It’s when the crispness of frosty encounters in nature means coming home to comfort, good food, great friends and warmth by the fire. There’s a joy of feeling cozy that can only come after being in the cold.
1.THE LIGHT ON A FREEZING COLD MORNING. We love those mornings when it is frosty cold, and you step outside into the
crisp promise of a winter’s day. These days hold the still and fresh air that the long days of summer will never possess.
2. THE WINTER NIGHT SKY Slightly warmer temperatures in early winter this year make the time spent under the stars more comfortable. While global warming is bad, it has also presented some opportunities to stargaze at night in the middle of winter. — Astronomy expert, Robert Dick
3. FULL MOONS IN THE DARKEST SKIES –
4. On January 2nd & 3rd 2025 the Quadrantids Meteor Shower. These relatively fast meteors leave moderately bright trails across the sky. They radiate from a point that will rise in the northeast around midnight. All you need to observe them will be a lounge chair, warm sleeping bag and a warm drink. — Robert Dick
5. THE ZODIACAL LIGHT IN EARLY JANUARY If you also live in a rural area and get up about an hour before sunrise, during the first week of January or at the end of December (when the moonlight will not interfere), you may also see a faint hazy glow extending up from the eastern horizon forming an extension to this line through the planets. This is the Zodiacal light. This is sunlight scattering off interplanetary dust in the plane of our solar system. These bright planets and faint phenomena reveal the structure of our solar system and help us ponder our place in the cosmos. —°Robert Dick
6. SEEING SATURN, JUPITER AND MARS In December, low in the southwest is the bright planet Saturn, further to the east and higher in the sky is the brilliant Jupiter, and over in the east is Mars. It’s the bright “star” up and to the left (NE) of the bright star Aldebaran in the Hyades star cluster. A line drawn through these planets will show the ecliptic plane. All the planets orbit the Sun in a relatively flat plane called the ecliptic, that is the plane of our solar system. This is usually hard to envisage, but this winter, it becomes easier because we have three points of light to help us imagine this line across the sky. —°Robert Dick
7. PLANTS THAT HAVE AN ARCHITECTURE IN THE WINTER We leave ornamental grasses and tall perennial seed heads standing through the winter. Ornamental grasses provide movement in the wind and texture all winter. Songbirds are attracted to seed heads that remain on perennial plants. While the birds are enjoying this natural source of food, you will enjoy the beauty of both the plants and the action that they create during an otherwise quiet time of year in the garden.
8. PLANTS THAT FEED THE BIRDS Many plants produce berries or berry-like fruit in late fall. For the most part, they remain on the plant until late winter, when foraging birds clean them off come February and March. Crabapples, mountain ash, bittersweet vine (Celastrus scandens), euonymus and even roses can produce great-looking fruit.
9. FLOWERS THAT BLOOM THROUGH THE SNOW Depending on what part of the country you live in, you will enjoy the early blooms and glossy green foliage of what’s commonly called the Christmas rose (Helleborus). On the west coast, the happy-looking flowers pop out as early as November, while the other provinces usually have to wait until February or March when the packed snow is gone. Bonus: the foliage is deer resistant.
10. BRANCHES THAT PUT ON A SHOW Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericeaˆ‘Cardinal’)ˆwith its deep red branches is a great winter accent. Popular in outdoor urns and window boxes for seasonal decoration in winter. Best grown in rich, moist soils in full sun to part shade. Hardy to Zone 2.
11. SHOWY EVERGREENS Evergreen shrubs come into their own in winter, when deciduous trees and bushes have shed their leaves, and only the silhouettes of bare branches remain. From glossy dark greens to gold, icy blue and scarlet, evergreens colour the winter planting picture.
12. BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN Another benefit of a winter garden is natural, readily available decorations. If you are assessing your winter garden before the holidays, you will likely want to decorate outdoors and indoors for the season. Many natural items in your garden lend themselves to a seasonal look that can be very attractive — not to mention save you money.
13. USING EVERGREEN BRANCHES This is big business. You can go to your local retailer and buy pine, fir, cedar and spruce branches at considerable expense, or you can cut your own. Again, no harm is done to your precious trees. There is no magic in this — just cut with a sharp pair of pruners and get creative using the stems, inside and out. — Mark and Ben Cullen
Tip: To keep fresh, mist the evergreen branches with water every 3 days.
