Winter Descends

Dixya Poudel

As winter descends, people will be facing the cold for the next few months in Northern Hemisphere. The chill can be tricky to navigate, with the cold pestering the body. While there are people who proudly assert that they are ‘winter person’, even they prefer to take steps to keep themselves warm every winter. Hypothermia is a real threat to lives, as it can even be fatal. And this season is the chilliest one that seeps the cold to the bones, making people lean in closer to the heaters and sunbathe during the day. 

Psychologists have studied the effects of cold or warm temperature on human psychology. In one study, psychologists offered one set of participants a cup of warm beverage before filling up a questionnaire. Next, they offered another set of participants a cup of cold beverage before they filled the questionnaire. And as the researchers tallied the questionnaire, they found that those who held a warm cup were likely to have more optimistic and positive responses to their questions. On the other hand, the responses were mostly negative for those who had held a colder cup. It shows that the external weather or the simple fact of holding a warm cup can alter an individual’s decisions or perspectives. 

It is no wonder then that people have more genial conversations when they are drinking a hot drink. This, however, is not to dismiss the appeal of a cold drink, which is much more complementary during summer. The coldest of seasons often makes life quite woeful. It calls for layers of clothes that have to be dug out from the wardrobe. People take to bed early at nights and find it difficult to get up in the mornings, instead preferring to burrow under the quilt. Hot drinks and cuisines are preferable choices. People love to go to cafes in winter to try out the various concoctions of beverages such as coffee. Unlike tea, coffee has myriad different options such as cappuccino, latte, espresso, etc. 

Like most of the nations worldwide, Nepal too is seeing a surge in café culture, mostly among the youths. Conversations flow in café where young lovers converge in clandestine meetings. Friends find themselves connecting with one another, exchanging gossips. Writers can be found scribbling in their notebooks or laptops while indulging in cups of coffee. Even business meetings are occasionally held at cafes. 

This season, the air fogs as one breathes. The temperature plunges in the night and mornings but thankfully, the sun shines warmly throughout most days. In cloudy days, however, one has to huddle in front of the heater for warmth. The nature too seems rather forlorn. Although the snowy landscape can be quite dreamy, the chill is somewhat pesky. Birds thus migrate to warmer places and animals tend to hibernate. Trees shed leaves and there are only a handful of winter flowers that bloom despite the cold.

At homes, offices, or at canteens in schools, cups of tea, coffee, or chocolate drinks are consumed copiously, bonding people as they struggle to overcome the cold. As aforementioned, people incline towards warmth that signals geniality. Yet, there are joys of winter too such as sunbathing while reading books, enjoying seasonal fruits, and drinking hot beverages until of course the advent of spring.