Autumn Blues is a Part of Life and Not Depression, Says Study
As the days grow shorter and the sky turns grey, people often find themselves fighting off feelings of listlessness and melancholy, but don't worry.
As the days grow shorter and the sky turns grey, people often find themselves fighting off feelings of listlessness and melancholy, but don't worry.
But star-shaped lanterns are also common, as are straight rows of four or seven electric candles.
Such ornaments are often left on all night and through the day.
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An American psychologist has found that cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is better than light therapy at preventing recurrence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form
An American psychologist has found that cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is better than light therapy at preventing recurrence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form
"It started with families, became more and more popular year after year and spread to the workplace and so on," said Kaettstroem Hoeoek, who in a book on Swedish Christmas said a study showed 92 percent of homes lit up their windows during Advent.
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Birdsong - Music That Frees You From Winter Blues
Scientists have suggested that spending five minutes a day listening to birdsong may help beat the winter blues.
Scientists have suggested that spending five minutes a day listening to birdsong may help beat the winter blues.
"It was a protection against evil forces, it had some kind of a magical explanation, and was also a salutations of sorts" for people going to mass, Kattstroem Hoeoek said.
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In 1937, an employee at the Philips factory in Gothenburg had the idea of putting together seven of the electric candle-shaped Christmas tree lights the factory made: the Adventljusstake was born.
"It was a big success! There was already the old traditions of having lights in windows, and this was safe against fire and could be left on all night," Kattstroem Hoeoek said, explaining how adaptation enabled the old tradition to survive.
While the celebration of light in Sweden can be seen throughout December, it reaches a peak on the 13th, Saint Lucy's Day, in a celebration that comes from a mixture of traditions from Italy, Germany and Sweden.
Back in the 1700s the day was marked by a young woman, wearing a long white dress and a crown of lit candles, bringing in treats in the early morning.
In the 1920s, the feast became modernised, with Lucy's morning procession including other girls wearing crowns and "star boys" with pointy star-adorned hats.
Today, every school and day care centre in Sweden hosts such a procession on December 13. Many children put on the long white dresses, but only one girl is picked to be Lucy.
Saint Lucy's Day concerts are also held in churches throughout the country, with choirs of children holding candles.
The melodies sung can be traced back to Italy, but they were adapted with Swedish words that reflect the country's climate in mid-December.
"The traditions, they are alive and they mix together and they travel and come back," the expert explained.
"I think they picked me because I am tall and blond," said 12-year-old Fanny Haeffner, who was this year's Lucy for the three concerts her music school presented at Stockholm's Cathedral.
"You always have a Lucy procession in school, but I never thought I would actually be her," she told AFP, after an hour of standing still and smiling during the concert.
Nowadays battery-operated Lucy crowns are found, but for the concerts Fanny had the real deal: no fewer than seven candles burning on her head, ignoring safety concerns for a true tribute to light.
The Lucy does not sing, but the 179 other children, all holding candles in the dimly-light cathedral, concluded the concert with the well-known "Sankta Lucia" song.
"Saint Lucy, make our winter night light with your beauty .. light up your white light, Saint Lucy," they sang, before simultaneously blowing out their candles.
Source-AFP
