Why So Many Norwegians Feel the Winter Depression

Norway is so far north, so in winter the sun stays low in the sky. This means the days are very short and it gets dark early.

Every winter the same thing happens in large parts of Norway: daylight disappears earlier and earlier, and the days shrink almost without noticing it. It’s a big contrast because it feels like going from a warm, sunny summer, straight to a cold, dark winter.  It can be difficult to understand how dark it actually gets in Norway. The sun usually sets before we finish school. So the people in Norway go home from school and work in total darkness.

In the middle of winter, many cities have only a few hours of daylight. This affects people more than you might think. The darkness makes the body produce more melatonin, the hormone that makes us tired, while they get less of the daylight hormone serotonin, which gives us energy and puts people in a good mood. The result is a condition that Norwegians call “winter depression.” Many describe it as a difficult period. Senior Ella Moss, a student from Hamar said, “I feel constantly tired, as if my body is running on low battery all the time. I’m from Wales, so it was a big change when me and my family moved to Norway”.

For many, winter depression is about more than just sleep and energy; it affects their entire lives. When darkness falls early, it becomes harder to be social. It’s cold, it’s dark, and people stay indoors. Elvira Lyssan explained how it hurts, “When the sun goes down before I get home from school, I lose the desire to do anything. I just want to be inside by myself.” Many people end up sitting alone in their room, not being social, and that can exacerbate winter depression. People sleep more, exercise less, and lose a lot of motivation. Although it sounds dramatic, it’s very common in Norway, and most people know that it will pass as soon as spring comes. In the spring, the sunlight comes back, it’s getting warmer and people can be outside.

Still, Norwegians try to combat the winter darkness in their own way. They light candles, spend time with friends when possible, go for walks during the few hours of daylight, and exercise to regain their energy. The darkest time is in December, so people try to watch Christmas movies, bake, and do cozy Christmas activities. Some people think this also gets them into the Christmas spirit. Light bulbs that mimic sunlight have also become more popular. The dark hours are a big part of the Norwegian winter, and although it can be heavy, they teach us to appreciate the light when it finally returns. When spring fills Norway again, it seems as if the whole country wakes up again.