Life in the Land of the Ice and Snow
Infiltrating Sweden one cinnamon bun at a time
The Christmas gift poem is not as widely done these days, but some people still practice the tradition. The gift-giver writes a couple of rhyming couplets on their presents, hinting at what’s hidden inside, which is then read out before opening it. Example (Perfume): A lovely scent of mystery in a bottle you’ll admire a … Read more
This Disney Donald Duck Christmas special has been shown at 3pm every year on Christmas Eve since 1959 and almost all Swedes organize their celebrations around the show. Most families, like ours, open gifts when the show is over. It’s an hour long show with the same set of cartoons since 1959. Everyone has the … Read more
Every family has at least one Advent Calendar, usually with bits of chocolate on the inside. There is also a tv calendar and a radio calendar. The Christmas Calendar (Julkalendern), which dates back to the 1960s, is an annual TV series airing one episode a day in 10 minute increments. Each year it’s a different … Read more
Christmas goat A straw Christmas goat guards the presents under the tree. The tradition is very old and is thought to date back to Viking times during the harvest when the last grain was thought to be magical, or it’s something to do with Thor. Who knows? Through the years, it has evolved from a … Read more
I’m not really sure if this is an actual Christmas card, or just a general “My headless goat wants some apples” card that people often send. Though I prefer “headless ostriches who want bananas” on my greeting cards.
Why does my husband ask me for a Christmas wish list if he isn’t going to buy anything I put on it?
December 13, St. Lucia day Today begins early in the morning when it’s still dark. A girl dresses up as a dead Italian saint with fire on her head followed by “tärnor” (like Lucia maidens – no fire on head) and “stjärngossar (star boys who wear white pointy hats, I have no idea why) singing … Read more
We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and celebrations start with lunch at noon. Christmas food in Sweden is ham, pickled herring, meatballs, potatoes with anchovies, small sausages and dry crisp bread. We also drink Julmust, which is a soda is sold only around Christmas time. (Then again at Easter under the name Påskmust). I say … Read more
I thought some people who read my blog and do not live in Sweden might be interested in what goes on here during the month of December. Sweden has so many traditions, it’s often hard to keep up (not to mention my kids have 12 Christmas concerts between them this month). I thought I would … Read more
This week’s Victorian Christmas card depicts a party of birds apparently on their way to torch another bird’s nest. At least that’s how I interpret it. Bird army. I also think the caption “Lighten your Christmas hours” is not funny, but rather creepy as these birds do not look happy and obviously have it in … Read more
… but my son just told me this weekend about what happened when he went trick-or-treating this year in Stockholm for Halloween. I guess he forgot to mention it before. I’m often going on and on about Swedes just not understanding the holiday. They’ve given my kids money, old candy dug out of their pockets, … Read more
It’s that time of year again… time to wonder what kind of drugs people in the Victorian age were on when they made Christmas cards. Also time to wonder what their deal is with frogs. I give you, Victorian Christmas card number one. Frog and Beetle dancing on beach with a dragonfly playing tamborine. If … Read more
As usual, today is simply “Thursday” here in Sweden. I have nothing Thanksgiving-ish to say, so I leave you with the most disturbing pictures I could find on the internet.
On my YouTube recommendations today. My questions: Why? Just what have the kids been looking at when they hijack my account? Should I fire-proof the blender now?
Last night I dreamt that interstellar flight was available and we could travel to Mars. When I got to Mars the first thing I did was to take out my phone to turn on Pokemon Go so I could catch a rare Pokemon. When I woke up, I realized maybe our society doesn’t deserve to … Read more
According to my kids, here are the reasons I’m a bad parent this week: Ordered clouds to block view of SuperMoon in Sweden. Did not buy chewable Vitamin D, but nasty adult swallow-type pills. Forgetting 5-day Pokemon catching streak and having to start over. My kids have it very hard. I hope child services won’t … Read more
While we were in Italy, we heard the news about the Chicago Cubs World Series win on the radio. Of course, it took us a while to figure it out since the Italian announcer congratulated the “Chicago Cubes.”
We’ve been in Italy the past week, offline and relaxing. People ask me, “Why are you always going to Italy?” I think you can see here just why Italy is so great:
Sometimes I think it must have been terrifying to live in Victorian times just based on their holiday cards.