Winter Traditions
This is the holiday that celebrates the arrival of a new year on December 31st.
New Years Eve
This type of precipitation occurs when water vapor freezes before it hits the ground, forming tiny, frozen crystals.
Snow
This winter sport involves racing down a snow-covered slope on two boards strapped to your feet.
Skiing
This popular winter activity involves spending time in a warm indoor space, usually with family, and often includes watching classic holiday films like "The Polar Express" or "Elf."
Holiday Movie Marathon
This astronomical event marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, typically occurring around December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winter Solstice
Many people decorate these and hang them on the front door to celebrate the holiday season.
Wreaths
When the temperature drops below freezing, this type of weather event can create dangerous conditions on roads and sidewalks by covering them with a layer of ice.
Freezing Rain
In this winter activity, people use a special sled to glide across the snow. In some places, it's considered a competitive sport.
Snowboarding
During winter break, many families visit this type of place, which often has a large Christmas tree, holiday decorations, and festive music
Christmas Market
During the winter months, this animal hibernates in caves or dens, often for months at a time, to conserve energy in the cold
Bear
This tradition involves giving gifts to others, and it happens on December 25th.
Christmas
In many parts of the world, this type of storm brings strong winds and heavy snowfall, often reducing visibility to nearly zero.
Blizzard
This winter sport involves sliding a stone across the ice towards a target area, using a broom to help guide it.
Curling
In many cultures, people celebrate the winter season by creating beautiful and intricate designs made from lights and ornaments, such as this well-known annual event in places like New York City.
holiday light display (e.g., the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was measured in this continent, known for its harsh winters and vast icy landscapes.
Antarctica
This winter festival, celebrated in Japan, features lantern displays, fireworks, and an emphasis on family and good luck for the new year.
Japanese New Year
This occurs when warm air rises and cools, causing water vapor to condense into tiny water droplets, often forming a thick cloud layer during the winter months.
Fog
This traditional winter activity often involves making intricate designs in the snow using a shovel or pickaxe, and is most famously done in places like Harbin, China.
Ice Sculptures
Many students use the winter break to travel to places with colder climates. One popular destination for this is a region known for its slopes, where people go to ski or snowboard.
Ski Resort
In many cultures, this type of bird is associated with the winter season and is known for migrating south to warmer climates when temperatures drop.
Goose
This famous winter beverage is made with milk, sugar, and egg yolks, often served with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg.
Eggnog
It is characterized by extremely cold air from the Arctic that can cause dramatic temperature drops in the United States and Europe.
Polar Vortex
In the winter, people who live in very cold climates sometimes engage in this extreme sport, which involves walking on snowshoes to traverse deep snow.
Snowshoeing
This is the traditional food many people enjoy eating on New Year's Eve in countries like Spain and Mexico. It is believed to bring good luck in the new year.
grapes (or "12 grapes of luck")
This is the phenomenon in which light from the sun reflects off snow and ice, causing it to appear to sparkle or shine. It's a common feature of winter in snowy areas.
"snow effect" or "sunlight reflection"