(A little background to this article. I wrote it before the idea of starting a candle business was anywhere near my brain. I was trying to work on my mental health and decided to start writing more. This blog is a post I wrote a couple years ago on a blog I never published. It just so happens to include something about candles! Forshadowing??)
After an amazing Swedish summer, it’s easy to forget that those glorious sun-filled days completely reverse into utter cold and darkness. I’m not sure what we said before Game of Thrones, but it's very common to hear people lamenting “Winter is coming” as soon as the last apple drops and fall leaves appear. With the northern parts of Sweden experiencing midnight sun in June, they also experience days with no sunlight for part of December. It gets a teeny bit better the further South you go, still everyone in Sweden is very aware of both Summer and Winter Solstice. The concept of light and how much of it we are getting, is deeply embedded in the daily life and culture of any person living in Sweden.
Though days will get longer and nights shorter, it can still remain very cold and even snow as late as May! So, here is my list of 5 ways to survive winter in one of the most wintry places
1) Stock up on candles- Swedish winter is all about coziness. Dim lights, baking things, warm blankets. Even at Christmastime, the decor is a simplistic blend of light colors, use of nature, and romantic lighting. In Denmark, they call it hygge and in Sweden, mysig. In the winter, I go ahead and stock up on candles so that I always have one or ten handy to light. If you’re less into “cozy”, you could think about the fact that the power is more likely to go out in the winter. Either way, candles are for me, a must. And are an easy solution for anyone unsure of what to get me for Christmas.
2) Buy warm clothes and go outside!- There’s a saying in Sweden that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. If you’re dressed right, you can actually withstand all the negative degrees and wacky winter conditions. No matter what the weather is doing, Sweden has taught me that you can still walk, run, bike (get winter tires), hike, bonfire, and take your kids outside! And if there’s snow, well then the world is your winter oyster. The key is to just get the right clothes and don’t forget the right shoes too. If you love shopping, I’ve learned that there’s a whole realm of winter apparel I never knew existed! So layer up and get that cold, fresh air in your lungs. It’ll do you some good! I promise.
3) Take up a winter hobby- A bit like number 3, this one is feedback from my husband. My husband moved to Sweden from South Africa during the coldest time of the year. He arrived in the country without even owning a coat! Besides buying a coat, he says that the one thing that helped him get through long winters was to start learning a winter pastime! Find out what cold weather things you can do where you live and try something knew. In Sweden, it might be cross country skiing, visiting a sauna house, dipping your body into a cold lake, or ice skating. Whatever it might be, try it! Maybe your newly found hobby will make you look forward to winter, even if you're from a warmer place!
4) Plan a trip- Whether it’s a total escape destination or just a place far enough away that you can spend at least one night, research shows that even the exciting anticipation of a trip is good for your mental health. Yes, even just the planning of it will you do you good! So why not do it during the most gloomy time of year? If travel is a positive experience for you, then there's nothing better than escaping for a few minutes in the day to a travel blog with articles about all the cool places you’ll soon visit.
5) Fika!- If you’ve ever visited Sweden or you live in Sweden, then you know about Swedish fika. Though proper fika has some very interesting history, nowadays fika is the art of enjoying coffee and a dessert or sandwich with some friends. Having fika is a great excuse to get out of the house and get together with others inside. If you don’t live in Sweden, then maybe it’s happy hour, having a dinner party at home, or just hanging at a coffee shop. Let's face it, a great chat with friends is good for the soul. Moral of the story, if you’re going to be inside, be inside somewhere with a friend and yummy food.
Of course I could have made this list so much longer, but decided to stick with 5. What things do you do to survive or fall in love with winter?
Love,
Amy