14. WINTER WALKS Whether you are in a natural area or an urban environment, walking in the cold will boost your energy, burn calories, activate the immune system and help you see the world diferently. There’s something about a fresh snowfall or a chill in the air that helps us take in a new perspective. It’s a great time to awaken your senses to your surroundings. —°Claire Dam
15. HAVING A WINTER PICNIC Dress warm, summon your adventurous spirit and bring delicious food. Our favourite menu items to pack in the insulated bag include soup, stew, chili and pot pies. Frittatas and sandwiches work well too. Add some brownies, hot chocolate and apple cider, and you have the perfect meal. Whether setting up in the forest or your backyard, a
snow picnic is fun for all ages.
16. GATHERING ANNABELLE HYDRANGEAS ‘Annabelle’ hydrangeas are the big “snowball-like” white flowers that bloom late
summer through fall. These popular shrubs bloom on new wood, meaning their flowers are produced on the new seasonal growth (which grows up from the base of the plant). Now, winter, is the time to cut them down to the ground. This will provide
the largest flowers and sturdiest stems. If you want smaller flowers, cut them back to 30- 60 cm (1-2 ft).
17. DRYING CITRUS FRUIT ‘Don’t let your fruit go to waste; make dehydrated citrus wheels at home in your oven. Drying lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit is easy though it will take an afternoon to prepare them in the oven. Slice your fruit thinly with a sharp knife (the average-sized lemon could be cut into 6 slices) and lay flat on a baking sheet in a 170 ̊F oven for 4 to 5 hours, turning the pan every couple of hours. Remove from the heat when the wheels are completely dry and slightly brittle to the touch, and allow them to cool completely. Store in a sealed container in a cool, dry place (they keep for at least
a year) to use later with cocktails, as garnishes, in teas, and with your winter decor. —°Claire Dam
18. USING DRIED CITRUS TO ADORN BOUGHS Making a bough, sometimes called a swag, is an easy way to add to your décor without building a whole wreath from scratch. To craft one, lay out the longest branch on your work table and, using florist wire, add in small branches at diferent lengths and with diferent textures of green. Here, I used mostly pine that I clipped from my back trees and wove in a citrus garland and some homemade pompoms. The elegant black ribbon brings it all together. —°Claire Dam
19. MAKING A HANDMADE WREATH – FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO MAKE YOUR OWN WREATH
20. FRESH GREENS THAT SMELL AMAZING To bring in invigorating natural scents, choose freshly cut cedar, white pine, balsam fir or blue spruce.
21. MAKING SUET TREATS FOT THE BIRDS We use our excess cooking fat to feed the wild birds in our area throughout the winter. It’s actually a win-win because nothing goes to waste. We pour the meat fats right into our silicone trays (in the summer, we use them for ice cubes) and add in small scraps of fruit, nut butter, unsalted seeds and nuts, bird seed and even extra dried cranberries when we have them. We loop a string through each one and then freeze it overnight. The next day, the kids can’t wait to pop them out of the tray, tie them in the trees and watch the birds enjoy their treats. ̇— Andrea F., Guelph, Ontario
22. WELCOMING THE PILEATED WOODPECKER The pileated is the largest woodpecker in North America. Magnificent in flight, it has a large crow-like body of about 1/2 of a metre tall and a wingspan of almost a metre. Females and males both have a bold red crest with a mostly black body with white streaks of feathers on their face, neck and wings. “Pileated” is the Latin term for ‘capped’ or ‘crested,’ so that’s where they get their name. Read the Full Story Here
23. FEEDING BACKYARD BIRDS When it comes to feeding birds, be sure to use the appropriate seed. Consider what kinds of birds you wish to attract to your yard, and put out the appropriate seed in your feeders. Mark & Ben Cullen share their tips:
- Black oil sunflower seed is the closest to a universally accepted birdseed. Cardinals and goldfinches love it.
- Quality suet—unsalted and full of nuts or meal worms—is an excellent way to attract woodpeckers to your yard.
