sæson

Sæson is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to denote a recurring period within the year marked by particular weather, conditions, or activities. The word is borrowed from the French saison, meaning season or period, and has become a standard term to describe both natural seasons and period-specific activity in everyday language.

In temperate zones, the year is commonly divided into four seasons—spring, summer, autumn (høst in Norwegian and afterår in Danish), and winter (vinter). The exact dates of these seasons vary by location and tradition. In tropical regions, seasons are often defined by rainfall patterns, typically a wet season and a dry season. Beyond climate, sæson can denote a culturally or economically defined period, such as a fishing sæson, harvest sæson, or tourist high season.

Usage spans multiple domains. In agriculture, the growing season is the period when crops can be planted, cultivated, and harvested. In commerce and tourism, sæson describes peak periods when demand is highest and prices may rise; low season denotes the slower period. In sport and media, a season refers to a scheduled cycle of competition or release, often consisting of a number of games or episodes and sometimes spanning several months.

Etymology and variants: Danish uses sæson, while Norwegian commonly uses sesong. The concept exists in many languages under related terms, reflecting a shared notion of recurring yearly cycles that influence planning, activity, and pricing.