Winterval Is Over

[poliphilo]

We lack a single snappy term for the collection of religious and secular festivals that cluster round the Solstice and New Year- and when someone tried to supply one a few years back the culture warriors mocked it into oblivion. I rather regret this- or at least for the purposes of this post I do. "Winterval" is neat and witty, an improvement on the anodyne- and sprawling- "holiday season"-and by playing on the word "winter" contrives to incorporate a suggestion of snowflakes and icicles. I think I'm going to start using it again- without irony- and see what happens...

Anyway, today- which is a bank holiday- is the last day of the what-ever-you-want-to-call-it and I've taken down the Christmas tree, packed away the crib and am gearing myself up again for the entertaining business of buying and selling houses...