There are two main definitions of The Blue Time – The first is the time just before sunrise when everything in the world has a blue tinge to it. The farther north you go, the longer the blue time in the winter. The second definition is that time when you’re depressed, time moves slowly, you feel like you’re in a daze, and like you’re just broken. For many people who live in northern locations, their experience of winter leans heavily toward that second definition. The combination of dark and cold can sink them into a despair that descends like clockwork every winter. The people of Tromsø, Norway experience two months of darkness, or “Polar Night”, in the winter. However, research shows that folks in Tromsø are happier than you might expect, despite the lack of sun. Kari Leibowitz went to Tromsø to figure out what makes the people there flourish during the cold dark winters, and how she might use that information to help others cope better with winter.
The Blue Time Credits
Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Nick White is our senior editor.
Nocturne is distributed by KCRW, and receives support from KCRW’s Independent Producer Project, which provides resources to creative storytellers around the world.
Special thanks to Alex Espinoza, Jeremy Cherfas, Herrin Hopper, David Green, Mary Jo Eyler, Marta Pelrine-Bacon, Tara, Chris Glover, Ashley Cummings, Benjamin Yeamans, Maria Samuelsen, Misty Lytle, Sleep with Me Podcast, Tara, Tim Harincar
Thanks to the folks who shared their impressions of winter: Brie O’Keefe,Tally Abecassis, Eric Heilman, Thomas Nybergh, Marius, Nila, Segrel, Sal, and Christine.
Read about Kari Leibowitz’s research on Tromsø.
Thanks to Thomas Nybergh for interviewing and recording folks in Helsinki, Finland. He produces a podcast, called Very Finnish Problems.
Sound recording of melting ice in Greenland by Jacob Kirkegaard.
Music
Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling
Additional music:
Kent Sparling \\ Jeffrey Foster \\ Gunnar Madsen
Episode Artwork: Robin Galante