Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When to go
In general, May to September is the best time to visit Sweden - north or south. Summer
weather in Sweden is similar to that in southern Britain, though there are more hours of
sunshine and less rain. By the end of August, the leaves in northern Sweden start to change
colour and night frosts are not uncommon; the first snows fall in September. In Stockholm,
snow can fall in October but doesn't generally settle; by November, though, the ground is
usually covered in a blanket of snow, which will last until the following March or even
April, when there can still be snow showers. Winters in the south of Sweden are often mild
whilst in the north you're likely to encounter snow until well into May and temperatures
can fall to -30C. For more information and a temperature chart, see pp.34-35.
THE WINTER SWEDE AND THE SUMMER SWEDE
Unsurprisingly, the long, dark winters have a tangible effect on the Swedish psyche . During
the winter months, you'll find that people are generally quieter and more withdrawn, and
protect themselves from the rigours of the cold and dark by deliberately socializing indoors,
often choosing to light candles throughout the home to create a sense of cosiness. You'll
even see candles burning in public buildings and shops to brighten up the gloomiest time of
year. It's during winter that Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. , causes widespread
depression, affecting roughly one in five people. Although you're unlikely to suffer during a
short visit in winter, you're likely to encounter gloomy faces and a general sense of inertia
throughout the winter months. S.A.D. is caused by a lack of daylight which leads to an increase
in the production of the sleep-related hormone, melatonin, secreted from a gland in the brain.
Naturally people do all they can to
alleviate the effects of winter; for
example, during the period of
24-hour darkness in northern
Sweden, the Winter Swede
creates a semblance of day and
night by switching on bright lights
during what would be daytime, and
using low-lighting during the
evening hours. Once spring arrives,
there's a notable bounce in people's
step, and the Summer Swede
prepares to emerge from months of
enforced hibernation - you'll see
people sitting in lines on park
benches in the sunshine, faces tilted
to the sky, making the most of the
return of the sun. Festivals and
revelries are thick on the ground
in spring and summer, and outdoor
life is lived to the full, including
picnics under the midnight sun,
beach parties lasting late into the
night and an exodus to the
countryside as people take up
residence in their forest or lakeside
log cabins to enjoy the brief yet
intense summer months.
RIGHT FROM TOP DOGSLED RUNNING ON SNOW, LAPLAND; SAUNA, JOKKMOKK >
 
 
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