Don’t Fight the Darkness
Winter nights are so long, that they can even lead to depression. But what about Scandinavian people, who live beyond the polar circle? Here are some of their secrerts about how to survive long winter nights.
First of all, rather than bemoaning (жаловаться на) the lack of sunlight, give yourself permission to celebrate winter activities that bring you joy—whether that means baking cookies with friends, snuggling (свернуться калачиком) with your cat under a blanket, or enjoying a mug of tea and a good book. Scandinavians are big fans of hygge (приятная атмосфера, уют) — which is basically embracing coziness. Hygge is more than a passing trend for Norwegians; it’s a lifestyle. During the dark months, people light nice candles and spend evenings hanging out together. “Everyone is just used to living with these short days in the winter,” says Sarah Strand, a scientist who lives in the Arctic. “It improves the evening mood when you embrace the darkness.”
