WINTER   “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”   ― Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ode to the West Wind

The official start of the month of winter is different in various cultures and locations. According to recent meteorology the winter months are December, January and February for the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere they are June, July and August. Even so, many European and East Asian nations regard November as the start of the winter season. The Celtic countries consider November 1 as the beginning of winter whereas according to the Chinese calendar it is from November 7.