YOUR GUIDE TO WINTER FUN
OUT CHILL
guidelines for safe sledding
Winter weather is welcomed by some and loathed by others. Some want to hibernate until the mercury rises and the warm sun returns, while others relish in the crisp air, fluffy snow and the absence of insects.
Wintertime activities are numerous and include everything from ice hockey to snowshoeing. However, nothing beats an afternoon of sledding for active families. Believe it or not, the first sleds traveled on sand instead of snow. Historians say the earliest evidence of sledding dates back to ancient Egypt, where carved rock sleds were used for convenience and labor needs. But it was Russian aristocrats who created the first recreational sledding events in the 1650s. Youth would carve large blocks out of ice and traverse hills on wooden tracks. Eventually more modern sleds were used on snow directly, and children from all social classes and around the globe got their thrills from downhill adventures.
On snowy days, scores of children and their parents often take to neighborhood hills to test their sledding skills and feel the breeze
blowing by. While sledding can be exciting, it also has the potential to be dangerous. People can follow these sledding safety tips to reduce the risk of sledding injury.
• Pick a safe sled that has brakes and can be steered. Make sure that all sledding equipment is in good condition.
• Choose gently sloping hills with a level run-off at the end so the sled can safely come to a stop.
• Avoid hills with obstacles, such as rocks and trees.
• Sledding participants should always wear helmets.
• Always sled feet-first. Going down a hill head-first is a recipe for serious injury.
• Do not sled around ponds, streams or lakes that appear frozen. They may not be solid and drowning or hypothermia can occur if sledders enter the water.
• Dress warmly and wear thick gloves or mittens and heavy boots. This clothing can protect against frostbite and injury.
• Avoid hills that end near a street or parking lot.
• Everyone should go down the hill one at a time with only one
person riding on the sled. The only exception is for adults with young children.
• Don’t ever pull a sled with a
moving vehicle like a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.
• Sled only during the day or in well-lit areas at night.
Sledding is an entertaining activity this time of year. All sledders should keep safety in mind before hitting the hills.
Fun ways to celebrate groundhog day
Move over local television and radio meteorologists. Come February 2, a different weather expert garners all the forecasting glory.
Groundhog Day celebrations are an entertaining way to break up the bleakness of winter. Groundhog Day evolved from an earlier custom, known as Candlemas Day, which was observed by early European Christians. During Candlemas, clergy blessed candles and distributed them to others as a way to ward off the winter chill. A poem was recited during the ceremony: If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another fight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Winter will not come again.
German settlers in Pennsylvania likely brought over Candlemas traditions, and they evolved into Groundhog Day customs involving a local animal known for its hibernation habits. Similar to Candlemas Day, if the groundhog “sees” his shadow then winter will continue for another six weeks. If he does not, spring is around the corner. Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous of the prognosticating groundhogs. Phil emerges at festivities in Gob-
bler’s Knob in Pennsylvania each year. But there are others who also look for their own shadows in different regions of the country.
Families can get in on the Groundhog action and do their own weather-predicting activities and other fun stuff. The following are some creative ways to celebrate Groundhog Day.
• Make shadow art. Explore how shadows work by gathering some three-dimensional objects and sidewalk chalk. Venture outdoors during the morning and see if you can trace the shadows of any of the shapes onto the sidewalk or a driveway.
• Learn about groundhogs. Groundhogs are interesting creatures that are sometimes referred to as woodchucks. They are extremely intelligent animals that form complex social networks. Groundhogs belong to a group of large ground squirrels known as marmots, and are native to the eastern United States and Canada.
• Create a groundhog craft. All you will need is a paper tube made from construction paper, and a cutout paper groundhog attached to a straw, stick or pipe cleaner for a fun
kids’ craft. Kids can take turns popping their groundhogs out of the tops of their tubes just like Punxsutawney Phil pops out of his den.
• Read a groundhog-themed book. Plenty of books feature groundhogs as the main character. “Wake Up Groundhog!” and “How to Catch a Groundhog” are two such options.
• Go for a night walk. The days soon will be getting longer and hours of night shorter. Capitalize on the opportunity to enjoy the quiet of the darkness with a neighborhood stroll.
