Now that Christmas is over, there’s nothing to distract us from the one thought that is whirling through everyone’s minds: It’s COLD!

Sure, we noticed the mercury dropping in the thermometer centimeter by centimeter throughout December, but we considered it to be a good thing. Christmas is meant to be cold; we love having white Christmases and cozying up next to a fireplace –it adds to the whole appeal of the season.

But now that it’s over, our whole outlook has changed. We don’t have the beautiful twinkling lights to divert our eyes from the whirling snowstorm outside. We’ve already drank the peppermint hot-chocolate that warms us from the freezing temperatures. The holiday has ended, life resumes to a regular pace, and we are left to face the cruel effects of Canadian winter.

I hear complaints all the time about the weather. It’s the number one conversation we have, especially when we get into negative celsius. People ask, “Why am I living in a place where the air hurts my face?”. They cry when they have to wear two pairs of socks in their boots. They take out their shovels begrudgingly, ridding their driveways of the foot of snow accumulated overnight.

But is it all that bad? We’re Canadians, after all.

CBC released an article declaring Ottawa to be the coldest capital city in the world. The next day, The Washington Post casually announced that parts of Canada were reaching temperatures colder than the surface of Mars. No, really. Canada is colder than a planet which is 54.6 million kilometers further away from the sun than we are. If there’s anything to promote the Canadian stereotype that we all live in igloos, this is it.

Sure, our ears might be tingling after three minutes if we forget to grab our toques. Sure, our arms feel weak after digging our cars out of the snow. Sure, we have to pay more than the average human for an entire new wardrobe come the first flake of snow. But come on, think of all the unique things that such a cold climate gives us Canadians!

As cold-suffering Canadians…

• We get to enjoy the best kinds of fluffy socks.
• We get more days off school and work due to the copious amounts of snow.
• Seeing our breath in the air makes us feel like dragons.
• We get to go skating on the lakes before anyone else in the world.
• The Christmas songs with references to snow and cold actually make sense here.
• Nobody cares how ridiculous you look come mid-winter; if you’re warm, that’s what matters.
• Double-doubles and hot chocolate are never taken for granted.
• Shovelling snow is nature’s way of keeping us fit.
• Numb toes and fingers helps us appreciate them more.
• Being cold builds character.
• Our record-breaking temperatures perpetuate patriotism.

The list could go on and on, but I think I’ll leave it at that. Come on, folks! Despite all your complaints, I think deep down, any true and pure-hearted Canadian is inherently proud of the winters we face.

So bundle up and brace yourselves, because this is what being Canadian is all about.

Caitlin Bouwma looks at the world through her own set of binoculars. You'll often find her walking around with a camera or her pen and paper. Optimistic yet opinionated, she’s got a thing or two to say about the activities of her generation and those like it.