Luleå in Sweden launches heartfelt initiative for more community

#NordicNews on destinations and Sweden

Luleå promotes social bonding through a mutual greeting campaign

The Swedish city of Luleå, located south of the Arctic Circle, is encouraging its residents to greet each other on the street. The campaign, which was launched at the end of October, is displayed on buses and house walls. A video published online emphasises that a simple greeting can contribute to social bonding and have positive effects on health, safety and well-being.

Initiator Åsa Koski explains that this is a way to foster relationships in a region where people are considered introverted. Surveys show an increase in loneliness, especially among people between the ages of 16 and 29. In a region with short days and cold weather in winter, Koski also sees the modern urban lifestyle as a factor in social distancing.

The region around Luleå, which lies around 150 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, is dominated by an impressive Arctic landscape. The town itself has a population of around 80,000 and is known for its winters with only three hours of daylight and an average temperature of minus ten degrees in December.

The picturesque surroundings offer a wide range of outdoor activities, including breathtaking snowy landscapes, forests and lakes. This backdrop also characterises the way of life of the residents, who maintain a close connection to nature and local culture despite the challenging conditions.

The campaign encouraging people to say hello could be particularly significant in this environment, as the short days and harsh climate limit opportunities for chance encounters.

More on the campaign of Luleå.

Header: © Hektor Pettersson Unsplash