Gökotta

Gökotta is a Swedish word that translates to waking up early in the morning specifically to watch the sunrise and listen to the birds sing. The word itself is comprised of the nouns gök, the Swedish word for Cuckoo, and otta, the Old Swedish word referring to the time between night and dawn. In Sweden, there is a tradition of going out and experiencing Gökotta forty days after Easter – on the feast of the Ascension. It encourages us to appreciate the small things that happen in nature which are often overlooked. This piece goes further and encourages us to enjoy the small things that occur in our everyday lives.