Just a few weeks away is the popular Snowfestival in Kiruna, Sweden (not far from the Kiruna Icehotel!). The Snowfestival takes place for the 24th time this year and will get started with an evening opening ceremony on January 27.

Until February 1, you can enjoy this festival. I love to watch the snowmobile jumping contest, but try not to miss the main attraction of the Snowfestival either: the amazing (and very impressive) Snow Sculpture Competition.

Kiruna Icehotel - Kiruna Snowfestival Website - Polar Nights in Kiruna

Greenland is actually turning green. But I'm not sure that's such a good thing. In Greenland, the ice boulders are melting now even in the depths of winter. What will be left of Greenland's abundance of ice and snow in a few years?

Greenland Photo Gallery - Weather in Greenland

Sometimes, I feel sorry for travelers that haven't flown in a long time since they're unpleasantly surprised when they get to the airport (on the other hand, I feel even more sorry for the airport security officers having to repeat those security rules all day long and deal with grumpy passengers). Better find out now, before you fly to Scandinavia. When was the last time you checked for an update on the current security regulations?

It's easy to stay up-to-date on the situation...Read about current airport security rules & regulations to find out

• what you can and cannot put in your carry-on,
• how to speed up security screening,
• the way to take liquids through security, and
• whether Europe and North America handle security screening differently.

The article Airport security rules & regulations is updated regularly.

Celebrated on January 13, the funny-sounding Hilarymas holiday is also known as St Knut's Day. In Swedish, that's "Tjugondag Knut" or "Knutsdagen". It is the offical end of the Christmas season in Scandinavia.

At the end of the Hilarymas celebration, the tree is thrown out (in an old tradition, the tree was literally thrown out of the window!) as Hilarymas is also the day of clearing out all Christmas decorations.

If you travel through Sweden on January 13, which is Hilarymas Day, you should keep an eye out for certain things? Find out what they are in the full-length article about Hilarymas.