Text | Qi Qin
Edit | Qi Qin
Disclaimer: The content of this article is written with authoritative information combined with personal opinions, and the source of the literature and screenshots have been marked at the end of the article, please be aware.
Somaloy, a small island in northern Norway near the Arctic Circle, has attracted attention in recent years with a special proposal in which its residents decided to "abolish time" and break with the traditional system of work and rest and no longer be bound by clocks.
On the other hand, as an island within the Arctic Circle, Somaloi experiences the natural phenomenon of polar day and polar night every year: the sun that never sets for 69 days and the polar night is long, and this extreme change in light not only affects the lifestyle of the island's residents, but also attracts more and more foreign tourists.
So, what prompted the inhabitants of this small island to make such a bold proposal? What has happened to their lifestyles? Is this "timeless" lifestyle really viable?
Lifestyle during the polar day and the polar night
Somaloi is located in northern Norway, near the Arctic Circle, not far from the coastline of western Norway, about an hour's drive from the nearby city of Tromsø.
The island is home to about 350 inhabitants who depend mainly on fishing and tourism, and due to its unique geographical location, Somaloy Island experiences the polar day phenomenon from May to July every year, when the sun does not set for 69 days, and from November to February, the island is covered in polar nights with little sunlight.
The inhabitants of Somaloy have become accustomed to the changing pace of life brought about by the polar day and the polar night, during which the sun hangs in the sky all day long, and time seems to lose its meaning.
The island's inhabitants no longer rely on clocks to organize their daily routines, and their daily activities such as playing football, repairing their houses, and going out to sea to fish can be carried out almost around the clock.
When the polar night falls, the island seems to enter a long period of sleep, although the outdoor activities are reduced, but the residents are not depressed by this, the polar night brings a quiet and mysterious atmosphere, especially the appearance of the Northern Lights, adding a touch of color to the long dark night.
Usually from September to March, the Northern Lights dance in the night sky of Somaloi Island, sometimes green and sometimes pink, making it the most beautiful sight in winter.
The proposal to "abolish time".
In 2019, residents of Somaloi made a bold proposal to abolish time, in the context of the fact that the polar day and night had rendered the traditional concept of time moot to the island.
Residents felt that since daily life was no longer dependent on time, why not break the fixed schedule altogether?
They want to be able to arrange their work, study and rest time according to their individual needs and physical condition, and no longer be bound by the traditional "commute" or "school time".
The proposal was eventually approved by the Norway Parliament, and the way of life on the island changed as a result, and to symbolize the decision, many residents spontaneously removed their watches and stopped using clocks in their homes.
One of the island's most iconic gestures is that residents hang their watches on the bridge connecting the island to the mainland, symbolizing that they are no longer bound by time, a symbolic gesture that not only expresses the residents' pursuit of a free lifestyle.
Many visitors to Somaloi also participate in this symbolic act by hanging their watches on the bridge and taking a break from the time-bound state of their daily lives.
The gesture is reminiscent of the ritual sense of padlocks for tourists elsewhere, and although it takes a different form, it serves the same purpose: to commemorate a special experience, a symbol of freedom and liberation.
Unique tourist activities
Somaloi Island is a beautiful island of natural beauty, full of the pristine wildness of Northern Europe, with vast fjords, winding coastlines, clear blue skies and lush meadows that make up the island's unique landscape.
The colourful chalets on the island are in harmony with the surrounding nature, like a fairy tale. Here, visitors can not only enjoy the natural beauty unique to the polar regions, but also participate in a variety of outdoor activities.
Summer is the peak season for tourism to Somaloi Island, where visitors can enjoy the tranquility of nature by picnicking on the pink white sand, listening to the sound of the waves and the chirping of seagulls.
Activities such as fishing, rafting and whale watching are also popular with tourists, and winter is the best time to see the Northern Lights, and the island is one of the few places in the world where you can easily spot the Northern Lights.
No one can fail to be amazed by the natural wonder of the Northern Lights piercing the night sky, and even more specially, visitors can dive into the island's daily life.
Fishermen often invite visitors to go out to sea with them to experience the process of fishing, or to go whale watching with experts, so visitors are not only sightseers, but also participants in life, and can experience the unique rhythm of life on this small island.
Reflections on "time-free" life
Another great feature of Somaloi is the great freedom enjoyed by its residents, where they are no longer bound by traditional schedules.
Work and study schedules have become flexible, and many residents will arrange their schedules according to their own energy, and it is not uncommon to go out to bask in the sun or swim at two or three in the morning, and start work or school at three in the afternoon, which has also become the norm on the island.
Schools on the island are no exception, with irregular schedules and teachers and students deciding when to start classes based on their status. This flexible arrangement not only allows the island's children to better adapt to the changes of polar day and night, but also allows them to get used to a free lifestyle from an early age.
The island's lifestyle is full of freedom and flexibility, and newcomers to Somaloi often feel uncomfortable, and for urbanites who are used to being dominated by clocks, the sudden loss of the concept of time can be overwhelming.
Many visitors often feel overwhelmed during their first few days on the island, and as time goes on, more and more visitors begin to adapt and enjoy this new way of life.
In contact with the local population, they have come to understand that this "time-free" life does not mean chaos and disorder, but a more natural, personal way of life, and many visitors leave the island with deep thoughts and yearning for this new way of life.
Somaloi's proposal to "abolish time" is not only an adjustment to the lifestyle of the island's residents, but also a challenge to the concept of time in modern society.
In the modern world, time is like an invisible shackle that regulates people's daily lives, and through this proposal, the residents of Somaloi Island are free from the shackles of traditional time and enjoy a more free and flexible life.
This lifestyle has also attracted a large number of tourists, many of whom have rethought the relationship between time and life here.
Information sources:
The 300-inhabitant island of Norway made the only decision in the world: to abolish the time system
2019-06-20 07:43:33 | Source: Reference News Network