Snow For Christmas

I don't think we'll have a white Christmas over here in Montreal, despite it having snowed this morning. The snow doesn't really stay, it melts after a few hours. This brings me to the question of whether snow is really necessary to celebrate Christmas in a proper manner. Sure, we've all heard Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," and if you haven't I highly suggest you do, but my question to you is: Is snow needed to properly celebrate Christmas?

I think this is a relative question, meaning it all depends on preferences. Some people can't stand snow, others love it (I only like it because of Christmas, unfortunately). I have some friends who enjoy the snow for the winter sports it brings. It all depends on your likes and your needs. Some people need extra pocket money - they're hiring more people over the Christmas season. As long as you're looking for a job, you should get it. America's economy only plays so much of a part for an excuse of not bothering to look (besides, the economy looks fine. There are bigger problems to tackle, which I'll talk about in my next article).

In my opinion, no, you don't need snow to celebrate Christmas. Some places don't even get snow, and they celebrate (California, Maine, Florida, etc.), or at least they're not supposed to get any snow. Despite not having any snow, it's the spirit and the mood of Christmas and the traditions your family has that makes a Christmas celebration. Every year, me and my parents get together to decorate the tree, and then we cozy up later on and watch a good old Christmas movie. I've developed a tradition of my own of singing Silent Night at midnight on Christmas Eve, as well as other songs afterwards if I'm awake enough (this one sprung from my grandfather's death in '06.) It all depends on what you like to do and more importantly, who you'll be spending it with. Sure, your guy/girl might have family to visit so you won't see them for Christmas, but there are so many ways to keep in touch these days that the distance doesn't matter much, especially if their family lives right down the street (I hope for your sake that they don't, unless they're those jolly folks who welcome everyone home, even a potential homocidal maniac. Maybe not the latter.)

Maybe you don't have money to visit family/friends for Christmas. Send them a Christmas note, email them, call them from where you are. Wherever you are, there's always a way to get into touch and as long as you can wish them a Merry Christmas, I say your season is made. As long as you have someone you can say you love, or someone you can say cares for you, you'll never miss the snow. You have so much more to appreciate.

So that's my opinion. No, you don't need snow to enjoy Christmas. What's your opinion? Do you like snow? Do you consider it an essential part of your Christmas season? If not, why? Do you have any Christmas traditions? Comments welcome anywhere, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and beyond.