Holiday Season- The best time in America.

A tremendous, fun-filled season of festivals is coming to an end. I love this phase of the year which is so festive, partly because it’s one of the coldest months which brings warmth to everybody’s hearts. The warmth of this season is somewhat very contrasting to the cold and dry weather outside. A time to sit near the sparkling fireplace and have a mug full of coffee while catching up with family or friends or may be simply with a great book to read. Holidays were here and load of fun stacking up the air. Being in United States, this beautiful season of festival becomes even more special. It all starts with Halloween in October and culminates with the New Years’ Eve. However, in India festivals somehow never end. The woods are being saved even from New Year’s eve bonfire party for the eve of Makar Sankranti .

One thing in particular that I love about being in a Western country is that people work really hard  from January through the year but with the onset of the winter during the last couple of months, people just get into a different mood altogether to welcome the holiday season. Shopping for friends and family, Indulgence and extravagance somehow seeps into the lives of the people who otherwise follow a modest lifestyle.

December sets in with lots of glitz and glamour – personally, it’s my favorite month of the year. I know it’s not only me but innumerous people out there who love December. I have grown up in North Eastern India where winter sets in after a very hot and humid summer which sometimes lasts till October. I loved winters since my childhood, short days and long nights…   Evenings were cold and otiose, it’s the perfect time to snuggle inside a warm and cozy quilt with the family and enjoy watching television. While growing up we would often spend the cozy winter evening together as a family and my mom would make a quick trip to the kitchen and prepare some mouthwatering snacks or sometimes soups for me and my sister to enjoy.  Those were the coziest days I had spent with my family.  

December and winter are somehow so synonymous with Christmas. I guess this is the festival of humanity. I don’t know about anyone who does not like celebrating Christmas. Irrespective of religion or country, Christmas is for all. I have always loved this festival since my childhood.

Since I have moved to United States I love this time of the year even more. It’s so much fun really!!! It all starts from October after the colorful fall season which is spectacular on its own. Towards the end of October, we started decorating our house for Halloween which is an amazing festival. Typically, festive Halloween includes attending costume parties, decorating with pumpkins (carving pumpkins), playing pranks and visiting haunted attractions, etc.

 Exactly after a month it was time for thanksgiving weekend. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil war, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on 4^th Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year. Together with Christmas and the New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the broader holiday season. And with my feminine instinct, which always craves for shopping. It was an apt time to splurge in big brands as everything you buy would come in almost half the original price. There were sales on every consumer good possible under the sun. There is a bout of unrestrained extravagance in the life suddenly. Sale on electronics items becomes a rave of the season. People stand in queue for hours together to get their hands on their favorite electronic gadgets in almost half the price. Supermarkets go crazy with people crowding everywhere.  Entire America goes super extravagant that weekend. I too went on a shopping spree .Eventually; in such a situation splurging is inevitable. Well, technically the sale never ended after that. December came as a relaxed month for everyone. With the prominence of icy winter, all work places slowed down considerably. A long vacation with family and friends during this time is very common here in America.  It’s the Christmas time and somehow one can smell that in the air.

Decorating houses and bringing in a Christmas tree added a special feel to the season. I baked a marshmallow chocolate cake for Christmas. Cakes, Cookies, Pies and Apple ciders are the taste of the season. Obviously, these traditions were endless when the world celebrated Christ’s birthday for 2011th year.

All said and done now that the New Year is here and once again we are to start another new journey with loads of optimism in our hearts. I always believe that New Year is a good time to have a new beginning. Cheers to the New Year and let’s not forget that it’s another chance for us to get it right.