A Winter Alphabet
Dear reader,
Last week we had our first snow, so it is safe to say that winter has arrived. With the shift of the season, I always create these lists from A-Z with winter recommendations and things I will focus on. So, here we go...
A — A brisk winter walk.
The kind where the sun hangs low, the air is crisp enough to taste, and every puddle has frozen into small, glassy mosaics. These are the winter days you must treasure.
B — Bond movies.
Confession: I’ve only ever seen one. But something about winter feels perfect for leaning into a little drama. Even though Bond and I will never agree on how to best serve a martini.
C — Calm Balm.
Mantle’s little pot is a winter survival kit. Whether it be chapped lips, dry noses, wind-kissed cheeks… handled.
D — Dry brushing.
A small ritual that wakes the body up when everything else would prefer to hibernate.
E — Exhibitions at Röda Sten.
A cavernous, industrial oasis that always manages to surprise me. Their winter exhibitions have a way of making you feel both tiny and infinite.
F — Faux fur hat.
I found one second-hand last year because I simply cannot make beanies work. It makes me feel like a character from a 1970s winter film.
G — Giving.
The first of December marks the start of Musikhjälpen, a collective reminder to pause the frenzy of gift lists and tinsel, and think instead about what we have to give.
H — Hot yoga.
Stepping into the warm, dim studio while the world outside is wrapped in frost feels like entering another season entirely.
I — Intent.
Next year, I want to re-read some of my favourite books with slower, more deliberate care. Rather than devouring them, sit with them.
J — Journal.
And for this new, intentional reading life, a reading journal feels essential. My Storygraph can do many things, but tracking re-reads is not one of them.
K — Keegan.
Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These has become a film. I truly cannot think of anything cosier than escaping to a warm cinema in the weeks before Christmas.
L — Light.
The Lucia celebration takes place on December 13th—a great way to celebrate the light in darkness.
M — Mint oil in matcha.
One drop. Suddenly: winter in a cup.
N — New diary.
The quiet joy of choosing next year’s companion. I’ve been eyeing the one from Paper Republic.
O — Opera.
M and I were gifted a night at the Opera, the most elegant way to spend a winter evening, wrapped in velvet seats and soaring voices.
P — Podcast.
Beth Kempton’s The Calm Christmas Podcast is guiding me gently into the season, one soft-spoken episode at a time.
Q — Quintessential hand cream.
I bought the Aesop one in Copenhagen. Yes, it was too expensive. Yes, it is worth every drop.
R — Reading routine.
My book club has been a constant for years now. If you don’t have one, you deserve one.
S — Storefront decorations.
NK in Gothenburg takes this very seriously. Go with someone you like, and bring a steaming hot chocolate — it’s practically a ritual.
T — Talvitela.
The Finnish art of wintering well. Last year, I wrote about how it softens the season.
U — Unveiling creativity.
Jul i Gamlestan is hosting a Christmas workshop for all ages. https://goteborgskonsthall.se/aktivitet/jul-i-gamlestaden/?date=202512061200
V — Vintersalog at Galleri Hammarén
Take a Gallery visit as a short escape from the winter cold at Galleri Hammarén.
W — Wearing satin.
It catches the light in the loveliest, most festive way, like you’re wrapped in a whisper of celebration.
X — Xmas markets at Kronhuset. Mulled wine, handmade ornaments, and the smell of roasted almonds curling through the cold air.
Y — Yearly resolutions.
Next year, my only ambition is to slow down and pour my energy into fewer things, more deeply.
Z — Zephyr-like moments.
Those rare winter winds that aren’t icy but soft, carrying a promise of spring's return. They don’t happen often, but when they do, they feel like a blessing.