read at least one. Just to put that in to context, in the UK only 53% of adults claim to have read a single book last year.
As a result, Iceland has been heralded as a nation of bibliophiles. Every year the Reykjavik Book Fair promotes this passion by sending out to each household a special catalogue called Bókatíðini (‘Book Bulletin’). You can use the catalogue to order books for your friends and family on the 24th. Tradition dictates that everyone must read the books they have been given straight away – with, of course, the obligatory mug of hot chocolate, or the alcohol-free Christmas ale called jólabland. So there are no stacks of unopened books, gathering dust on book shelves. The books are actually read!
Yashavi Prakash; Race, Politics Writer (she/her)
What is your favorite movie to watch around the winter season?
When Harry Met Sally
What is your favorite food/drink/treat that you tend to enjoy during the winter season?
The caramel chocolate cake from hHarris tTeeter it's so good!!!!
Wendy Garcia; Gender and Sexuality Writer (they/she)
What is your favorite movie to watch around the winter season?
A Charlie Brown Christmas
What is your favorite food/drink/treat that you tend to enjoy during the winter season?
Hot cocoa
Do you have any song(s) that you enjoy listening to during the winter season?
“Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande
Freestyle
I like seeing all the Christmas decorations in neighborhoods and cities and really helps put me in the holiday mood. I don't spend a lot of time outside even if it snows since I don't really like the cold, but I spend my time indoors listening to Christmas music and sipping on hot cocoa. I usually spend the holidays with my relatives, but that's usually not the most enjoyable since I'm more introverted and my relatives tend to be more outgoing with their celebrations. I like the holidays but I would like to change up how I spend them.
Mehr Lokhandwala; Writer (she/her)
What is your favorite movie to watch around the winter season?
Home Alone Movie Series
What is your favorite food/drink/treat that you tend to enjoy during the winter season?
Eggnog Lattes
Do you have any song(s) that you enjoy listening to during the winter season?
“Tis the Damn Season” - Taylor Swift, “Happiest Year” - James Young, “The Open Road - Hollow Coves, Coastline” - Hollow Coves
Freestyle
There often times seems to be both an internal and external pressure to have the holiday season be a perfect time full of happiness and surrounding ourselves with loved ones. However, over the past few years it has become abundantly clear to me that the pressure to have the perfect holiday season seems to be what is holding me back from enjoying this time of year. I am someone who often find peace in being with myself, I have learned to enjoy my own company and sometimes being surrounded by family gets pretty overwhelming. This means it is important for me to take time to myself sometimes this looks like going on a walk, taking a bath, and honestly sometimes it looks like laying on bed and watching whatever is trending on Netflix.
Around this time of year there also seems to be many posts circulating on social media about different peoples accomplishments throughout the year. It becomes to think about all things we did not accomplish or missed out this year. However, it is more important to recognize you survived another year in this world - and that is not always easy. Sometimes making resolutions for the new year becomes stressful so instead, at the end of each year I like to look back the past year and recognize any growth in my personal life. It is easier and kinder to myself when I recognize my achievements rather than beat myself up for unmet New Year resolutions.
Alyana Santillana; Politics, Arts and Pop Culture Writer (she/her)
What is your favorite movie to watch around the winter season?
While You Were Sleeping, Home Alone, Serendipity
What is your favorite food/drink/treat that you tend to enjoy during the winter season?
Hot chocolate!!
Do you have any song(s) that you enjoy listening to during the winter season?
“Evermore” and “Speak Now” by Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson’s Christmas album [Wrapped in Red]
Freestyle
I love spending time with my family after school. And I love putting the lights up and driving around to see them around my neighborhood. It’s great to see everyone in the spirit. And lots of great food!!
Written by writer Clara Pressey