White Christmas

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, our minds are quick to jump to presents and family celebrations. As Christmas and Hanukkah fall simultaneously this year, I'm asking the real question: When is there going to be snow? To define a “white Christmas”, and this year “white Hanukkah” as well, in the United States, according to CBS Boston, means that there must be at least one inch of snow on the ground come 7 am the morning of December 25th. It does not mean that it has to snow on that day, although interestingly this is the definition in England. Also from this source, looking 100 years back in records shows that Boston has snow on the ground for December 25th about 25% of the time, while Worcester stands at about 60% and areas in Northern New England get as high as 80%. To get 10 inches or more for late December is only about 3% in Boston and 10% in Worcester, according to Stormfax. This is good news for those of us who don't necessarily look forward to the winter, but the temperatures thus far are also allowing local ski and snowboarding resorts to make snow, while ones slightly further away are receiving the real stuff. Only time will tell, but until then I say: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!h

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