As summer is coming to an end in most parts of the northern hemisphere, I think back on this summer and the time I spent in Sweden. Even though I grew up in Sweden, it had been over ten years since I experienced the Swedish summer. My sister’s wedding this June provided the perfect opportunity to experience it again-and to share it with my husband for the first time.
The Swedish summer to me is magical, it is a time when things truly slow down and most people are on vacation and out enjoying themselves. You see, most Swedes get four weeks of vacation, or more, every year. June through August is generally referred to as the “vacation period” and businesses run on a skeleton crew. The beaches are full of people of all ages, kids are playing outside, and there is a general sense of relaxation in the air. The summer staples are locally grown strawberries, new potatoes, and, in the case of our family, celebratory champagne. In the summertime, the evenings are long and one of my favorite things to do is linger outside long after dinner and enjoy the warm and still evening.
I think one thing that makes the Swedish summer so special is that it is not taken for granted. Most of the year it is dark and cold in Sweden, and therefore the relatively short summer is that much more appreciated. On the other hand, I currently live in Arizona, in the Valley of the Sun, and the sun is very much taken for granted. After all, it is sunny on average at least 211 days of the year and there are really only two noticeable seasons: the very hot summer, and the not-as-hot rest of the year. But as a Swede, I love the sun and the climate suits me well; it conjures memories of a worry-free vacation.
Great post dear!
Sounds fantastic! Enjoy guys! <3