Living in a country with such distinct seasons, the subject of the weather is always up for discussion. In Sweden, there is a concept known as ‘aprilväder’ or April weather. This term describes the unpredictability and fickleness of the Nordic weather gods in the month of April.
Just in the few minutes I have been sitting here looking out of my window, the sun has been shining, it has snowed, the sun has shone again, it has clouded over and got windy and then snowed again. A week ago it was around 15 degrees celsius. Now it’s around 4.
April is often a frustrating month for Swedes.
Periods of sunny, warming weather tantalise the nation and lull them into a false sense of security. Once people have put away their winter coats and folded their thick jumpers up onto the top shelf, the snow hits again and ice forms on roads. Cars with their summer tires slip and slide along and people in their short, thin spring jackets freeze, get a cold and have to call sick in to work.
You’d think we’d be used to it by now. But no. It seems to be an annual phenomenon. Maybe it’s a reflection of that most human of emotions – hope. Every year we hope that the spring has finally arrived. And usually those hopes are dashed in a flurry of snow and a plummet of the themometer.
And as I sit here and look out, it has started snowing yet again. The warm weather seems very far away.
But hope lives on and I console myself that with every snowflake that falls, we are one snowflake closer to Spring!
Watching the Swedes 
Is it hope that makes us fall into the same trap every year – always thinking that YAY winter is over! – or is it our selective memory? :p Not too sure.
There is an old saying; Spring will start seven times before it starts for real. I have lost count on how many times spring has started this year.
Have a nice weekend!/M