Seasons in Sweden: A Photo Essay

Winter

where we are now, where we will be for a while.

In November grey clots the sky, swaddling you as you try to go about your daily business. You transition into wearing chunky knitwear but there’s a permanent, non-committal drizzle and fog in the air and it makes everything damp.

When the snow comes, even if there’s no sun, it makes everything brighter. Take what joy you can from the fact your nostril hairs will freeze together. Do not chew minty gum and then go outside. Be glad that the snow makes everything so quiet, and can put on such a show.

Spring

sneeze and you’ll miss it. Is it March – May? Is it April – May? The snow is like that friend at a party who says all of their goodbyes at 11:00pm, promising to call it a night now, but every time another Frank Ocean song comes on over the aux cord says, “I can just hang around a while longer!” Before you know it it’s 8am the next day and they’re still there, incomprehensibly. 

You’ll need a bigger backpack to accommodate the extra sweater, the rain mac, the gloves (just in case), your umbrella.

Everything is in flux. The gravel from the streets to protect against the ice gets in your shoes.

Daylight savings comes, everyone exhales.

Summer

don’t close your blinds before bed, be woken up by the sun at 3am and – for one night at least – watch it make its golden arc upwards.

Get your walking boots on and hike into the night without worries.

Go out to the islands, swim everywhere, be outside whenever you can be.

Autumn

start taking coffee in a thermos on walks in the forest. Watch the leaves shimmer off of trees when waiting for the bus.

Walk home with your head held up, facing forward. The wind and rain and snow are yet to come.