There was a discernable chill in the air now, and wet leaves were everywhere- in yards, on the sidewalks, in the street, stuck on cars. It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.
-First Frost, Sarah Addison Allen-
pluviophile -
a person who loves the sound of rain,
or feels joy and peace on rainy days
chionophile -
a person who loves cold weather and snow
Both of the above words would describe me to a "t".
I am without a doubt, unashamedly, a self-confessed lover of rainy days, cold weather and snow. There's just something magical and wonder-filled about days when the rain is trickling down the windows and grey, puffy clouds are in the sky, or when snow is gently falling on the ground, creating a hush over the earth as they fall slowly. I know that a lot of people hate days like that, but for me, it is pretty much as perfect as life can get.
As much as I love snow and wish that I lived somewhere that had a true winter, where I live, our winters are mostly wet, grey and chilly. sometimes I like that, but I admit that I often find myself wishing that I lived in a snow-covered place...one day. Until then, I remain in this place where winters are rainy and grey and the grass is as dead and brown as can be. Not very pretty, in my opinion. Every year, we dream and wish for snow and some year's we are fortunate enough to have a gorgeous snowfall, but most year's we are lucky to see a light sprinkling of white for a few hours one morning.
Rainy or snowy days bring an atmosphere of coziness and an invitation to slow down with them. They create a hush over the earth, each in their own unique way. They call us inward and to cultivate a warm place to rest, retreat and savour the goodness of home. They also help us to recall the things which bring us joy and happiness.
For some reason, ever since I was a young teenager, I have this weird ritual that I must do every time it snows. And that's making pancakes. I think it has something with watching the Love Comes Softly movie back then and the gorgeous snow scenes along with all the pancakes being made in the warm kitchen with the cozy fire lit in the hearth. That really struck me and ever since, whenever it snows, I find myself at the stove stirring the batter and dropping pancakes onto the griddle. Rain also brings about its own rituals. I love going for a drive in the rain, as long as it's not storming or hard to drive. I also have always loved the way rainy days make the inside of a home a bit darker and how it just calls for you to light candles and turn on softly-lit lamps. The glow from those two light sources creates an ambience that is hard to beat.
Rain and snow also invite us into gratitude. They are two of the earth's natural wonders, as normal and ordinary as they may seem. I never fail to be amazed and stand in awe of the earth when she is covered in a blanket of white snow. Seriously! White fluff falling from the sky...it's pure magic! And the way rain makes the earth so lush and richly green in color in the summertime and how the raindrops gently rest on the petals of a flower in the spring...in the winter, picking icicles off rooftops after they form from freezing rain or the way an autumn rain makes the leaves fall from the trees and create a carpet of nature's goodness. It's all wonder and beauty!
Rainy and snowy days bring peace and calm over not only the earth, but also us if we allow them to. When we stop complaining about these forms of weather that is so often seen as negative and instead see them beautiful and blessings and magical, we, too, will be filled with that peace and calm. When we allow their gentleness and softness and slowness to influence us and when we give in to their invitation to gather in and make cozy and create magic, we awaken ourselves to the wonder that nature is always full of.
Are you a pluviophile or a chionophile, or both? What do you like about rainy or snowy days?
Do share below!