Takatalvi - The (full) Return of Winter

 This last weekend has been absurd. 

Yes, I am referring to the weather. 

Oh yes,

we have experienced the full Return of Winter here.

The Finnish language has a wonderful word for this phenomenon, takatalvi, directly translated back-winter. That means back to winter or the return of winter. 

Coldsnap, is the most common expression in English. For a short time spring is halted by a last breath of winter. I have never heard a better expression of this than the Finnish word takatalvi. Rather surprisingly, Swedish has no word that describes the phenomenon as well as takatalvi.

We have had an unusually snowy winter this year, and, sure enough, the takatalvi is also a manifestation of some record-level snowy weather.

Actually, I can't remember such a snow-filled cold snap, ever. It really took us all by surprise. 

The amounts of snow surprised even us Finns. Just check the pics.

And all this snow less than a week before the main celebration of spring, the traditional culmination of festivities during the academic year, Student's Night, Valborg, Vappen, Vappu. Traditionally, Nordic people celebrates Student's Night (April 30th) the night before Worker's Day (May 1st). 

This year, like last year, will unfortunately not be traditional, due to Covid-19, but at least there is real hope now that next year will be better.

Weather-wise it is already better! 

Sun is finally shining again, and sky is blue, again, this Monday afternoon.

And there is actual hope for some nice spring weather again, hopefully when spring is celebrated on Friday.

For celebrating Glada Vappen and Hauskaa Vappua, and for the culmination of the academic year for students, and for the following worker's day, a new playlist will be published here on Friday. 

Stay tuned! 

And remember: there is no such thing as bad weather, only wrong clothing.

And when some Finns decide that it is spring, it is spring, irrespective of the weather...

after all, winter is coming, or going, every year. ;)