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People who are new to New England often worry about how to get through New
England’s fierce winters. Although our winters might appear to be unpleasant, New Englanders have many ways of keeping warm. When asked the question, “How do you make it through the winter up there?” many natives assure newcomers not to fear that they will be cold or bored. In fact, snow is part of the allure of New England, and many of us enjoy skiing and participating in other winter sports and outdoor rituals. Most tourists only come to the northeast in the summer or the fall – often for weddings, since couples liketo get m arr ied near the beach or in the fall foliage
(and this commerce helps our economy very much). But New England does not shut down in the wintertime! But every few years, a blizzard takes over. The worst storm in recent history is the
“Blizzard of ’78,” a snowstorm which brought in three to four feet of snow. The following words are from a Web posting by Mary U. of North Dartmouth, Massachusetts 1 :
It started out like any other snowstorm that I remember. The dainty flakes were descending slowly from the dark gray sky as if to show the world that the storm could not be rushed. I was fourteen years old. It was actually calmer than it usually was before a storm. The first snowflakes swirled lightly around the dark street. It didn’t scare me at all, of course – I just wondered, Will this storm be worthy of a school cancellation? As it turned out, it sure wasn’t anything near to being your typical snowstorm! This was the Blizzard of '78. In only a few hours, the flakes grew increasingly larger.
My father told me and my friend Alice to go to the market to purchase the usual required stuff to prepare for the storm: milk, bread, and peanut
1 Adapted from “Blizzard of ’78 Letters.” < http://www.s-t.com/daily/02-03/02-02-03/f05lo210.htm>.

butter (because my dear little brother and his pals adored it so much). Mom didn’t want to take the car herself because she had a good parking space and the carburetor was having problems. Anyway, she told us to take care but assured us that we would be ok. It was fun at first and I had no fear, especially since we knew our way there. But the snow got harder and harder, and seeing our path through the snow-covered sidewalk was rather difficult as our vision became impaired and the wind made tears well up in our eyes.
The wind was fierce, and as the glare got worse, our vision was even more obscured. All I could see was pure whiteness. I remember thinking, “This sure is a hardcore blizzard!” Over the course of the next few days after the storm, there was no power in our area of Boston unless you were fortunate enough to own a generator, so my elderly grandfather stayed with us. The warmth and light of the fireplace sure made our home feel cozy. Of course, outside, the view was gorgeous, a magical garden of snow. With no electricity, I felt like Mary Ingalls, the pioneer girl. Because we had no electricity, if we wanted to take a bath, we had to heat the water in the fireplace, and my brother, sisters and I were forced to rely on old-fashioned kinds of entertainment – my aunt came over and we had a merry time playing cards and reading the comics in the newspaper. I sure can’t compare this experience to any other. I learned a lot from the sheer simplicity of life during that week. In fact, I was kind of sad when life went back to normal.
In a way, the storm really brought my family together.
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But what words of advice do New Englanders give to newcomers to the northeast? Consider the following tips from Peter Rizzo. Peter is a longtime resident of the Watertown area.
P eter’s Top Tips for Surviving a New England Winter
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To prepare for the cold and keep warm, wear nearly everything in two: two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, two scarves, two hats – everything in a pair.
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If you’re a commuter who uses the MBTA, stay calm but leave an hour, maybe more, earlier than normal.
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Wear really bright-colored clothes. They’ll help you feel summery and forget the dark winter.
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Throw a party. Get some beer, wear summer clothes, and whip out the barbecue, just like it was summer.
5.
If you are of drinking age, go to a nearby neighborhood bar. My bartender makes drinks extra strong over the cold months. Even if you don’t drink, bars can be cheerful, merry places for warm conversation and fun.
6.
After it snows, get out the camera and take some shots of the snow to send to your grandparents in Florida.
7.
Take a hot bath, then put on a warm robe and sit some chairs around the fireplace and relax with hot cocoa.
8.
Play summertime sports like baseball and soccer. It sounds like sheer recklessness, but it really is possible, and the exercise will keep you warm.
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Compared to other places, New England isn’t that bad! Be glad you don’t live in the coldest parts of the planet: during Arctic and Antarctic winters, you and the polar bears live in pure darkness for six months in a row!