If you love winter and don’t mind if there’s not too much snow, then this is the time to visit Mongolia. Wood, dung and/or coal are stockpiled so gers can stay warm during the winter. The sky is full of stars on crisp winter evenings. UB becomes decorated with various Christmas and New Year lights and is one of the most widely celebrated holidays. The Gobi nomads practice a sincere, traditional custom of leaving their dwellings unlocked when they leave home to give long distance travelers a chance to quench their thirst and escape the cold. There are a number of interesting events worth marking on your calendar such as ice anklebone shooting, the Ulaanbaatar Winter Festival, Camel Polo, the Ice Festival at Khuvsgul lake, and an international skating competition. Each festival differs, yet each of them offers traditional games and various activities including a Mongolian national costume fashion show, contests, fireworks, rituals, traditional ceremonies, and a cheerful atmosphere that chases away the chill of the winter.