Blooming flowers, sandy beaches, colorful leaves and paperwhite snow. Each phrase plays a different kind of music in one’s ear. To some, blooming flowers and sandy beaches may sound relaxing and soothing, but to others it may be an unbearable screeching sound. 

Along with the colorful leaves and the paperwhite snow comes the sweet scent of pumpkin spice and hot chocolate. Fall and winter respectively have better selections of food than summer and spring. When one thinks of their favorite summer or spring food, there is a hesitant pause or a vague answer like “ice cream,” but the list goes on when it comes to fall and winter. 

As soon as the color of the leaves starts to change, cafes pour out special drinks for fall and winter. For example, Starbucks is well known for their fall-themed beverages such as their “Pumpkin Spice Latte,” “Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato” and more. They also feature winter-themed beverages such as “Peppermint Mocha” and “Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte.” Little things like these make people a little more excited for fall and winter to come. 

What makes fall and winter so special are the holidays. Some of the biggest holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years happen during the colder seasons. Although colder seasons bring the unbearable cold wind, they also bring coziness and festive holiday spirits along with them. 

During Halloween, children disguise themselves in their favorite costumes and go trick-or-treating with friends. Skeletons and zombies crawl out of homes. There are funny-looking pumpkins scattered on the front porch. It’s a completely different world during Halloween.

 The smell of roasted turkey fills the room, and laughter within both adults and children echoes during Thanksgiving. The holidays are a wholesome excuse to spend a day with friends and family along with warm traditional meals. 

The most festive holiday of all, Christmas, also falls during the colder months. Streets, homes and stores sparkle with colorful lights. Presents ranging from small to big lay under the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Hugs, kisses and gratitude are exchanged along with the presents. Cards roam around the city greeting everyone and wishing them a “Merry Christmas.” 

After Christmas comes New Years, a mandatory celebration that is much needed for those who did not have the best year. It’s a chance and a hope for them to start anew. With little breaks in between these holidays, there is little space for sorrow.

Along with these holidays comes fun activities. During the fall, apples ripen just in time for a trip to the orchards. There, one can run around in a corn maze, get on hayrides, and pick apples. Pumpkins are also displayed to convince customers to carve pumpkins with friends and family. Delicious treats such as caramel apple, fritters, pies and more are also available in these orchards. Haunted houses are also open to the people who love the thrill of being scared by scary clowns with chainsaws. During the winter, friends and family have the excuse of showing extra attention and love to one another during activities such as decorating trees together, baking cookies, making snow angels and snowmen and more. 

Another reason to love colder seasons are the various fashion items that make dressing up more interesting. “Sweater weather” is a catchy phrase that expresses the warmth people feel when it’s finally cold enough to wear sweaters. Sweaters vary in different materials and styles. One can never have too many sweaters. There are also boots, mittens, knitted hats and earmuffs to keep one warm while looking extra accessorized and interesting. During warmer seasons, people are often limited to less clothing and often have to resort to tank tops and shorts due to the scorching heat. In contrast, during colder seasons, people have the liberty to stack as many clothes as they please. 

Warmer seasons are just as wonderful, but the warmth fall and winter bring during the cold weather is special.  Fall and winter bring special food that is unique to the cold weather. The exciting holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years wait in line for their turn giving people no time to be alone and be sad. People feel and look good when they step outside the house with their stylish winter essentials.