A Land of Two Seasons

One thing that really strikes me about Sweden is how polarized the passage of time is between the two key events of Christmas and the summer holidays.

No sooner has the last of the New Years hangover worn off than people start dreaming and anticipating the arrival of summer and the long vacation. I guess this is to give them hope that the cold and the dark can’t last forever and eventually the snow will melt and the warmth will return and everything will be sunny and bright.

As soon as the people return from the summer vacation they begin to be more aware that in only a few weeks time the days will begin to get shorter, the trees browner and the summer will begin to loose its grip on the land.

In Sweden the summer vacation comes with so much expectation that people really need a good one to re-invigorate their souls and recharge the mental batteries for the long haul through winter. In years like this, when that dream is washed away by the endless rain, the disappointment can leave and empty hole which dampens the spirits for the rest of the year.

In England the seasons pass more slowly and the winters are shorter and less dark, spring and autumn last months, not weeks and the summer vacation, though shorter, is not built up so much as here in Sweden. I think this allows people more time to adjust to the passing of time and to stay more rooted to the here and now rather than in Sweden where I sometimes feel that people are always looking ahead to either winter or summer.

So as my summer vacation has come to an end, every warm day feels like an opportunity missed as I sit at work slaving away at my keyboard. Maybe I should cheer myself up by singing a few Christmas carols….