As winter nights get longer, some Guelph residents are using it as an opportunity to brighten up their windows for other people to enjoy.
Winter Windows 2022 kicked off earlier this month in the Exhibition Park neighbourhood. Described as a 'living advent calendar' the concept is inspired by similar displays seen in villages across Europe.
Every day leading up to Dec. 24, one or two homes will put up a window display which will be left up for people to see until New Year's Eve. A map of all participating homes in Winter Windows 2022 can be found at this link.
Despite being modelled after an advent calendar, the organizer and participant in this year's event, Justine Dainard, said Winter Windows is non-religious and encourages others to share the different ways they celebrate the holiday season.
"It's not meant to only celebrate Christmas, the windows that we do, a variety of celebration and that probably has become stronger over the years, which is a nice thing as well," said Dainard, "people just make cheerful windows about what they love and what's makes them happy, and that can be from any place."
Dainard was part of the Exhibition Neighbourhood Association in 2014 when the first Winter Windows was launched. Over the years, she said the event spread to other neighbourhoods in Guelph, which run their own Winter Windows events.
"One year we involved some of the downtown businesses, that was kind of nice, but it was a lot of effort and we're all still recovering from the pandemic, so we didn't want to make it too big this year," Dainard said about a previous year for Winter Windows.
Within the Exhibition Park area, there are homeowners who have been part of Winter Windows for many years. Many agree it is a way to encourage people to get out and stay active.
"It gives them a reason to get out, and create destinations for them to enjoy, and gives people a reason to get outside during winter," said Christina Mann, a homeowner who has been part of Winter Windows since its inception over eight years ago.
Mann, who is originally from Germany, said the event also gives her an opportunity to talk to her children about their heritage.
"I did a fairy tale window one year that, some people knew, but not everybody, but it was a nice way to reflect on my heritage on my story I used to read," said Mann.
Another homeowner, Christine De Vuono, begins thinking of a Winter Windows concept a month or two in advance. De Vuono, who has friends in England, said she was inspired by the creativity in those displays.
"It's just fun, especially when you have little kids who get into it, or even if you don't and you just want a creative way to mark the season, it's just a wonderful outlet," said De Vuono, adding it is such an easy way to be part of the community.
Bill Whitehead and Marion Gruner based their Winter Windows display off a painting done by a Canadian artist named Monica Morrill. It took over 24 hours for them to put the display together inside before hanging it up in their front window on Anne Street.
"You go outside and you finish and you go, 'Is this worth it?''' said Whitehead, who is a graphic designer by trade.
"It took over our dining room table, there was bits of cardboard all over the house, and then you go outside and you look at the scene you have done, and you're like, 'Yes it was.'"
"Our neighbours always look forward to it, and it's really lovely so we always get, 'Are you going to do the window this year?' and we're like 'Yes,'" said Gruner.
"It's really about sending good vibes out to the community, and hoping others will pick up on it, and maybe they'll be inspired to do the same thing," adds Whitehead.
Looking to keep the event going, all the homeowners offer different advice to new participants. This advice includes keeping the concept simple, choose an idea you can live with and to do most of the prep work for your window display indoors.
