Whenever I told people that I was moving to Sweden, "you know it's really dark and cold there!" was a common response. 

"Yes, I know. I hope that means I'll spend a lot of time in warm, bright libraries!" became my practiced reply. 

Now that it is getting dark a bit earlier, I notice the lovely features of light which dot the city. Many restaurants and shops put lanterns or big candles outside to lure in customers and light the way of passersby. The first couple of times I saw this it seemed so special - candles lined up on the ground.  

One of my favorite hometown events was the early December lighting of luminaria in the big main park - Glen Miller Park. On one cold early December afternoon a team of people would fill paper bags with sand, place a candle inside and put them throughout the park. The candles would be lit at dusk and shine throughout the park. Then we'd enjoy hot cider or hot chocolate and walk around looking at them before being driven home, our eyelids heavy. 

This is a memory from childhood that I associate with community, family, winter and the holiday season. In high school our fingers froze as we shoveled cold sand with the Parks Department and then placed the luminaria. In college we circled the Heart of campus with candle light for an evening.* 

As I see the flickering of flames at various Uppsala businesses on my bike ride home, I feel happy and - the dark isn't that bad. I just get hungry at the 3pm dusk and feel like I should probably eat dinner soon.  I guess there's still a month before the winter solstice, nonetheless I'm enjoying the adjustment to appreciating the light and darkness in new ways. 

And some nights, when the clouds roll in, the street lamps reflect and the whole city glows. 

*This could totally be a false memory. Confirmation, friends?