First Day of Winter
Hygge, Winter Nights, and Dísablót
Winter is a time when the world undergoes a profound transformation, as nature withdraws into a state of hibernation and stillness. The air becomes crisp and cold, and the landscape is adorned with frost or snow, punctuated by bare-branched trees and evergreens. Winter evokes a sense of introspection, inviting individuals to turn their attention inward, reflect on the passing year, and embrace the slower pace of life. It is a season of cosy warmth, where people gather around crackling fires, sip hot beverages, and seek comfort in the company of loved ones. Winter also holds opportunities for celebration and festivities, holidays and traditions that bring families and communities together. It is a time when humans adapt to the challenges of the season, finding joy in the beauty of icy landscapes, the thrill of winter sports, and the anticipation of new beginnings as they await the arrival of spring.
Here in the land down under, Winter has officially begun. In the northern regions, such as Queensland and the Northern Territory, winter brings relief from the intense heat and humidity of the tropical climate. It's a time of mild weather, clear skies, and comfortable temperatures, perfect for enjoying outdoor activities. The southern parts of Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, and the southern regions of Western Australia, experience cooler temperatures and a distinct change in the landscape. It is a time of fog and frosts, winter storms, and snow on the highland ranges. While our native flora remains largely evergreen, the landscape, which has been painted with vibrant Autumn colours for the last month, is now softening to greys and tawny browns, dusted with frost and punctuated by bare-branched trees and evergreens. Winter deciduous trees are not native to Australia, and their import by colonists and immigrants has created a profound change in the landscape, though its beauty cannot be denied.
According to the Ngunnawal knowledge keepers and traditional custodians of the place I call home, we have started deep winter, the second half of Magarawangga season. This season is marked by heavy fog and frosts that will last until July, with snow dusting the tops of the Brindabella Ranges and deepening in the Australian Alps, the Snowy Mountains. As winter sets in, early flowering wattles will start to bloom yellow and will be joined by the Spring-flowering wattles until they reach their climax in September. It’s breeding time for echidnas, and the lucky observer may be able to spy the charming sight of an echidna love train as males doggedly court their chosen female in a most gentlemanly fashion. Read about echidna love in this article from Australian Geographic.
Hygge
According to Weik Wiking, author of ‘The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well’ (2016)1, hygge is a concept deeply rooted in Danish culture and has evolved over centuries as a way of life. Its origins can be traced back to the Danish word hygge, which roughly translates to cosiness, comfort, a feeling of contentment, warmth, and togetherness. It emerged as a response to the long dark winters that Denmark experiences, where creating a warm and inviting atmosphere became essential for well-being. The Danish people embrace hygge as a way to find joy and happiness in simple pleasures, fostering a sense of togetherness and cultivating a cosy ambiance in their homes.
This is done by transforming indoor spaces into inviting sanctuaries, adorned with soft lighting, flickering candles, and plush pillows and blankets. It involves sipping hot beverages like cocoa or mulled wine, known as glühwein in Germany or glögg in Scandinavia, savouring comforting dishes that nourish the body and soul, wearing warm and snuggly socks, and engaging in activities that cultivate a cosy atmosphere and promote relaxation: sitting by a crackling fire, reading a book, playing board games, or sharing meals and easy conversation with friends. It can even mean finding a sense of peace and calm by walking in nature and absorbing the beauty of the winter landscape.
Denmark has consistently been rated as the first or second happiest country in the world according to the World Happiness Report. Meik Wiking, who is also the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, attributes this to hygge, with its focus on the small things that really matter, quality time with friends and family, and enjoyment of the good things in life (Wiking, 2016).
Winter Nights and Dísablót
The first three days of the winter season in old Nordic and Germanic regions were called Winter Nights (vetr-naetr in Old Icelandic), which began twenty-eight days after the Autumn equinox. This was marked with an important festival in the pre-Christian Norse calendar, known as Dísablót or Dísirblót. In Norse mythology and Germanic folklore, the Dísir2 (singular: dís) were female supernatural beings associated with fate, ancestry, and protective spirits. They were often regarded as guardian spirits of particular families or lineages. During Dísablót, offerings and sacrifices were made to the dísir, often at sacred sites or mounds associated with ancestral burial grounds.
These offerings could include food, drink, and other symbolic items with the purpose of seeking the favour and protection of the dísir for the well-being and prosperity of the community and its future generations. The dísir were believed to influence the shaping of people’s destinies and had the power to both bless and curse. Their veneration emphasised the importance of ancestral ties and the connection between the living and the dead. Dísablót has been associated with the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon celebration of Modranecht (mothers’ night), which is celebrated at the winter solstice and will be explored in a future post.
Winter Celebration Ideas
For those that find joy in decorating their homes to capture the magic of the season, it’s time to pack away the Autumn decorations and bring out the crystal, silver, and white baubles and trinkets, the snowmen and polar bear figurines, and the sparkling snowflake lights. Lay out your (faux) furs and winter blankets. Put your winter-themed pillows on display. Make and hang paper snowflakes. Read winter-themed books for yourself and your children. Make and drink warm cocoa, mulled wine, glühwein, or glögg, wear your comfiest socks. Have your friends round for a warm meal, enjoyable conversation, and a board game or two, especially when the weather is filthy outside. I wish you many moments of hygge and warmth this winter season!
It would be unfair of me to get you excited about hygge and drinking deliciously warm drinks without giving you a recipe at least. Here’s one for glögg from ‘The Little Book of Hygge’ (2016) that I hope you enjoy.
As a collector of beautifully illustrated children’s books, fairy, and folktales, I have found a few lovely books I bring out every year at this time. Please let me know some of your own favourites.
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak - explores the turning of the season
Winter Tales by Dawn Casey, illustrated by Zanna Goldhawk - A treasury of stories celebrating the winter from around the world
The Snow Wombat by Susannah Chambers, illustrated by Mark Jackson - a gorgeous and simple story for children exploring the Australian winter landscape
The Story of the Snow Children by Sibylle von Olfers - a vintage story perfect for the season
The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler - a popular children’s classic
Music for Winter
Because I am tragically festive at this time of year, I have created my own playlist for the season. Songs include the jazzy classics that celebrate winter without (much) mention of Christmas or religion:
Winter Wonderland
Let it Snow
Marshmallow World
Sleigh Ride
Jingle Bells
The Christmas Song (it’s a shame about the name as the song is so evocative of the hyggelig season with Christmas mentioned only briefly)
Sung by my favourite festive jazz artists and crooners like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra, these songs really help to inspire the festive spirit. The songs I’ve shared below are particularly evocative of the more introspective aspects of winter and lovely to listen to. Please enjoy!
Wolf Song (Vargsangen) - Jonna Jinton
Winter Singing - The Imagined Village
Winter Moon - Erutan
I would love to hear about your own experiences, stories, traditions, poems, recipes, and thoughts for the winter season. Please share in the comments, share with your friends, and remember to subscribe and get every new post in your email. See you again soon.
Wiking, M. (2016). The Little Book of Hygge: the Danish way to live well. Penguin Life. Copenhagen
The term dísir is derived from the Old Norse word dís which means ‘lady’ or ‘goddess’.