Days of the Blackbird, the words that tell the beauty of winter

The days of the blackbird begin today, the last of January and, by tradition, the coldest of the year. Indeed, even this year, the bad weather that hit Greece arrives in Italy, causing a drastic drop in temperatures. But, if for some the winter frost is torture, for others it is a precious excuse to enjoy more family moments and take time for yourself.

Some national languages ​​have specific terms to indicate the winter weather and atmosphere and the feelings they arouse, as he points out chat, a language learning company that offers live and app lessons. And each of these words says a lot about ways of experiencing the winter season of each country. Here are a few, perfect for celebrating the days of the blackbird.

Apracity (English): the warmth of the sun in winter
This term indicates the pleasant sensation of being kissed by the sun even in winter and feeling its warmth on you. It appears to have entered Shakespeare’s language in 1623, when a lexicographer, Henry Cockeram, recorded it (or perhaps invented it) for his dictionary. It comes from the Latin apricus, which means «sunny», but also «who loves being in the sun».

Cozy (Norwegian): an intimate and warm atmosphere
Very similar tofun Danish, translates as ‘atmosphere of intimacy’ and includes candles, lighted fireplaces, hot drinks and wool socks, but also a sense of community. Surviving the cold and dark winter days means creating cozy with friends and family.

Window weather (Icelandic): a beautiful climate just to see
It translates to “window weather”, and indicates a cold climate, nice to watch while being warm and sheltered at home, but not at all pleasant when it comes to going out.

Sun with teeth (Romanian): a cold sunny day
When you leave the house not covered enough because, from the window, you could see the blue sky and the bright sun, only to be hit by an icy wind. Sun with teeth it literally translates to “sun with teeth”.

Takatalvi (Finnish): sudden cold
When you think that the time has finally come to pull out your wardrobe for the summer but a sudden drop in temperatures forces you to fish out scarves, hats and winter jackets.

three (Scottish): cold, wet and dull weather
Indicates the cold, humid and dreary climate that the country is famous for, namely dreich. This is a commonly used term among Scots, who are known for their love of chatter about the weather.

Klabbsnö (Swedish): the right snow for snowmen
When you live in a country where it snows a lot, you know differences and nuances in the type of snow, and there are different terms to talk about it. For example, in Swedish it exists klabbsnö, or “wet snow to build snowmen”, which is different from manner, or «snow that has partly melted due to the salt». The Scots also have a specific term for a large snowflake: skelf.

Other stories of Vanity Fair that might interest you:

The soup of the days of the blackbird

Feathers, cannons and forecasts: the legends of the days of the blackbird

Source: Vanity Fair

You may also like