Thinking about taking a Swedish class? Don’t worry if you haven’t yet mastered such delicate planning skills as presented in the photo below. There is still time to sign up for individual Swedish classes, via Skype. Just drop me an email at charlotta@globatris.se
Since my classes are individual you decide when to start and how often you would like to have them.
Planning ahead for spring glory! Photo taken in Gothenburg Botanical Garden
New year, new challenges! Some people plan way ahead, some don’t. Perhaps this is the year you are going to treat yourself to learning something new, or to kick things up a notch when it comes to something you have basic knowledge in. There is just something so fulfilling to acquiring new knowledge. It can be small or it can be big, but it usually opens up new doors and worlds!
I for one have signed up for tennis lessons starting this week. Yes I can play tennis, but I want to get better at it, and to have more fun playing it. I am looking forward to have a personal trainer to surprise me with exercises I never would have thought of on my own; to provide tips and tricks to make learning and playing fun; to challenge and correct me, and to suggest enhancements and areas of improvement. Not to mention just the actual playing! I am sure this will raise my confidence when playing with others, and also make it happen on a frequent basis!
What about your Swedish language? Are you currently learning or hoping to start soon? Do you have a plan for the first half of 2014 set up already? Perhaps you are already in a program but don’t really feel you are learning the right things. Speaking – or using the language – for instance. Look again at the paragraph above describing my tennis lessons. Now think of it as a private Swedish language class, via Skype! This is what I am providing! Contact me at charlotta@globatris.se if you would like to know more. You can also read on here – Swedish lessons via Skype
Interested in learning what others think? Check out the testimonials!
You have probably heard of Lucia; the Queen of Light who brightens the dark morning of December 13 in Sweden. Even if the 13th this year coincides with a Friday, “dark” refers only to the lack of light.
In short the Lucia tradition consists of a procession with a Lucia up front, followed by handmaidens (tärnor), star boys (stjärngossar), brownies and elves (pepparkaksgubbar och tomtenissar). All but the brownies and elves wear white gowns. Lucia wears a light crown/wreath whereas the handmaidens each carry a candle. Lights are normally battery operated. There is beautiful singing. Either it really is, or you are a parent. These Lucia processions can be enjoyed at every preschool and school, and sometimes even at workplaces. Most towns have an official Lucia procession visiting hospitals and elderly, malls and libraries. There is also a national broadcast.
Being an “outsider” to this enchanting Swedish tradition, what you may not have heard of are the small battles leading up to this event.
What can I say; I love traditions. I am so glad that we have Lucia!
Now I just need to schedule the baking of the saffron buns I was appointed to do for 80 parents, grandparents and kids celebrating in one of my children’s classes. Right; the celebration which I will only attend for a short while – remember the double booking?
Want to learn more?
Another Lucia battle – comedian Robert Gustafsson
The Lucia song “Sankta Lucia”
More words to learn:
ett luciatåg – a Lucia procession
ett tåg – a train; a procession; a rope
ett luciafirande – a Lucia celebration
att fira – to celebrate; to lower
lusse – slang for Lucia
en lussebulle = en saffransbulle – a saffron bun
att lussa – to walk in a Lucia procession, singing and spreading the joy of Lucia to people
Gingerbread Day
December 9 is apparently Gingerbread Day in Sweden. As I’ve said before – keeping track of all days in Sweden dedicated to Swedish pastries, cakes and cookies is probably a full time job. At least if you’re supposed to keep up with the baking yourself. Luckily there are bakeries and supermarkets more than eager to profit from these appointed days. In fact, they are part of the industry coming up with the days in the first place.
Well, I must say I thought all days in December were Gingerbread Days. At least when it comes to eating them.
essential vocabulary of the day:
en pepparkaka – a gingerbread biscuit
med kristyr – with icing (icing that hardens)
utan – without
even more essential:
många pepparkakor – lots of gingerbread biscuits
mums – yum, yummy
Photo shows result from multicultural gingerbread project last year. Kids and moms in my international network had fun while decorating for local exhibition at the library.
I
One of the most exciting and charming aspects of different cultures are the different traditions. The best part is that they are usually free to adopt! On Sunday the 1st of December Sweden celebrates 1st Day of Advent (första advent). This marks the beginning of the Christmas – unless you haven’t been able to avoid Christmas Markets already in November.
You probably know that it is common among Swedes to not pay many – or any – visits to church during the year.1st of Advent is however doubtless one of the most popular Sundays to attend the church, if any.