- Buckwheat and cracked corn attract mourning doves. Avoiding cracked corn in your birdseed mix will help to minimize the population of grackles and mourning doves at your feeders.
- Quality canary seed attracts house sparrows. Song sparrows have an even stronger preference for it than house sparrows.
- Sa ̆o wer, in our experience, may be the last birdseed you will ever buy. Very few birds will eat it, but squirrels don’t like it either, which is why it is often sold as “squirrel-free.” Worth thinking this one over before you buy.
- Black-striped sunflower seeds are preferred by most songbirds. The smaller the seed, the better.
- Thistle is the number one choice for attracting finches. Goldfinches are brownish in colour this time of year but change to brilliant yellow in the spring.
- Unsalted, shelled peanuts are candy for most woodpeckers and blue jays.
24. BUYING A NEW BIRD FEEDER According to Statistics Canada, a quarter of all households have a bird feeder. If you are one of these millions of people, remember that bird feeders should be within a metre (3 feet) of a window or more than 10 metres (33 feet) from a window. Within a metre, birds cannot build up enough speed to hurt themselves too seriously if they hit the window, while more than 10 metres away provides them with an opportunity to veer away from the window when they realize it is not a thoroughfare to another part of your garden.
25. SEEING ANIMALS IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Wherever you find ourself in your nearby nature, you should expect to encounter wild animals, after all, it’s their home that you are venturing into. Whether you cross paths with a rabbit, a fox, or a deer, these encounters will be the highlight of your day. Remember to remain discreet so that you can observe their behaviour —ˆand if you are taking a photo, ensure that the flash is turned off on our camera so you don’t frighten the animal.
26. IDENTIFYING ANIMAL TRACKS It’s always special to see a wild animal in its natural environment. Still, seeing the clues they leave behind presents a fun puzzle to solve. On your next winter hike, use our handy chart to decipher which species could have walked along the path before you did.
Tip: Remember never to feed the animals. Once wildlife learn that people will feed them, they can lose their fear of humans
and become aggressive.
27. HOMEMADE QUILTED STOCKINGS Clearing out your fabric scraps box and making colourful quilted stockings is a win-win. For a full tutorial on how Claire Dam made these stockings, plus our favourite free patterns, visit www.harrowsmithmag.com/quilt-stocking.
28. DOGS IN SWEATERS Really.
29. COZY SOCKS Wearing socks to bed helps you fall asleep faster and snooze better during the night. Research shows that
thawing out icy feet can adjust our body’s core temperature and tell the brain that it’s bedtime. Three cheers for cozy socks!
30. ROYAL SPICE CARROT SOUP There’s nothing like a hot soup on a cold day — and what’s better than feeling extra warm inside knowing that you can make a delicious soup from almost nothing? The basic formula for soup is a little bit of fat + some homemade broth (something you can make from food scraps and or bones) + some meat if desired + whatever veggies you have on hand in your fridge. For this soup, we’ve used a simple list of ingredients and elevated the flavours with the royal duo of spices. Cardamom is the ‘queen’ of this soup, and black pepper is the ‘king.’ This yummy soup is adult and kid (and baby!) approved. Get The Full Recipe Here
31. PEPPERED PEPITAS Make the perfect pairing with the Royal Spice Carrot Soup. Get The Recipe Here
32. BLUE CHEESE BRUSCHETTA WITH HONEY AND CRACKED BLACK PEPPER Blue cheese is divisive. Those who do like it tend to love its pungent aromas, creamy texture, and veins of blue mould. That cauldron of characteristics, in combination with the sweetness of honey, the odorific pleasures of raw garlic, the bite of freshly cracked black pepper, and the texture of a well-toasted slice of rustic bread make this easy-to-assemble appy a very heady experience. Get the Recipe Here
33. BAKING PARTIES Take a handful of good friends and a cozy kitchen, then add your favourite recipes. You will end up with quality time spent together and lots of yummy treats.
34. COOKIE EXCHANGES We love cookie exchanges because you bake one type of cookie, bring them all to a party and then go home with many di erent varieties —ˆand you only need to buy one set of ingredients. Most cookie swaps ask that guests bring one dozen cookies for each person at the party, and most parties usually host 8-12 people. Bringing cookies that have personal meaning to you makes for great conversation and a more meaningful swap.
