Author's Note: Better starting late than never :D Also I am warning you that I will be rather imaginative with the Lurlinemas traditions.
Snow had been falling steadily for a couple of days now, coating every wall, every roof and tower of Shiz University with a thick layer of icy powder.
It had come early this year, the last month of the year had only just begun.
"I love winter!", Galinda exclaimed dramatically, letting herself fall into the chair next to Fiyero.
"Everything looks so clean and bright!"
Fiyero had crossed his arms in front of his chest, buried deep in his thickest coat, despite sitting inside and disgruntedly mumbled something along the lines of "Too cold...wet...don't like..."
He wasn't used to snow, there was no such thing in the semi-desert climate of the Vinkus.
There was the occasional snowfall in the mountains surrounding Kiamo Ko, but his family usually only visited the castle there in the summer, when the weather became too hot to allow them to stay in the lower lands.
Galinda, on the other hand, came from much further north of the country and had been going sleigh riding before she had been able to sit up straight.
Elphaba was rather indifferent to the topic, she neither liked nor disliked the winter but she tended to like the crispness of the cold air and the way the snow made everything look like it was something different, it brought a certain mysteriousness with it.
"And the best thing about winter", Galinda continued, "is Lurlinemas!"
Fiyero blinked.
"Lurline-what?"
"Don't tell me you haven't ever heard of Lurlinemas!", Galinda gasped, eyes widened in surprise.
She turned to her roommate who was sitting at the other end of the table, her nose buried in a book as usual.
"Elphie, don't you dare tell me you don't know about Lurlinemas either!"
Elphaba placed a finger at the line she was reading before she looked up.
"Well, we used to celebrate it, back when, when my mother was still alive.
We've never celebrated since then. It's not really a common tradition in Munchkinland."
Galinda's jaw dropped in horror.
"You cannot tell me that the Gillikins are the only folks to celebrate Lurlinemas! It's even celebrated at Shiz! With a humongous ball on the evening before Lurlinemas Day!"
"A ball?"
"The most important event in the term, how could you not have been aware of it?"
"Might have to do with my over all very eager participation in social events like balls and parties, don't you think?", Elphaba scoffed.
"But you two just have to celebrate Lurlinemas with me! With presents and decorations and sweets and everything that has to do with it! Promise!"
"If it makes you happy, I will celebrate it with you, but..."
"Oh, thank Oz, Elphie, you don't believe how much this means to me!", Galinda interrupted her and started bouncing up and down excitedly.
"What about you, Fiyero? Fiyero! Stop hibernating and tell me if you are going to celebrate with us!"
Fiyero growled something incomprehensible that Galinda simply took as a 'yes'.
"Brilliant! I have to start thinking of what to give to you instantly!"
She quickly hopped out of the room, leaving the grumpy Vinkun and her bemused roommate behind.
She was certain, this year they would have the best Lurlinemas celebration of all time.
