Winter is the coldest season of the year, in every part of the year. Obviously the level of coldness differs from place to place, depending on the hemisphere in which the city, town, country is located in. Generally places situated close to the Equator do not experience very cold winters. They are generally mild to moderate. However, those who reside in the northern and southern hemisphere do experience blistering cold winters, though at different times of the year.

Winter months in the northern hemisphere extend from December to February. In the southern hemisphere the winter season is on from June to August. Because of the difference in the period of winter, even the winter solstice differs for both the regions. In the northern part of the globe it is December 21, and in the southern end it is June 21.

Irrespective, whether it is the northern or the southern hemisphere, the season has certain characteristics that are associated with it. When one things of the winter scenery it is a blend of jubilation and yet a starkness. On the negative scale, since time immemorial, winter has been associated with iciness, gloom, unproductiveness, or demise. Whereas, on the contrasting scale it is a period of celebration, especially for the northern hemisphere residents – Christmas time in winter season!

However, most artists, poets and writers tend to create winter sceneries that mark what is popularly known as the wintriness of the season. That is so to speak the negative aspects of the season. One would see paintings of the winter season containing barrenness – snow coated trees, as if there is no life at all. In fact, old age is also termed as the winter of life, and so when creating visual pictures of winter – there is the wrinkles that are visible. This is more about interpretation, than actual pictures.

On the brighter side, though very few creative people capture this type of scenery, there is much to celebrate during the northern hemisphere winter season. Prominently, there is Christmas. But, apart from that there are numerous other festivals that occur in the three cold months. These are celebrated amongst the varied cultures.

The following are some of the festivals that are a part and parcel of this season, normally depicted as one of sorrow and emptiness…

o       The Chinese celebrate the following festivals

o       Dong zhi marks the Winter solstice

o       December 25, is the date that marks the Signature of the Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

o       The Chinese New Year falls anywhere between late January and early February

o       The Christians around the globe celebrate the following during the winter season:

o       On December 6, they celebrate Saint Nicholas' Day

o       December 24, marks Christmas Eve

o       December 25, is Christmas Day – celebrating the birth of Christ

o       December 26, is Saint Stephen's Day

o       January 1, is commonly celebrated as the Feast of Fools

o       The German celebrate the following:

o       Winter Solstice is celebrated as Mothers' Night

Similarly, the varied cultures have their own set of celebrations that bring real pictures of joy and happiness to the normally stark winter scenery that exists in the outdoors.