The Western Long Street
Västerlånggatan
Stockholm Sweden
2012

Västerlånggatan (the Western Long Street) is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching southward between the squares Mynttorget and Järntorget, it follows the course of the city's now demolished 13th-century defensive wall.


Today is the winter solstice. The day of the year with the least amount of daylight hours. With an impressive north to south distance this day in Sweden means a range of no daylight in the northernmost reaches of the country to 7 hours of daylight at the southernmost point.
Perhaps surprisingly, I find this day to be uplifting. It means that the daylight is on its way back. Alternately, I find Midsommar depressing because it means the darkness is coming. So with Christmas around the corner and more daylight slowly returning I’m a pretty happy camper.
But not everyone is quite so jolly. Many people say that despite the southern portion of the country having more daylight it is actually more depressing here because snow is unusual. A flat gray sky blending into the bleak winter landscape can indeed weigh heavy on one’s spirits whereas areas that receive snow are perceptively lighter and brighter.
So what do people in Sweden do to bring light to the darkness?

https://semiswede.com/2011/12/21/bringing-light-to-the-dark/


Candles, candles, candles. I have never seen so many candles. Tea lights are a regular item on everyone’s shopping list. As soon as it begins to get dark early businesses place lanterns outside their doors and some even light candelabra in their windows. Fire pots pop up on doorsteps and in public spaces. On a recent trip to Stockholm I loved the fire stands you could cozy up to and warm your hands. Open flames in public is definitely not something I grew up with in the U.S. I think people are too afraid of accidents and litigation but I have yet to hear of anyone in Sweden going up in flames because of it.