Seasonal food sweep dining and coffee tables. Chestnuts are among the most popular winter fruits. Truffles aren’t called the White Gold for nothing.

Children play in the desert under the cool winter sun. — Photo by Athoob Al-Shuaibi

The coldest time of the year in Kuwait is between the second week of December to mid-January. Forty days of winter, which is locally called by "Al-Marba'aniya". The weather after that, gradually changes to moderate. There aren't many natural features for winter in Kuwait.  Some areas may witness early morning frost that soon wears away. No snow. No frozen lakes or springs. But there are many events and activities people do only in the winter and usually outdoors.

Women wait impatiently for the few precious days of the year when they can don their favorite pair of knee high boots. They may also don wellies, heavy jackets or coats and heavy shawls. Most parents would overprotect their children hiding their little bodies under layers of clothes to protect them from flu and cold that become widely spread during the season. Men of course pull out the darker colored dishdashas. As much as Kuwaitis express their longing for the freezing nights, they quickly hide at home or by wearing heavy clothes so they don't experience it.

At the same time, there are those who are keen to enjoy the few days of winter with their family and friends. They buy grills, portable stoves and external heaters for BBQs and outdoor home cinema nights. Thousands of people start camping and picnicking in the desert until spring. However, some of them still prefer to picnic at Mishref area, off the Sixth Ring Road, despite the fact that it's located just a few kilometers from their homes. This area has a great stature to Kuwaitis who lived the period of camping at "Bar Mishref" before it become inhabited in the eighties.

Seasonal food sweep dining and coffee tables. Chestnuts are among the most popular fruits. Beside so, people impatiently wait for winter to have the luxury of eating the desert fungus, Truffles. They aren't called the White Gold for nothing. They're also relatively expensive and hard to find. Truffles are sold at "Souq Al-Faqa'a", at a seasonal market behind the famous Friday Market at Al-Rai area.  The vendors bring it from various Arab lands.

Changes in the daily routine during winter aren't many, However, small things make the winter scene more comprehensive. People would take longer walks to their cars, there are an increasing number of morning joggers, school children can now enjoy field trips near the seashore of Kuwait, and a lot of men workers have their siestas on street benches at Mubarakiya market that thrives in winter when thousands of Gulfie tourists pilgrimage to Kuwait.

As a matter of fact, winter is the season of all sorts of activities, such as, cultural, musical, and sports, that suits all ages. Children of Kuwait have the lion's share of those activities. Every week, a musical or an artistic event is held together with a pop up market. Thus, there's no alibi for those who complain throughout the summer months of tedium. Even inviting friends over a BBQ is enough to expel the ghost of boredom from your life.

Photos and Story by Athoob Al-Shuaibi