Happy New Year!, a photo from Halsingland, Norrland

Photographer's Note

Happy New Year Everyone! I really, truly hope it will be happy for all of you, not just "back to normal" or average. In fact, even thought I have said "have a normal New Year" to a few friends, I hope we are not going back to normal, I wish we, humans, have learned a valuable lesson of some sort and the new normal is not going to be anywhere near the same as the old normal but better. More tolerance, understanding, kindness to strangers and the environment. I'm probably deluded. But time will tell.

So yes, if you're looking at the date when this photo was taken... I did manage a brief holiday in December and I went to Sweden. I needed to get away from it all so, for three nights, I lived in my rental car, prepared to camp, with petrol the only necessity I needed to purchase. I did speak to a few people, as you will find out if you look at the WS photos and read the notes there.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the most important Swedish national treasure, a retired journalist and (I'm still hoping not retired) writer, who regularly entertains us on this website with scans from old Kodachrome slides as well as observant newly-made images of Stockholm. I wanted to keep him safe from coronavirus. Hopefully, next time.

As I said, I went to Sweden in search of solitude but also snow-sprinkled landscapes it has aplenty. But I also found many opportunities to photograph beautiful Christmas decorations. As you see here, some Swedish people take their Christmas seriously. I chose this image as it has a "Happy New Year" neon sign in it as well as a "God Jul" one.

This photo was taken somewhere along the road 83. I have no idea what the nearest town or village is.

Two more photos in WS.

pajaran, Fis2, jean113, worldcitizen, PaulVDV, ikeharel, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, holmertz, Royaldevon, jhm, alvaraalto, Energysavingelk, ricardomattos, adramad ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Tue (92442) 2021-01-01 13:23

Hello Kasia,
Such a nice and charming photo of the winter and Christmas decorations in Sweden. The warm lights stand out so well from the dark sky. Great sharpness! Happy New Year!
Lars

emka (158204) 2021-01-01 13:38

Witaj Kasiu, Śliczne zdjęcia. I tutaj dekoracje świąteczne i te urocze kolorowe drewniane domki. Oj, pewnie ten szwedzki skarb narodowy będzie rozczarowany :).
A moje plecaki już spakowane, budzik nastawiony. Czy uda mi się jutro pojechać?
Tolerancja, zrozumienie, uprzejmość i przyjazne odczucia wobec obcych, troska o środowisko - to nie u nas. Wątpię, czy coś sie zmieni.
Tobie tez życzę wszystkiego najlepszego w nowym roku. Banał, ale zdrowie i przyjaźń i miłość są najważniejsze.
Pozdrawiam

MAłgorzata

lousat (139308) 2021-01-01 13:57

Ciao Kasia.I see that you managed to escape even during the restrictions, it would have been impossible for me. It was really a pleasure to see your photos. Although I remain convinced that Milan is the most beautiful city to visit at Christmas for its incredible decorations, certainly the Nordic countries have the greatest Christmas charm and your photos prove it. Really beautiful. In the WS called "Gallo" I wasted time looking for a rooster in the picture ... hehehe ... because "Gallo" in Italian means just rooster. And finally, add to the missed meetings with Gert, he and I too a few years ago, we were at the same airport and at the same time in Greece, but we only learned about it later. Happy new year to you too and thanks,Luciano

Fis2 (170839) 2021-01-01 14:08

Czesc Kasiu!
Fajne dekoracje swiateczne.
Iluminacje robia wrazenie.
Okienko w WS-ie superowe.
Znakomite swiatlo i kolorki.
Wszystkiego najlepszego w nowym roku.
Krzysztof

jean113 (27893) 2021-01-01 14:17

Hello Kasia, Happy New Year.
Your notes were interesting, and I liked your thoughts in the first paragraph.
Three lovely pictures. Viewing the main post, I never fail to be impressed by people who put so much effort into decorating their homes for everyone to enjoy. This one is particularly good with the reindeer in the garden.
The workshop picture showing the window of the house looks quite charming.
I trust that you enjoyed your trip?
Kind regards, Jean.

worldcitizen (16086) 2021-01-01 15:10

Hello Kasia,
Happy New Year! When I saw this photo I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Last night I visited a local house here in Brooklyn that has decorations similar to this one - except it had Merry Christmas written in English. :-) It's nice to see all the lights and holiday spirit. It's good that you were able to have a small adventure. Take care!

