The Long, Dull Winter

"The Long, Dull Winter" is the second half of the 15th episode of season 3 of the animated children's series Arthur. It originally aired on May 31st, 1999.

Summary
Arthur and his friends are feeling dreary, but can't put a finger on why. It eventually dawns on them that their listless feeling is a result of the fact that there have been no major holidays in quite some time, so they decide to try inventing a new one.

Plot
It's winter in Elwood City, and time seems to be going by especially slowly. Arthur and his friends feel gloomy and wonder what's wrong. Then they realize the problem: there haven't been any holidays recently. So everyone begins trying to figure out a new holiday.

D.W. wants the holiday to be Pony Day. Grandma Thora recalls the time the Graf Zeppelin flew over Elwood City. Arthur searches on.

Buster's idea is Give Me Candy Day, where everybody gives candy to him, and then he gives the remainder of what he ate to all the little children.

Francine thinks a holiday should be about relaxing and having fun, so they should have a holiday special.

Brain's idea is Igneous Rock Day, because he thinks a holiday should be about something that lasts for all time. Binky's idea is to have 24 hours of nonstop fireworks. Muffy doesn't care what the holiday is, she just wants to sell merchandise.

Arthur says that all of their ideas are too commercial, and it's not what a holiday is all about. Afterwards, they realize there is a holiday coming up: Valentine's Day. The episode ends with Arthur finding out that D.W.'s idea, "Pony Day", was published in the newspaper. Binky mentions to Arthur he has a whole year to think of a new holiday.

Major Characters

 * Arthur
 * Buster
 * Francine
 * Muffy
 * Brain
 * Binky

Minor Characters

 * Sue Ellen
 * Fern
 * D.W.
 * Grandma Thora
 * Mary Moo Cow
 * Kate

Cameos

 * Jane Read (does not speak)
 * Alex (cameo)
 * Prunella (cameo)
 * 4th Grade Female Cat (cameo)
 * 4th Grade Male Rabbit (Number 2) (cameo)
 * Edwin (cameo)
 * Lisa (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Unknown Female Rabbit (cameo)
 * Emily (cameo)
 * 3rd Grade Female Aardvark (cameo)
 * 3rd Grade Male Cat (cameo)
 * 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3) (cameo)
 * Jenna (cameo)
 * 3rd Grade Male Rat (cameo)

Trivia

 * The kid who got clothes for Christmas is a spoof on "a Charlie brown Christmas" as a dog is wearing Charlie Brown's shirt.
 * In "The Play's the Thing", George was able to balance Binky on the see-saw, so this see-saw might have been frozen stuck, and Binky was tricking them.

Goofs

 * At the beginning in Mr. Ratburn's classroom, Prunella can be seen sitting at a desk even though she is supposed to be in fourth grade. This is the second time after Locked in the Library!.