Britain is braced for the “worst winter in decades” with the first major snowfall expected in weeks.

Ultimately, we’re heading into winter and it is perfectly possible that we will see snow and freezing temperatures. I remember, when I came here a long time ago, questions that I’d been asked about the winter in Poland.

Most of the people asked me: “Is it really so cold? Do you always have snow?”

So today I would like to write about winter in Poland and what people in Poland do when everything is covered by snow.

Polish winter looks like a glazed doughnut. Winter is delicious, honourable and majestic. Coniferous trees are wearing white dresses with green scarves. The winter paints your lips red. The rowan tree does not lose its leaves before the frost comes. Shrunken, pale-red baubles hang from the rowan tree on snow covered branches.

Winter comes to Poland after the pre-winter period, which is a connection between the foul weather in autumn and winter.

Pre-winter is a time where nothing happens by nature and it is “rough underfoot”.

In the middle ages, the ancient custom was to stop all agricultural work on November 11. St Martin drove up on a white steed. People had to look out for omens of the next season. Christianity prohibited people from working, including weaving and spinning. Pre-Christianity, people were also not allowed to work, so as not to provoke the evil spirits.

This time was used to prepare for ‘Gody’ and later on, for Christmas.

Poland is a wonderful place for a winter break and offers a truly authentic winter holiday experience. There are cosy mountain villages where you can enjoy the scenery, breathe the crisp mountain air and take it easy. It is an ideal place to visit if you want to enjoy winter without the crowds and the commercialism of the larger European ski resorts. From January through to early March the temperatures sit around 5° to -15°C and turn this area into the perfect winter wonderland.

Poland also offers a wide variety of sporting opportunities both for beginners as well as experts.

The charming spas on the mountainside offer wonderful relaxation and organise many activities to make your stay exciting.

The Polish mountains are not as high as the Alps but the landscape is equally enchanting.

The winter sports in Poland are friendlier and provide a relaxed adventure rather than a serious sporting challenge.

Kulig is an old Polish winter tradition. This is a fast and festive ride on a horse-drawn sleigh through the snowy open fields. Children love it and adults enjoy including kulig into their party schedules along with hot drinks and traditional Polish vodka. Dating back to the days of the gentry’s hegemony, nowadays the custom has been revived for special occasions, like New Year’s Eve, when it is celebrated again, albeit in a more modern version.

There’s nothing better than gliding through the cool air on a sled and for youngsters, unable to enjoy the horse-drawn variety, there’s always a tube, toboggan, or saucer at hand for hours of entertainment.

Yes, there is a lot of snow. But that’s why the winter is so wonderful. It’s simply the best time of the year.