This week: Out in the cold Edited by: Arakun the Twisted Raccoon  
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Quote for the week:
"Her cold wind calls, and so I follow.
No time to rest my weary bones.
I hear her voice, and my heart grows hollow.
Best not walk these woods alone.
Best keep to the roads and out of the shadows.
Best get on home.
Best to leave them ghosts alone."
~From "The Land Unknown" by Landon Blood. |
Winter is cold, dark, mysterious, and frightening at times. When it comes to a setting for horror, what more could you ask for?
The winter solstice ( around December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the southern hemisphere) is the shortest day of the year. In North Dakota where I live, the sun will be up for a little more than 8 hours this year on December 21, rising at about 8 am and setting at about 4:30 pm. Further north the day will be even shorter. Utqiavik, in Northern Alaska experiences a "Polar Night" lasting from mid November to January, in which the sun does not rise at all.
In many parts of the world, winter means snow. I am old enough to remember the Blizzard of 1966, which dumped up to three feet of snow on much of the Upper Midwest in the US and left drifts 30-40 feet high in some areas. The storm lasted 3-4 days, with winds of 70 mph or more. Visibility was near zero, and roads were impassible, causing many individuals to be stranded away from home. High winds and heavy snow knocked down power lines, leaving many people without electricity and heat for days or even weeks in some places. The storm led to at least 18 human deaths, with losses of livestock and wildlife in the thousands.
The coldest winters in the continental US are found in the northern states, such as Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, and mountainous regions such as Colorado and Montana. The coldest recorded temperature in the lower 48 states was -70F in Rogers Pass, Montana on January 20, 1954. The coldest temperature in Canada was -63C (-81F) at Snag Airport in the Yukon Territory on February 3, 1947. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was -89.2C (-128.6F) at Vostok Station in Antarctica on July 21, 1983. High winds can make frigid temperatures feel even colder.
Long periods of darkness and cold can lead to increased incidence of depression, anxiety, and disrupted sleep patterns. Alcoholism and other substance abuse are higher in many colder areas of the world compared to warmer areas. Seasonal Effective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that follows seasonal patterns, usually increasing in fall and winter and lifting in the spring. Symptoms can include persistent sadness, fatigue, weight gain, carbohydrate cravings, and general loss of interest in activities.
Something to try: Write a horror story that takes place in the winter. |
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Horror/Scary: December 03, 2025 Issue [#13479]
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