Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to Anton Shepelev:   
      
    AS>  It happened in the cusp season when late autumn yields   
    AS>  to early winter and the weather is damp, cold, murky,   
      
    AK>  I heard in this context about "we are on the cusp of   
    AK>  winter season". Not sure about "cusp season".   
      
      
               I'm not sure whether you're asking about the grammar or the meaning   
   ... but "the cusp season" is correct AFAIK.  Alternatively, I would say "on   
   the cusp of the winter season" or "on the cusp of winter".   
      
               In North America folks say "on the cusp" meaning at or near a   
   point which marks a change... typically from one astrological sun sign to   
   another.  I hadn't heard the word used with reference to the winter solstice   
   before, but it makes sense to me.  As we speak the weather in Vancouver is   
   very much like what Anton describes... and I expect +/- 16 hours of darkness   
   on December 21st while Moscow is even further north.  Under the circumstances   
   I can see why a homeless person who has recently awakened might enquire   
   whether it's 8:00 AM or 8:00 PM.   
      
               I've always found it strange that December 21st is generally   
   listed on our calendars etc. as the beginning of winter... while (depending on   
   who you ask) June 21st may be "midsummer day" or the official beginning of   
   summer.  The earth does take awhile to warm up or cool down as the sun's rays   
   get to us more or less directly.  But for many people around these parts, what   
   matters is when they take their long johns, snow boots, and woolly mittens out   
   of storage.  :-)   
      
      
      
      
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)