I’m from the Netherlands, which—if you’ve ever spent a winter there—you know is basically 50 shades of grey. Cold. Damp. The kind of rain that doesn’t fall so much as… cling. And yet, when I think of winters in NL, I don’t think “miserable.”
I think: warm, cozy, glow on foggy windows… family togetherness… candlelight softening the edges of the day… neighbors stopping by unannounced with pastries (yes, that’s a real thing!).
I think of gezelligheid—that deeply Dutch concept that roughly translates to “cozy connectedness,” but really is something I can”t quite translate. The closest I can get is to say that it’s the feeling of being wrapped in warmth, community, and presence.
Here’s the coolest part from my pov: long before we had neuroscience, northern peoples instinctively created rituals that helped them survive, even thrive, in the darkness—emotionally, physically, spiritually.
And now science is finally catching up to what our ancestors already knew.
Ancient Practices That Carried People Through the Dark Season
1. Fire & Light Rituals
From the Norse Jul to Sámi hearth traditions, light was sacred. Fires weren’t only practical—they were gathering points, storytelling hubs, and emotional regulators.
2. Communal Warmth
Northern cultures survived by gathering close—shared meals, shared work, shared warmth. Winter was never meant to be endured alone; it was a season of togetherness.
3. Slow Crafting & Handwork
Weaving, carving, knitting, mending—hands busy, mind steady. These practices anchored people through long nights.
4. Midwinter Feasts & “Fat Season” Nutrition
Winter foods—root vegetables, fatty fish, warm stews—weren’t indulgent; they were survival. High-omega fish, fermented vegetables, and slow-cooked meats were regulating moods before we had the language for it.
5. Nature As Medicine, Even When It’s Cold
Northern people didn’t stay inside all winter. They walked. They breathed fresh air. They tracked animal prints in snow. A cold face and warm body was its own kind of healing. Even now, even when I am sick, I’ll wrap myself up and go out to get sun on my face no matter how much the cold tries to persuade me to stay indoors.
And Here’s the Neuroscience Behind Why These Practices Work
Warm Light & Fire
Warm-spectrum light stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing cortisol and easing stress. Even looking at fire increases alpha brain waves (calming, meditative).
Togetherness & Communal Rituals
Connection boosts oxytocin, a natural antidote to stress. Shared laughter and presence regulate the vagus nerve and stabilize emotions.
Slow, Repetitive Handwork
Knitting, carving, and crafts activate the default mode network, settle hyperarousal, and elevate dopamine in gentle, sustainable ways.
Cold Air + Movement
Short outdoor exposure boosts circulation, reduces inflammation, and increases norepinephrine, which improves mood and focus.
Hearty, Seasonal Foods
Omega-3 rich fish, fermented foods, and slow-cooked meals support gut health—which influences up to 90% of serotonin production. (Grandma was basically doing psychobiology.)
These weren’t just traditions for the sake of tradition.
These were ancestral nervous-system survival strategies.
A Practice for You: The Winter Glow Ritual
Try this tonight or sometime this week:
- Turn off overhead lights.
- Turn on lamps, candles, or string lights (warm hue if possible).
- Make a warm drink—tea, broth, spiced milk, anything soothing.
- Sit near a window or a fire (or a candle if that’s what you have).
- Choose one:
- Write a few lines about your day
- Knit or craft something small
- Invite someone to sit with you, even briefly
- Listen to a slow song you love
Let yourself feel the gezelligheid—the quiet glow that holds you until morning.
TL;DR
Northern cultures have long used light, warmth, community, handcrafts, cold-air walks, and hearty winter foods to survive the dark season. Neuroscience now confirms these practices support mood, nervous-system regulation, and emotional resilience. You can recreate this ancient wisdom at home with simple rituals that help your mind, body, and spirit stay steady through winter.
___________________
Begin Within
and align with the rhythm of nature and self.
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