Autumn is drawing to a close. I love seeing the leaves change colour and hearing fallen leaves crunch under my feet. That said, my favourite season - by far - is winter. You're probably thinking I'm slightly mad - after all, who doesn't love summer? Winter, in its own way, is wonderful. For anyone who still needs to be convinced, let me explain why.
During November, Christmas markets appear in countless towns and cities across the UK. London's Hyde Park becomes a huge winter wonderland. There are endless stalls selling traditional food and gifts. Christmas markets have something for everyone. Children can meet Father Christmas; adults can enjoy a glass of mulled wine. Often, temporary ice skating rinks are installed and this definitely provides some entertainment!
The weather gets noticeably colder: the mornings are often frosty and the nights close to freezing. I like the cold weather - for me, there's something nice about wearing a thick winter coat with a scarf and gloves. You can also wear festive jumpers. You can buy jumpers featuring designs of penguins, snowmen and Christmas trees, to name a few. Last year I bought one with a polar bear on and I can't wait to wear it again this year!
Along with countless school children across the UK, I get very excited about the thought of snow. In the Scottish Highlands, snow is quite common. Where I come from, in the North West of England, snow is a fairly rare occurrence. In the UK, because a heavy snowfall is rare, we are usually not prepared. A few years ago there was a lot of snow and many schools had the day off. Snowball fights are great fun and many families enjoy building snowmen together. Two years ago my sister and I made an igloo! I love a white Christmas; unfortunately this doesn't happen often in the UK.
Christmas time also brings other seasonal specialities: advent calendars, carol concerts and Christmas dinner. Throughout December, many churches and schools hold carol concerts: lots of traditional songs are sung, such as "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night". Christmas dinner is my favourite meal of the year. In my house, Christmas dinner includes turkey, pigs in blankets (these are sausages wrapped in bacon), roast potatoes and lots of vegetables. This is usually followed by Christmas cake and mince pies - and lots of chocolate!
What's your favourite season?
