Winter darkness and Swedish mys

The darkest days of the year have arrived in Sweden. During this time of year, we have only about seven hours of daylight, from 8:30 until 15:30. Of course, we are in the southernmost part of Sweden, so we are fortunate to have this much daylight! Going further north, the sun does not rise above the horizon at this time of year, called the polar night!

(A rare snow in Lund lights up with street lights)

When we decided to move to Sweden, darkness was something I thought might be hard to manage … and some days, especially those where the sky is overcast and remains gray all day, I do feel that way! But I’ve also come to appreciate how the Swedes adapt to this time of year. While it is a time to turn inward, many efforts are made to bring light into the dark.

The first way is through light itself. Candles are everywhere – in homes, cafes, and restaurants. And yes, these are fire-burning candles with flames and dripping wax. It is a daily practice to light candles that offer a soft glow to a darker room. You’ll also find fires and special ground candles burning outside, lighting up walkways and providing an orangey glow to the darkness. Streets are also lit with twinkling fairy lights and stars, and the plazas have Christmas trees in full regalia. When walking through the streets, house and apartment windows have stars or candle arches to offer a hazy glow to passersby. These small lighting touches make a difference in feeling warmth at home and outside.  

(Stars in windows brighten the room)

Another way that lightness reveals itself is through jultomtarna, gnomes. These little figures show up everywhere during the Advent season – in people’s homes, shop windows and cafes. I didn’t realize the legend of tomten until I did a bit of homework, so now appreciate the historical context and the folklore tradition it brings. Beyond the story, these figures are just too darn cute, and I love decorating our shelves with them to bring joy and light to our rooms. There is also a wonderful children’s song that R performed at school this year, and I share here for fun. It’s called Tomtarner Julnatt, and it’s about the Christmas gnomes on Christmas eve. Super fun, and very catchy!

(Jultomtarna bring joy with their fun designs and styles)

(Cleverly designed jultomtarna at a local Christmas market (julmarknad))

While the tendency to stay inside is strong, what I appreciate most during this time of year is the importance of getting outside! When there are so few hours of daylight, getting outside and taking in the fresh air is key. Even when it’s not very light, Swedes ensure that the outdoors are accessible by making it easy to see, and to be seen. First, the bike and walking paths are lit, as are the trails in the nature reserves, so you can leave the city and still have lights to guide the way. The second way is through wearable reflectors to improve visibility for others. Reflectors are easily available for outdoor gear, including attachments on bags and jackets. This is all about safety, allowing for others to see you at a distance of more than 100 meters, which makes a big difference during this time of year where there is so little light. 

The darkness has certainly been different for all of us relative to our brighter, sunnier California days. The immersion experience has been an opportunity to learn and adjust. Reminders to get outside, to slow down, to spend time enjoying the little things ... it’s been a positive way to process and to reflect. The darkness is different, and so is the seasonality of this time. It’s important to tuck in and enjoy the moment. In fact, Swedes have a word for this – mys, or coziness. Many Americans may be familiar with the Danish word, hygge. In Sweden, it is mys, and it’s practiced in an extra way during the winter months. And just as it is darkest now, we also now know that the light will soon come again. We embrace the dark, and on those evenings when we have a bit more time, we light a fire and savor the mys that is now.

(Nothing better than a warm fire to take in the mys)

(Trips to the kallbadhus are a great way to manage the winter darkness)

(Winter days with blue skies and sunlight are rare, and so welcome!)