Dickson: Why we’re grumpy about snow after December

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SALT LAKE CITY — All morning long on KSL NewsRadio today (and every other day for the last three months it seems like), I’ve heard people complain about the snow.

I’m so sick of the snow.

I’m tired of shoveling. Enough already.

This could stop at any time.

(I may have added my voice to that chorus once or twice.)

Sound familiar? KSL TV’s Andrew Adams reported on how sick of snow people who live in Little Cottonwood Canyon are. After watching the UDOT traffic cameras this morning, I can see how snow would be a four-letter word on a day like today.

What’s different about December?

I’ve been pondering why it is that snow in December puts a smile on our faces and makes us feel merry and long for cocoa, but in April it makes us, well, grumpy. My hypothesis is it’s all because of Christmas.

When Christmas is coming up, there are lights everywhere. They twinkle in the dark and through the snowstorm. We pray for snow so we can feel snuggly warm inside. Downtown is beautiful, as opposed to the sort of bleak look today.

In other words, it’s all in our heads. Our minds are excited for the holidays, so we don’t see it as a pain but as a pleasure. It just contributes to the overall joyful mood.

“Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow.”

Plus, there’s the music. When you’re listening to “Let It Snow” on FM 100.3, you are reminded of home and family. Who cares if the weather outside is frightful? The fire is so delightful.

In fact, “Let It Snow” doesn’t mention Christmas. Neither does “Winter Wonderland”. Why couldn’t we sing “In the meadow we can build a snowman” today? If we did, don’t you think we’d stop complaining?

I admit that I am one of those annoying people who loves Christmas music any time of year — but I truly think it would be therapeutic to continue with it, at least sprinkled in and amongst the Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, until the snow stops. Plus, why take the lights down so early? Why not leave them up to brighten the buildings, the streetlamps and homes, until the grey of winter has passed?

We could take them down before Easter. How would that be?

Follow @amandadickson