A Practical Guide to the Canadian Winter (Without Losing the Magic)

Ah! Canadian winter… how much we’ve heard about how cold Canada is, and how beautiful winter can be. And yes, it truly is! …although there are areas that are much colder than others, but overall, yes, it’s very cold and very beautiful! (at least while the snow is still clean).🤭

Winter, and the snow that comes with it, is lovely! Snow is simply beautiful… watching it fall has, for me, a kind of hypnotic, relaxing effect. It’s a true wonder of nature.

❄But what is snow? Snow is a meteorological phenomenon, a type of precipitation, just like rain, but it appears in the form of tiny ice crystals, each with unique shapes and sizes. Depending on temperature conditions, it can vary as powdery snow, flakes, wet snow, hail, among others.

❄And why is it white? Well, snow is actually colorless, like water. But because ice crystals reflect light, the visible effect is the color white.

📌Did you know that freshly fallen snow has a muffling effect? That’s right! Snow acts almost like acoustic insulation and absorbs sound… which is why, especially when it’s fresh, everything feels much quieter.

❄And did you also know that snow reflects light? Because it’s made of ice crystals, its whiteness has a surprising ultraviolet light–reflecting effect. During the day, especially if it’s sunny, it can be dazzling and may even cause what’s known as “snow blindness.” At night, everything lights up simply from the reflection of moonlight (or any other light source).

Just like rain has different types (drizzle, showers, downpours, etc.), snow also comes in different forms:

• Powder snow, made up of small, loose crystals
• Wet or sticky snow
• Hail
• Snow flurries
• Snowfall, which comes in flakes. Snowfall can be categorized as a storm or a blizzard (which is much more severe)
• Granular snow

Snow brings with it an entirely new way of life. It comes with a whole new wardrobe (I’ll tell you more about that later), different recreational and sports activities, and above all, many changes to your daily routine.

Impact on your health🩺🌡

For me, coming from a tropical country where 30°C is the norm year-round, the first winter hit me hard… well, to be honest, even fall was already tough. I remember that when temperatures dropped to around 10°C, my coworker Tony would see me arrive at work literally bundled up from head to toe, and he… well, he was wearing a short-sleeve T-shirt! And he would tease me (in the good sense of the word). Laughing, he’d look at me and say: “Save those coats for when it actually gets cold!” And my good friend Tony was absolutely right!🤭

Changes in temperature can have an effect on your health. As outdoor temperatures drop, heating starts being used indoors (at home and everywhere else). Constantly moving between these environments can lead to colds and other respiratory illnesses🤧, as well as conditions like sore throat, joint pain, dryness in the eyes, lips, and skin in general. If you keep your thermostat too high indoors, you might even experience nosebleeds or cracked lips. My recommendations:

• Keep indoor heating between 18°C and 21°C and dress warmly instead
• Use air humidifiers
• Use body lotion (including on your feet… yes, your feet! Trust me, your spring sandals will thank you later!) and lip balm

And when it comes to health, mental health is just as important❗. Did you know there’s a condition called “winter blues”😓? Yes, and it can worsen if you don’t pay proper attention to it.

So what is it? It’s a period of depressive or melancholic symptoms that many people experience during the cold, dark winter months. It can show up as lack of motivation, unexplained sadness, and extreme tiredness.

And why does it happen? Because of the lack of sunlight! During winter, days are much shorter and cloudier, and you might go 2, 3, or even 4 weeks in a row without seeing the sun! 😞 The lack of sunlight lowers serotonin levels (which regulate neurotransmitters responsible for mood), disrupts the body’s biological clock, affects melatonin production, and therefore impacts sleep cycles. My recommendations:

• Vitamin D: also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is crucial to counteracting the effects of limited sunlight. At home, vitamin D is a mandatory daily supplement for everyone. You can find it at pharmacies and supermarkets, but always remember to consult your doctor before taking any supplement.
• Whenever possible, exercise. It can be as simple as meditating or going for a walk, even if it’s cold!
• Increase your intake of healthy foods rich in vitamin D

Dress for winter❄🧥

📌One of the first routines you must adopt in Canada is checking the weather forecast EVERY day before leaving home and dressing accordingly. We already know winter is cold (very cold!) but let’s define that: there are different levels of cold, and your clothing and footwear should adapt to the temperature.

Here we measure temperature in degrees Celsius (°C), and weather apps will show not only the temperature but also the “feels like” temperature. Ideally, you should dress in layers so you can adjust as needed. In other words, it’s not the same to dress for a sunny day at -5°C with a wind chill of -7°C as it is for a cloudy, windy day at -27°C with a wind chill of -36°C.

📌As a general rule, you must have the essentials: a coat, a hat, gloves, and boots! Here’s a bit more detail about winter attire.

• Coats (winter coat or jacket)🧥❄
  • There are different warmth ratings and countless styles: with hood, without hood, with fur trim, without trim, long, short, puffy, wool, synthetic, down-filled…you name it! The most important thing is that it protects you from the cold. When buying coats (yes, because you should have more than one!), check the label, which usually indicates the maximum temperature it’s designed for. I recommend having at least three: a light one, a “winter” one, and a “heavy artillery” one (for extreme cold days or storms).
  • I also sincerely recommend good quality. The investment is worth it!
  • Size matters! If you usually wear a medium, it’s recommended to buy a large, since you’ll be wearing layers underneath.
  • They’re usually heavy, so if you can find one that’s good quality, within your budget, and lightweight…well, congratulations!
  • It’s best if the outer material is waterproof and the inside has insulation or wool.
• Sweaters (hoodies or pullovers)🧥🧶
  • Wool is the best option, though there are many choices available.
• Hats🧢❄️
  • Did you know that in Canada hats are called “tuques”? Some come with a pom-pom on top, which adds a cute and eye-catching detail.
• Gloves🧤
  • There are wool ones, waterproof ones, thermal gloves, leather gloves, mittens, and ski gloves.
• Snow pants👖🌨️
  • Highly recommended, especially for children during snowy days.
• Winter underwear🧦🔥
  • Yes, just like it sounds… many people prefer insulated base layers. I especially recommend winter socks.
• Boots👢🥶
  • Oh, boots! My recommendation is to invest in good boots. Even though they can be more expensive, they’ll protect you much better from the cold. Trust me, few things are more uncomfortable than walking around with frozen toes!
  • Make sure they also have good traction on the soles, because winter is slippery on top of everything else.
  • As with coats, size matters. Since winter socks are thick, I recommend buying boots one size bigger than what you normally wear.
• Depending on your personal taste, other important accessories include earmuffs, balaclavas, neck warmers, and scarves🧣🧤, which you can find in endless styles and materials.
• Hand warmers🔥🙌

Winter is a beautiful season, and I invite you to welcome it prepared, both physically and mentally. And just in case you didn’t know, hats and gloves are the items children lose most easily❗; I recommend having several, since stores sell seasonally and the best variety is usually available in fall and early winter. ❄️

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Good luck, and may God bless you!💗

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📸Photo by Freepik.