35. VIRTUAL COOKIE EXCHANGE While you could try the same-but-online version of an in-person cookie exchange, it will likely be quite expensive and time-consuming to ship boxes of homemade cookies to fellow party-goers. Instead, share your coveted cookie recipe with others ahead of time, and they will share theirs with you. Bake a batch of each type of cookie and then set a date and meet together via video call to taste them all and catch up.
36. MAKING 3-INGREDIENTS SHORTBREAD Get the Full Recipe Here
37. GIVING BACK The holiday spirit is all about giving. What better way to spread some cheer than by lending a hand to others? Here are some timely volunteer opportunities and ideas.
38. SPREADING JOY Next time you are buying a coffee, pay for the person after you. Grab some of your neighbours and go door-to-door singing your favourite carols. Visit a local senior’s home and get to know some of the people who live there. Likely, they have wonderful stories to share. Can’t commit to a visit? Call the community coordinator to arrange to send cards or letters to the residents for the holidays. Offer to babysit so that parents get an unexpected date night or a much-needed break from the kids.
39. VISITING HOLIDAY MARKETS
40. SNOWDAYS, BANFF AND LAKE LOUISE Every January Banff and Lake Louise comes alive with the annualˆSnowDays
celebration. The streets of downtown Banff ˆtransform into larger-than-life winter galleries with giant snow sculptures. The thrill of Skijoring can be felt by excited onlookers lining the streets of Banff.
41. THE QUEBEC WINTER CARNAVAL, QUEBEC CITY, FEBRUARY From outdoor dance parties and sporting events to ice sculptures and parades, the Quebec Winter Carnaval is a true must-do during Canada’s winter.
42. WINTERLUDE, OTTAWA, FEBRUARY Celebrate free Canadian winter fun at this epic festival which takes place in the Ottawa region during the first three weekends of February each year!
43. Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 February 8-16, 2025 The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, presented by ATCO and Boeing, will unite more than 500 athletes from over 20 nations to compete in a range of adaptive sports. In addition to the core Invictus Games events—indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair basketball—the 2025 Games will feature exciting new winter sports, including Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Nordic Skiing and Biathlon, Skeleton, and Wheelchair Curling. Vancouver and Whistler were chosen as the host cities after a competitive selection process by the Invictus Games Foundation.
44. THE SNOWKING CASTLE FESTIVAL, YELLOWKNIFE, MARCH 1-28, 2025 A winter wonderland is created on Yellowknife Bay where the Snowking and his talented, hardy northern helpers brave -30 over the course of 2 months to build a huge castle made entirely of snow and ice.ˆThe Snowcastle becomes a month-long celebration of community spirit, collaboration, innovation in the arts, entertainment for young and old and, where the spirit of winter wonderment from all our collective
childhood reigns supreme.
45. THE ROYAL WINTER FAIR TORONTO, NOVEMBER 7-16, 2025 Celebrating its centennial year, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will return to Toronto’s Exhibition place from November 7 – 16.
46. MAKING A SNOWMAN Last winter, my daughter Abbey made a snowman for the first time. My husband and I taught her what kind of snow to look for, how to roll the balls, then how to pack it all together so the head wouldn’t topple from the body. She was a quick learner — definitely because we had been reading Frosty the Snowman every night for weeks, just waiting for that first snowfall to bring him to life.
We found twigs from our walnut tree to make arms (walnut trees are always dropping branches…), and we scavenged for stones on our driveway to create the eyes and mouth. We grabbed a carrot from the fridge for the nose. And the brown hydrangea flowers Abbey picked became the hat.
Together, our first winter as a family of four, we made a face that smiled back at us. I’d forgotten what simple joy lies in creating a snowman. Sometimes that’s all it takes to lift yourself out of the winter blues, to chase away the worries of life, to ease the stress.
To view the world through the eyes of Abbey, who found nothing more delightful than building a snowman — who she named Boody — on a cold afternoon was a gift. Boody was around for weeks before he melted.
