Holiday Cheer or Bah Humbug? Pros and Cons of Winter

I can’t believe Christmas has already passed. Is this year flying by or what? New Year’s is less than a week away, which means it’s only two weeks until I’m breaking my resolutions.

By Kathryn S

So, are you happy that winter’s finally arrived, or have you added a “Days to Summer” countdown to your Myspace profile? To determine whether the glass of egg nog is half empty or half full, let’s weigh the pros and cons of winter!

Pro: We get a month off from trekking around campus just when the temperature hits below zero.

Con: The “spring” semester starts in January. Brr!

Pro: Whatever holiday you celebrate, you’re bound to get some free stuff over break.

Con: You’re bound to get some free stuff you don’t want for the holidays, especially from your Grandma, who means well, but hasn’t been in style since the Great Depression.

Pro: Homemade treats, including (but not limited to) pumpkin pie, fudge, Christmas cookies, popcorn balls, and anything with chocolate in it.

Con: The calories that come with those treats.

Pro: You can get away with layering baggy clothes after indulging in the above treats.

Con: Spring break (and bathing suit season) is still just around the corner.

Pro: Spending time with your family for the holidays.

Con: Knowing there are millions of less fortunate people who can’t spend time with their families, especially with the soldiers fighting overseas.

Pro: If you run out of fridge space, you can store your booze outside and keep it chilled.

Con: If it snows, you’ll have to dig out your 30-pack on Saturday night, and your beer might have the consistency of a slushie.

Pro: Office Christmas parties.

Con: Facing your coworkers after the office Christmas party (damn you, Open Bar!).

Pro: The beauty of the first snowfall.

Con: Being late to class/work/the tanning salon after the first snowfall, because it took you an hour to dig out your car, and the roads still haven’t been plowed.

Pro: You can warm up with Bailey’s and coffee, hard apple cider, egg nog, and other seasonal boozey bevs.

Con: You have to pregame doubly hard in order to get a warm enough liquor jacket to brave the cold on the way to the bar (wait, is that really a “con”?).

Pro: It’s so much easier to quit smoking when you have to light up outside in the freezing cold.

Con: If you still can’t manage to quit, smoking outside in the freezing cold is torture.

Pro: You get to show off your cute new peacoat.

Con: You have two choices: brave the cold in a hot halter for the bar, or wear a frumpy sweater for a night on the town. Or, pay for coatcheck, which is another major con.

Pro: Claymation holiday specials.

Con: Telling your best friend you’re too sick to go out… because you’d really rather stay in and watch A Christmas Story by yourself.

Pro: Everyone’s back in town for the holidays.

Con: Everyone’s back in town for the holidays.

Pro: Pre- and post-holiday sales at the mall.

Con: Crowds at the mall.

Well, what’s the verdict? Do we embrace winter, or should we all permanently move to Cancun and forget we ever had seasons to begin with? More importantly, what are your fave (and least fave) aspects of December, January, and February?