Groundhog Day marks the moment when people learn if winter will stretch on or if spring will soon arrive. It is marked by certain customs that families can make their own.
Tips to watch the big game
Football season is winding down and the biggest game of the year is on deck.
Watching the big game together with friends and fellow fans makes football even more engaging and fun. With that in mind, fans can consider these tips to improve their game watch parties as the stakes get higher.
• Upgrade your equipment. There’s no doubt about it, football is best watched on a big screen. Choose a screen size of at least 65 inches and ensure the television has a high refresh rate, which helps to keep up with fast-moving action on the gridiron. A TV with good motion handling can help ensure that moving objects are clear.
• Tailgate at home. There’s something about football and the outdoors that works. Although watching the game indoors is perfectly acceptable, think about taking the action outside. Open the door to the garage and set up a viewing area there. Man a grill nearby in the driveway and prepare all of your favorite tailgate foods and beverages. Once the drinks are flowing you might not even notice chilly temperatures.
• Offer finger foods. Foods that can be grabbed and shared are ideal options for football watch parties. These include sliders, pizza, tacos, and wings. The game day menu does not need to be complicated. Just make the food readily accessible and guests will dig right in.
• Toss around the pigskin. Get some exercise and test your skills by throwing around the ball during commercial breaks or before and after the game. If you really want to go all out, play a game of touch or flag football (leave the tackling to the professionals).
• Up the ante. Make watching the playoffs a lit-
tle more competitive by taking bets beforehand. Betting boxes (football squares) provide a simple way to collect and pay out during game play. Participants buy as many squares as they like for a set price and write their initials inside the squares they choose. Teams are assigned to the rows and columns which are numbered zero through nine. Those numbers will represent the final digit of the score for the corresponding team. Winners can be called each quarter as well as for the final score.
• Create a winning playlist. Compile a playlist of songs that can raise fans’ spirits. Include teams’ theme songs in the mix when possible; otherwise, incorporate upbeat options that span the last few generations.
Fans gather to watch the NFL playoffs every year and certain watch party pointers can make such viewings even more fun.
winter fun
Many people lament the arrival of winter, perhaps thinking the colder temperatures and shorter hours of sunlight will compromise their chances to have fun. Even though particularly chilly thermostat readings or stormy conditions can hamper some plans, when people dig deeper they may find that even the coldest days present opportunities for enjoyment.
In winter, the following activities can make for an entertaining way to celebrate the arrival of the season.
• Build a snow creation. Use the first significant snowfall of the season to organize a snowman, snowwoman, or snow-animal-making event or contest. Waterproof gloves are a necessary piece of equipment, as are buckets for moving snow, shovels, carving and shaping tools (which can be plastic cutlery), and accessories to dress up the final product.
• Go sledding on the best hills. Sledding is a popular wintertime activity that doesn’t require too much equipment. Sleds can be purchased at sporting goods stores or toy stores. Sledders of all ages should consider wearing helmets to protect against injury if they will be traversing especially steep hills.
• Host a winter block party. Many cities and towns across North America participate in WinterFest events, which run the gamut from food and craft festivals to sporting events. Individuals can take cues from these type of activities and
plan neighborhood festivals right on their streets. Neighbors can wheel out their fire pits or utilize outdoor propane heaters to keep spots cozy. Hot cocoa and cider stations and warm treats can keep everyone from feeling too cold. Electric slow cookers can keep everything from soups to chilis to stews warm and participants can enjoy a buffet of hearty foods.
• Visit an ice rink. Whether a rink is indoors or outside, ice skating is a quintessential wintertime activity. Skaters of all skill levels can take to the ice and enjoy some exercise and laughs. Check local rink schedules to take advantage of open skate times when hockey games or practices are not dominating the ice.
• Mark the winter solstice. The winter solstice, also known as the start of astronomical winter, is the shortest day of sunlight on the calendar. It occurs when either of the Earth’s poles reaches maximum tilt away from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, this occurs on December 21, 2023. Because there will be only roughly seven hours of daylight, take steps to make the fact that the sun will set at its earliest a little easier to swallow. Kids can run around outdoors with glow sticks, while adults can deck their homes in twinkle lights if they are not decorated for Christmas. Lanterns, campfires and candles can be lit, and everyone can gather outdoors to chat and socialize.
