The Two Seasons of the North
Traditionally Sumar (Summer) and Vintr (Winter)
In Norse culture, as in traditionally in Norway and later Iceland, there are only two seasons: Sumar (Summer), also the beginning of the year, which starts on Harpa (sometimes at the end of April on the Gregorian calendar), and Vintr (Winter) which begins in Górmanuðr (or end of October). In Sumar, there is also a period referred to as Náttleysi (nightless days) going from end of may to end of July. In Vintr, Skammdegi (short days), running from end of November to end of January.
The seasons are based on the Old Norse Lunar Calendar. It is also a “leap week” lunar calendar, which means that, instead of adding a day periodically to keep it in synchronization with the seasons, an extra week is added. In most years there are 12 months of 30 days, and an extra four days in the middle of summer (Sumarauki), giving a year of 364 days, as in exactly 52 weeks. In leap years an extra seven days are added to Sumarauki to make the year 53 weeks long.
For those living outside of the North, having only two seasons may just seem weird. But when you live in Norway (or even Iceland for that matter), you in fact only primarily experience two seasons: Winter, with never ending snow and dark days (and far up in the north, no days at all for weeks or months), and Summer, with very long days (and in the far north, no nights at all for weeks or months).
Case in point, on the first day of Summer on our calendar, which this year (1275 ES or 2023 on Gregorian calendar) started on 21 April, both roads from the Fjords towards Innlandet were still closed for the the winter. The area of the base of Rena, in the heart of Innlandet and east of Jotunheimen, is still covered in heavy snow. As for our houses, even closer to the Fjords/coast in Jotunheimen still have snow.
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