Hej November!

It always seems to creep up on us faster than expected, often prompting exclamations like Usch! Vilket väder! ("Ugh! What terrible weather!") or even the more colourful Vilket jävla skitväder! ("What bloody awful weather!").

Sweden's winters are famously tough, and November might just be the most brutal of all. It greets us with biting winds and plummeting temperatures—a cold, dark doorway into the season ahead. No matter how much we might resist, heading outdoors often turns out to be the best solution. Making it through November becomes a lot more manageable with less stress, better moods, and improved sleep—all proven benefits of physical activity. And let’s be honest: it makes that fredagsmys (a cherished Swedish tradition of Friday night comfort at home, often with snacks and cosy vibes) feel even more well-earned.

If you're looking for a bit of traditional Swedish weather wisdom to help predict what’s ahead, there’s an old saying: "Anders braskar, julen slaskar." It suggests that if November 30th—Saint Andrew’s Day—brings freezing weather, then Christmas will be wet and slushy. But if it's slushy on that day, we might just get a snowy Christmas instead.

Either way, winter is already making itself known, and we’re getting ready for the icy days ahead. We’ve really missed gliding across frozen lakes on skates and can’t wait to get back to it! In the meantime, we’re still out hiking, mountain biking, and running survival courses—keeping our spirits high despite the darkness.

So stay bold, embrace the season, and keep enjoying the outdoors!