[1] The winter of 1963 was an exciting time.

[2] Winter in 1963 was not like this last winter.

所谓calendar time（日历时间）就是指根据日历划分的季节时间，根据我国的农历，从立春至立夏是春季，从立夏至立秋是夏季，从立秋至立冬是秋季，从立冬至次年立春是冬季——这说的都是日历时间。比如我们说：I like spring, because my birthday is in spring. 这里的 spring 就是日历时间。

所谓 seasonal climate（季节气候）就是指用季节名词表示某个季节的气候，比如说：I like spring, because it’s warm and the trees and plants start to grow. 这里的spring 就是指季节气候。

《英语语法大全》的两个句子：

[1] The winter of 1963 was an exciting time.（指从日历上界定的时间，同时注意其后表语的中心词是time）

[2] Winter in 1963 was not like this last winter.（将两个冬天的天气作比较）

根据英语习惯，当季节名词“特指”日历时间时，其前必须要用定冠词；当季节名词“特指”季节气候时，其前用不用定冠词均可（但以用定冠词为普通）。所以夸克的两个句子中，第一句（The winter of 1963）必须要有定冠词；第一句（Winter in 1963）用不用定冠词均可以，即：

正：The winter of 1963 was an exciting time.

误：Winter of 1963 was an exciting time.

正：Winter in 1963 was not like this last winter.

正：The winter in 1963 was not like this last winter.