Almost 2 months long polar night called ”kaamos” is FINALLY over! Polar night means the period when the sun no longer rises above the horizon. Darkness begins in the end of November and ends at the mid of January. In Utsjoki (Northern Finland) polar night lasts 52 days!

After long polar night, first rays of sun are worth of celebrating (photo by Jake Kanninen)

Darkness has it’s magical moments as it takes shades of blue, violet and purple. We call it blue moment of the day. Breathtakingly beautiful! After experienced polar night period, you will never be the same. By location you can count how many days polar night lasts.

From now on winter starts to turn to spring and light emerges day after day. It’s only 119 days to the opposite phenomenon that occurs in the summer months. Around Midsummer in northern Finland (approximately 21 June), the sun does not set for several weeks. In Utsjoki, a single, long summer day lasts for over two months starting from 16 May. You should experience it – perhaps by meditating – at the top of an arctic hill. There one’s heart awakens!

Four clear seasons and changes in nature are foundation of our creativity. However, counting winter as one season does not do it justice. In Lapland, winter lasts six months and during that time nature and light changes several times. No wonder Sami people consider there to be eight seasons instead of four!