The people of Tromso on the Norwegian Sea coast of Norway know how to celebrate the return of the sun. You would, too, if you hadn't seen it in 60 days!
Living at latitude 70 degrees North -- way above the Arctic Circle, which is at 66 1/3 degrees North -- means that for the people of Tromso, when the sun sets in November they won't see it again until the end of January. That makes for a long, hard winter, and even though the Northern Lights often brighten up the sky, it's still called the "dark time." The upside of this is, of course, the midnight sun, but daylight still seems far, far away in the freezing cold of winter.
However, during the months of darkness the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Tromso doesn't go to sleep. People become very sociable, visiting each other, going to cafes, to the film festival or concerts.
Then, when the first rays of sun finally appear on the horizon, it's time for the annual Sun Fest on Jan. 21. Most of Tromso's 60,000 inhabitants go out into the minus 10-degree weather to welcome its long-awaited return. Schools and day-care centers take their charges outside for the day, skiing and snowboarding, sending up balloons and singing -- all wearing their characteristic yellow hats the color of the sun. Adults meet in the town square for complementary coffee and sweet sun-buns -- typically putting away around 45,000 of these delicious vanilla-cream- and raspberry-jam-filled pastries in just the one day!
Even though the sun's first appearance only lasts 10 minutes, it's enough to brighten the spirits and get people in the mood for spring.
This year, there was a special bonus: Norway's Prince Haakon and Princess Mette Marit's first daughter was born on Jan. 21 -- so Norwegians now have a Sun Princess too!!
