And so the winter arrived.
Not many days ago, we Laplanders were bathing under the autumn sun and wondering the most beautiful fall-colors. All the flora was painted with yellow, orange and reddish colors. We were living mid-October. Suddenly, one morning when we woke up, everything was covered with white. Pure white. Snow arrived. Winter came early this year, at least comparing to last winter, it was at the end of November when we had snow cover on the ground, but that was unusual. This year, it was as it supposed to be. One morning when you wake up, it is just winter. You get this childish feeling and experience a huge desire to burst outside to throw snowballs and just roll around in the snow. It is a magical moment, every time. Now we have about 30 centimeters of snow and nature is starting to fall a deep and long sleep. You can sense the calmness in the air.
This year we even made a record in minus degrees here in Levi, we had already minus 28 degrees Celsius, which beats the old record of temperatures in October. We can still see sunrise and sunset, but not for long before the polar night takes over. Soon the sun will stay under the horizon before it greets us Laplanders again in January. Off course it is not sack dark here during the polar night, we have all the stars, moon and the northern lights to light up our way.
It is also a beginning for the tourist season. In November, we have the Levi World Cup Alpine skiing race and this event is official season start. After this weekend charter planes will start to land to Kittilä ́s airport bringing us people from all over the world. Here in Lapland we are getting ready. Huskies are training to pull the sleigh and snowmobile petrol tanks are to be filled up. We are ready for the season.
Thank you for the mother nature, who gave us a proper winter in very early stage this year. This is how we can show our best to people who come to wonder your beauty. We will repay you by respecting your beauty and cleanliness. We will treat you well, as you are treating us. It is winter.