PaulVDV (62970) 2021-01-01 16:05

Hello Kasia,
It's a shame that your very first idea for a trip in December didn't become reality. COVID-19 will no doubt be the culprit.
Yet you managed to escape from everyday reality for a few days.
Three beautiful photos that show what Christmas time looks like in Sweden and how ordinary houses are beautifully decorated.
All pictures were taken very professionally.
I can fully support your future wishes, but I wonder if we will really have learned much when these difficult times will be over. Perhaps everything will soon be forgotten to return to the old habits.
But for now let us be positive with the new hope that was given to us recently.
My best wishes for you for a happy and healthy 2021, a year in which you will hopefully experience new adventures and get to know new people / other cultures.
Best regards, Paul

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-01-01 21:17

Hi Kasia
A brilliant and appropriate upload, I wish you all that you wish for in 2021, let's hope this year is much better and that all remain healthy. You have done it in style here!
Best regards

Silvio1953 (221695) 2021-01-01 22:17

Ciao Kasia, fascinating nocturne shoot with fantastic season decorations, supperb exposure, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, Happy New Year, ciao Silvio

COSTANTINO (116560) 2021-01-01 23:09

Hello dear Kasia and have
a happy new year 2021
full of happiness and health
thanks for your wishes
and your hope that everything
will be happy for all of us...
well done
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147204) 2021-01-01 23:32

Hi Kasia and Bonne année 2021,
A pleasant nightshot, well captured, perfect light and contrast, fs.

ChrisJ (171878) 2021-01-02 0:11

Hi Kasia,

Norrland is a huge province. I only saw Kiruna. In October, Swedes told me I would be best off flying back to Stockholm as the train ride is very long and the scenery monotonous after a while. But here in mid winter it looks lovely. I like the little reindeer on the roof. Tfs!

holmertz (102760) 2021-01-02 0:52

Hello Kasia,
Three very nice photos from "localities" I have never seen, and probably never will. I didn't even know there were Christmas decorations like these in Sweden. I guess the owners of this house must have been Americans, or spent a lot of time in the US. It's rather overwhelming but makes a great contribution to the site.
Regarding the WS I have also got out of minor trouble abroad a few times by using the magic word "tourist", even once when caught by the police.
I never heard "locality" as the translation of "samhälle", which is a vague description of a place between a town and a village. But "samhälle" can also mean "society" or "community" and refer to the general population of the country. So it's very vague. ;-)
I like how you included the funeral parlour in the background of the photo of the brightly decorated shop. You probably didn't know what "begravningsbyrå" meant. ;-)
But you travelled a long distance with your rental car, starting in Östersund, passing through Ljusdal and Gävle. I guess you dropped it off at Arlanda?
Kind regards, and dreams of a better "samhälle" in 2021.
Gert

Royaldevon (85932) 2021-01-02 2:44

Hello Kasia,

I was surprised to learn that you had been able to travel in December. We have been in lockdown for what seems like ages, though I am not complaining for it is easy to get out for lovely walks.
You were very respectful of the people and their safety, and were able to experience a little of the Swedish response to Christmas and the New Year.
If anyone isn't cheered by this colourful house frontage, they must be made of ice!
I particularly like the warm atmosphere emanating from the window, in your w/s.

I am sure you enjoyed your brief visit.
Let's hope that it will not be too long before we can again travel without fear of spreading, or catching, this awful virus.
Like you, I think the world will be a different place, even in post virus conditions. I seriously hope that lessons about the environment are not forgotten!

With a merrier note, I wish you and your family a healthy and happy New Year, Bev :-)

jhm (211736) 2021-01-02 6:12

Hello Kasia,

Happy New Year, maybe a more healthy 2021 than 2020
Nice sharp and clear photographed.
Good photo work, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

alvaraalto (42804) 2021-01-02 6:42

Hello Kasia,
I agree with your words in which you indicate that you hope that we will move to a new normal where we will use the lessons of the bizarre year 2020.
Nice words for Gert. I too hope to meet him again.
Your beautiful photo with the richly illuminated house reminds me of some Dutch villages where the neighbors compete with each other with the most exuberant X-mas decorations.
Excellent presentation
Best wishes for a liberating and healthy 2021, Rob

Energysavingelk (7834) 2021-01-02 11:37

Hello Kasia!

