By weather or by calendar, that is the question

Indeed, in Estonia this question never loses to stir passionate reactions. We consider our four (plus) seasons to be a natural treasure, and at its best it is indeed lovely. Summer heat and winter snow, the great surge of life that comes along in spring time, and colorful autumns. However, it presents some considerable challenges for your wardrobe and requires you to be flexible to the extreme, as summer can come along in April (for a week), to be followed by snow in May (for a day or two), the Midsummer Eve in June can be colder than the Christmas Eve in December, and so on. Most days its best to be ready for everything (carrying with you an umbrella AND sunglasses at all times or having at least three copies of these items located at various points where you live your daily life – at home, at office, and in your handbag/car). And as sometimes the weather really does not cooperate, it is quite possible you see people walking around in attires that make you wonder, at least. Heavy coats in hot weather in April (as it is April, for crying out loud!) or shorts and T-shirts in June when it is freezing (as it is June, for crying out loud!). The eternal dilemma of weather vs calendar.

But what about January when you will be stepping into this dilemma for a few days? Well, according to the statistics (which are always accurate, right) the average temperatures in January vary between -2 and -8 degrees Celsius. The reality? Most years I’ve lived here – and there are plenty of those – the temperature in January is around -10 to -15 degrees, plus the wind chill factor. That is to say, bring warm clothes, from underwear to heavy coats, and remember the essentials: hat, scarf, gloves and warm socks. If dressed warmly, you can enjoy your stay to the fullest. Perhaps you’ll even get a chance to squeeze in some sleighing or snowtubing, ice skating or skiing experiences. After all, winter can be oh so lovely and enjoyable. When was the last time you experienced ice skating in a medieval Old Town, surrounded by a thousand years of history, its unique magic mixing with the nature’s own wonders of winter, sipping hot mulled wine?