So what is Swedish Advent all about; beyond religion? Well, there is “fika” involved (surprised?). We might invite/be invited to friends and family to enjoy a cup of coffee, lussebullar (saffron bread) and ginger bread cookies. Not to mention a loaf of soft ginger bread and perhaps a few more cakes and cookies. “Glögg” (mulled wine) is also popular. You sip from small cups, often with almonds, hazel nuts and raisins floating on the ruby red, spicy surface. Glögg is made with various contents of alcohol as well as totally without (“saftglögg”). For advent we also bring out and decorate our special candle light holder; holding one candle for each of the Sundays in Advent. On the 1st of Advent we light the first candle and let it burn – not too long since it is supposed to last until 4th of Advent. On the 2nd of Advent we light not only the first but also the second candle. You get it. The candle light holder (“adventsljusstake”) is traditionally decorated with moss, mushrooms and sometimes lingonberry sprigs. I use walnuts in one of mine. I have been toying with the idea of decorating only with candy but have resisted the temptation so far.
End of November and December are dark times in Sweden, literally speaking. We do what we can to brighten up the surroundings – also literally – by decorating gardens and balconies with garland-style lights; preferably in white; however colorful lights are not uncommon. Our windows are decorated with an Advent star; by tradition a hanging paper star but an Advent star standing on the window sill is increasingly popular. It has to fight over the space on the sill though, since this is normally the place for the electric seven armed candlestick (not to be confused with the menora) that not only decorate the windows of our homes but also the ones of our workplaces, as well as most official and commercial buildings.
If 1st of Advent coincides with 1st of December another tradition also commences on this day; the Advent Calendar (“adventskalender” or “julkalender”). The most common calendar is made of thicker paper and holds 24 windows (“luckor”). On each day until Christmas (celebrated on the 24th of December in Sweden) children get to open one window to reveal a picture. The most popular calendar is probably the televised version; a story with a new episode on each day in December. You can buy the calendar in the grocery store. After you have watched the episode you open the window and find something related to what you just saw. Advent calendars also come with chocolate, toys (lego, playmobil etc.) or other surprises, in addition to different shapes, designs and materials. These days there are also calendars trying to break into a market of not only children. For instance there are Advent calendars with beauty products or lottery tickets.
Oh, and windows must be washed for 1st of Advent. It is the busy season for window cleaners as well as for DIYers.
This certainly is a picturesque place! I held a Swedish conversation class in here in October. With most of my office portable; resources and knowledge, I managed to assist one of my customers on a Friday afternoon by the use of brain and a stable internet connection.
Could have done without the bees though; ready to attack anyone who approached the sticky puddle of lemonade on one of the benches. No more bees during Swedish lessons please.
Found these inspiring and cheerful notebooks in a bookstore today. Aren’t they sweet as candy?! Bought a few in addition to a white Moleskine – you can never keep too many havens for your ideas and words, sketches and doodles. I also keep a notebook for every Swedish language student that I work with. Works well; handy!
The Swedish TV show “Så mycket bättre” (So much better) gathers Swedish musicians/artists and have them interpreting each other’s songs. The most interesting combinations usually occur when artists of totally different genres and musical eras are mixed.
Here is an example; rap artist Ken Ring remakes iconic Lill Lindfors. Swedish music, in Swedish.
Check the lyrics via Tunewiki.
“slå klackarna i taket” in Swedish means to have fun, to party.
We all want to get mail. The right kind of mail. Forget e-mail, bills and surveys. MAIL as in postcards. Lovely handwritten postcards. Wouldn’t you like this? I made a small challenge earlier this fall – I suggested to a few twitter peeps that we all would send five postcards to friends that particular weekend. I guess we all sent store bought ones. Well, actually I sent one DIY card.
I’ve just been presented with another opportunity to craft and send my very own postcards. This time to people I have never met. How exciting isn’t that? Another bonus is that I get DIY cards in return!
Handcrafted mail! Do I have your attention? Yes? Thought so! Move over to iHanna’s web to read more. Hanna is one of these lovely creative ladies that inspire folks to do stuff like this. Twice a year she hosts a Do it Yourself Postcard Swap. All you need to do is sign up, pay 6 bucks for administration and drag out your stash of creative treasures. Or grab a magazine from the paper recycling box and start tearing pics out for collages. It can all be made simple as long as you are having fun with it! Create ten handmade postcards in any style, mail them and start enjoying that walk to your mailbox.
Create, connect & share – that’s the swap slogan!
I started on a few postcards the other day, while doing other creative work. This is how it looked. Base is red but I am sure that will change!
I am looking forward to not only creating and receiving DIY postcards but also to discover and follow the progress of participants in the postcard swap!
Are you in?
Postcard in Swedish is vykort. Vy means “view” and kort means “card”.
Are you familiar with the Swedish ABC? Well, perhaps not this one.
Check this alphabet out to learn – or smile knowingly – about Swedish pop culture. Equally interesting whether you are Swedish, new or seasoned expat in Sweden, or simply curious.
Radio Sweden has made a compilation of Swedish culture and language in their own ABC. Listen to it by clicking the link below.
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=2165159
Anything you want to add?
