Close your eyes and imagine what you see when you think about Lapland. What do you see? If you’re like most people, you likely associated Lapland with a cold and snowy winter wonderland. But did you know that Lapland is also one of the sunniest and greenest places in Europe during the summer? Depending on why you’ll be coming to Lapland, the weather can be very different. Let us tell you a bit more about this wonderfully diverse place that we call home.

Did you know that there are actually 8 seasons in Lapland?

We know what you’re thinking: “There are only four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn.” Well, hear us out for a second, because with Lapland being such a unique destination, things are always a bit more than they appear to be here.

The origins of the 8 seasons of Lapland goes back to the Sami, Lapland’s indigenous people, and their old way of life in which life is closely intertwined with nature. Still relevant to modern people living in Lapland, the eight-season calendar is also a great guide to use as you plan your holidays.

The year begins in January-February with the Frosty Winter, when Lapland is covered by a beautiful and thick snow. The days are dark during this time, known as the Polar Night, and temperatures can be very cold. During March-April, the sun comes back, and we experience the Crusty Snow season. In May, the snow and ice start to melt and the first plants begin to sprout and flower; bringing color and new life to this previously frozen landscape.

The Midnight Sun arrives in June and continues on through July, making this the warmest time in Lapland as the sun doesn’t set below the horizon for about two months. In August, the Midnight Sun gives way to the Harvest Time when the days are still long and warm. But the first signs of autumn begin to arise. The breathtakingly beautiful Autumn bursts with color and cooler temperatures in September, ushering in gorgeous foliage and prime berry picking conditions.

In October and November, we round the corner and enter the First Snow, a time when we begin to see the first scatterings of snow, during the Black Snow period. Depending on the temperatures, the snow will oftentimes melt rather quickly, but it could also stay around as the first layer of many. In December, the holiday season arrives, and with it so does the darkness of winter, emphasizing the bright Christmas decorations.