Zur deutschen Fassung.

Allegedly, around 10% of the population suffer from winter depression or “seasonal affective disorder”, to give it its proper name, because scientists find it funny to name depressions in a way that their acronym reads SAD. I guess the numbers vary from region to region, with more people affected in Canada or Finland than in Ecuador or the Philippines. Because as its name suggests, Ecuador is located right on the equator and thus has no winter at all, which I personally find much more depressing than anything else. Maybe that explains the high murder rate there.

To preempt any concerned phone calls or messages right away: I am not personally affected, at least not at the moment. At some point, I realized that I have nothing against winter itself, but rather against Christmas and other end-of-year celebrations, so I focus on avoiding those. I actually find the atmosphere at this time of year quite cozy, especially if, like me, you are lucky enough to live in an arrondissement that particularly accentuates the romantic touch of this season.

Some people swear by light therapy to alleviate winter depression, while others try homeopathy or pharmaceuticals. Psychotherapists could possibly help too, but no one has ever been able to get an appointment with any of them. They are even harder to come by than vaccination appointments. And, to be honest, psychiatrists are often a bit nuts themselves.

One thing that helps me when I sense gloom looming around the corner is art. Expressionism in particular. Intense colors, bold brushstrokes, no getting lost in the details. That’s why I like to go to museums during the winter months and soak up some bold colors to counteract the gray November drizzle.

Fortunately, I live in Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture 2025, which offers wonderful museums, galleries, and exhibitions, even before and after this eventful year. Here are just a few photos from the Art Collections at Theaterplatz and the New Saxon Gallery: