Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 22

Christmas balls, stars and light part 22
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Day 22

Some trash talk about the snow disappearing. Yesterday, there was snow, but now it’s gone. Sometimes, the weather forecast is correct, but sometimes it’s not. In Finland, the weather is unpredictable, regardless of season. There would have been at least some snow, so it would have been white. If you want to see snow, you must go up north. But that’s not a reason to spend money on travelling. It’s dull when there is no snow, especially at Christmas. I won’t be home at Christmas but there is no snow in Tallinn either.

You don’t know what shoes to wear when the weather changes. If you wear winter boots and it rains, you ruin them. You can slip and hurt yourself if you wear sneakers and it snows. If the snow would stay, it would be easier to choose footwear. No one knows when there will be snow here again. The forecast says it’s going to be plus Celsius in some days. You would think it’s Autumn and not Winter. It does dampen the Christmas cheer a little bit when there is no snow, but you live with it.

Is this Christmas or an ordinary day? You tell me. It was taken today, and that’s no trash talk.

no snow
©Mia Salminen 2024

Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 21

Christmas balls, stars and light part 21
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Day 21

Snow shouldn’t come before the festivities, but here in Southern Finland, this Christmas is not lucky. We had snow last night, but it won’t last long because the forecast says it will rain tomorrow. I guess we should enjoy it while it lasts. I will never understand people who live in Finland and don’t like snow. I love it. If you can’t stand the snow, get out of the country. Or you might just live with it and stop complaining. Not that there is anything wrong with it. It’s time for festivities and not time to be disappointed. Weather isn’t something you can turn off and on again. You get what you get, and you live with it.

The view outside my window.

snow
©Mia Salminen 2024

Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 2

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Day 2

It’s December, but it doesn’t look like it. If you want to see snow in Finland, you need to go up North. But then you will meet the darkness despite the snow. The sun doesn’t show in Lapland for a while because of the polar night. It’s right down austere if you’re not used to it. I think people who live in the South of Finland suffer more from it because they don’t know how to handle it the same way. Snow would make it less dark, but now it’s dull and depressing. It’s more about attitude. If you see darkness as bad and don’t see anything positive about it, you look at it incorrectly. You shouldn’t stop living just because it’s not light outside. The sun sometimes shows in the South of Finland, so it’s not always dark. There was snow in November, but it melted. The weather forecast predicted there would be snow this week, so that will be less austere.

Some people get depressed when it gets dark earlier, but I don’t mind. It’s cosy when you can sit inside with the lights on and do things you usually do. If I go outside, looking at people’s balconies with Christmas lights is nice. Then, the city has lights and decorations all over. If you complain about how grey and depressive things are, then it’s no wonder you feel depressed. Put on the lights and the candles. Listen to music, watch a movie and anything you fancy. Take a walk outside or take a car ride. Or maybe go to the shopping mall and look in the windows. You don’t need to buy happiness. If you look outside and think, “It’s so dark, ” don’t. It won’t be like that forever. When the darkness is over, you complain about it being too light. What is wrong with us? Nothing is ever good enough. Negative thinking is never good, so stay positive and find something good in everything. Have a cookie. Even the smallest thing can make you feel better. Things are only austere because you make them to be, so don’t. They can be simple if you want to.