A Healthy and Happy 2021 for you, too, and thanks for your wishes!

I wonder if we might see a little snow the next days - in last winter it was not before February 26th that we saw the first snow flake. The parking lots near the high hills or mountains seemed overcrowded yesterday, but these moose and raindeer show discipline and practice social distancing.

Which in Sweden might be a little easier.

Regards from Rhineland
Sven

ricardomattos (17460) 2021-01-02 16:01

Hi Kasia,

Esta é uma das mais belas decorações que eu já vi e com esta pandemia elas estão cada vez mais raras. Belas fotos complementares. As suas fotos sempre tem um sabor de aventura e uma boa história.

Parabéns e um Feliz Ano Novo

Ricardo

mkamionka (74509) 2021-01-03 0:47

Czesc Kasia,
czyzbys to Ty przywiozla do UK ten najnowszy szczep wirusa?
Zartuje :)
Ja rowniez staralem sie w tym roku troche pojezdzic gdzie tylko to bylo legalne, zeby nie zwariowac.
Dzieki temu ten rok nie byl az taki zly.
Czy ludzkosc sie czegos nauczyla? Ha ha
Mam zle przeczucie.
To co sie dzieje w zyciu publicznym mnie przeraza. Ja jestem naukowcem i nie moge czytac wiadomosci juz zupelnie bo nie wiem czy sie smiac czy plakac.
Moja pierwsza reakcja byla taka ze nikt nie slucha naukowcow ale potem zauwazylem ze zawsze pojawi sie jakas grupa naukowcow ktora co prawda specjalizuje sie w czyms innym, a moze czegos nie doczytala ale przedstawia publicznie odwrotne poglady. To bardzo delikatny temat. Mysle ze w takiej sytuacji rzadzacy powinni wybrac dobrych doradcow. Ale jesli sami sa malo rozgarnieci to jak maja zdecydowac kto jest dobrym doradca? Zreszta i media mieszaja niesamowicie z tego samego powodu: w szkole nie chcialo sie im uczyc.
W efekcie krecimy sie w kolko, podejmujemy decyzje w oparciu o dane ktore kazdy szanujacy sie naukowiec by odrzucil jako nierzetelne itp
Z punktu widzenia tego co sie dzieje w zyciu publicznym to owszem chcialbym obudzic sie z tego snu...
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M

adramad (73006) 2021-01-04 10:25

Hi Kasia.
This house is fascinating with this decoration and I think its owners enjoy and are very happy with Christmas, they remind me of some photos that I have seen of similar decoration in some houses in the U.S.A. Here in Spain I have never seen anything like it, the most is decorated a window with lights or a terrace and a tree, nothing more.
The color is magnificent, with very good light management and sharpness.
Nice job
Regards.
Luis.

GyurMaster (24838) 2021-01-04 12:55

Hello Kasia,

Its a really nice Christmas postcard, but the two WS photos are real gems, showing something traditional. In the WS2 I really like the contrast between the cosy atmosphere of the inside and the cold outside.

Paying a visit to the Swedish national treasure is on my bucket list too. According to my plans made in the first month of 2020 I was to visit a conference in Stockholm in Septemer 2020. Of course it was cancelled. The good thing is however that it will be organized again to the same place on fall 2021. Lets hope the best! :)

By the way, was it complicated to get to Sweden? Weren't you obliged to quarantine?

Best Wishes,
Gy.

quovadis (5711) 2021-01-04 21:02

Witaj Kasia.

Oczywiscie dekoracje swiateczno-noworoczne rozjasniaja dlugie noce barwnymi neonami, symbole zwierzat i mikolajki, a niekiedy mozna spotkac piekna stajenke z Dzieciatkiem, Jezus. Ladnie ujeta kompozycja tego przedstawienia.

Pozdrawiam, zycze szczesliwego roku.

jmdias (115230) 2021-04-18 9:44

kasia

lots of light and a nice big bill after the season.. haha. I presume you wanted to visit gert, but it wasn't a good idea in that day. very beautiful view.

if you have instagran check the page (athon.01) it has marvelous photos. I guess you will love them.

take care

jorge