Today is the darkest day of the year, the longest night and the shortest day. A delicate frost covered the bare ground of the fields this morning. As I cycled across the island (wrapped up in warm clothes, of course), the pale moon still shone above me, while on the opposite side the sun was just rising, turning the sky there deep orange. I am sometimes overwhelmed by the splendour of the colours, especially in winter when you don't expect it.
The Danes celebrate the dark season with candles and lots of "hygge". Hygge is also a verb here, a reflexive one. So strings of lights adorn houses, windows, trees and gardens. There are candles in the transom windows. Everyone is inside as soon as it gets dark, making themselves cosy. You can also already see a few Christmas trees. They are usually in the middle of the room so that you can dance around them on Christmas Eve.
I hope you make yourself as cosy. And that you can switch off the noise of the world outside. Surround yourself with beautiful things and thoughts and with the people you love. If they are further away: call them. Because our human connections are what is important. In this spirit, I wish you a blessed Christmas and that your wishes and hopes may come true.
