December always gets characterized as just the Christmas month, which I suppose is okay, but I think that there’s a lot more to December that we tend to forget about that makes it really wonderful. Like – it’s the first truly cold month. The light is different. The last few piles of leaves are still lingering on the ground. You know, the little things.
To me, December is soft winter, and, in my opinion, that’s the perfect amount. Therefore, since I don’t think December gets enough credit for that, here are four non-Christmas reasons why I think December is a beautiful month.
- The weather
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I love December weather. It’s cold and windy, but it doesn’t have that deep-set January chill that manages to sneak past your scarf and dry out your skin. December is the time you can spend hours outdoors, blowing chilly smoke rings like a dragon, and you’ll only have to worry about remembering your coat in the mornings.
- The fashion
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That transitions us nicely into December fashion. The important thing here is remembering that nothing is sexier than layers. They’re heavy enough that you feel like the stylish protagonist in a BBC drama, but lightweight enough that you don’t look like the Michelin tire man yet (see January and February).
- The light
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Now, some may say that the earlier nighttime darkness is a bit of a bummer, but I love nothing more than waking up to that soft gray light coming in through a cold window pane, or that golden hour glow setting in around 4 p.m. Maybe it’s just the film nerd in me, but December light is so much softer and easier, and it leaves me feeling so refreshed.
- The mood
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Now, arguably, this one is tied to Christmas, but I think that there’s something more to it. The whole month speeds up until the end, with everyone getting more and more exhilarated and hopeful for the Yuletide season. And yes, a lot of that is because there’s time off from work at the end of the year, and everybody likes getting presents, but I think there’s something to be said for taking that “Christmas cheer” and trying to make it just “cheer”. After all, you can keep it going all year.
I think it’s nice to get swept away in the festivity of this month, but sometimes, I like to sit back and just vibe with it. December’s a good time for buying presents and putting up lights, but it’s also the perfect time for bonfires, cider and coco, stomping around in big boots and drawing pictures in the morning frost. I dunno; I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive, but some days, I just really enjoy the little things.