4th of July

Happy 4th of July!!!

A wonderful wonderful country.

And I am grateful for it.  And for every person who has had some part in it.- Whether in its creation, or  in its maintenance.   

Midsommar

Today is Midsommar Afton.  Midsommar is the longest day of the year and Midsommar Afton is the evening prior.  This is a very popular holiday in Sweden. (I wrote about it last year, so you can look back at that blog for details about the celebration.)   Only Christmas is more celebrate.  So what's the big deal?  (OK - compared to the meaning of Christmas, there is no big deal, but we are not talking theology here.)  Remember in December I showed pictures of the sun setting at ~ 4 PM (after having just shown itself ~ 8 1/2 hours earlier)?  Well - This is what it looks like here this week:   

03:40 this morning. 

(I hope you appreciate this picture.  I set my alarm just to take it!)

The sky at 11:45 at night.  

Pretty cool, huh?!

Glad Midsommar everyone!

Hole punch

 

There are volumes dedicated to the rise and fall of the Roman empire.  But someday, should Sweden every be just a distant memory, it's demise will be obvious. 

 

I give you, unique to Sweden, the svensk hole punch and corresponding notebook.  And you can keep them.

 

To my svensk friends:  Sorry.  You have a very nice country.  But your notebooks don't lay flat and why do you have all the securing rings at the center of the paper?

 

 

The island of Ven

Ven

A small Swedish island situated between Sweden  and Denmark in the Öresund strait.

 

Due to a late train, we missed the bus that took us to the ferry.  But, in a happy coincidence, a person sitting next to us on the train was also headed to Ven. She was able ot call the ferry station, and a small utility ferry was held for us!  So the only people on the ferry were its employees, our guardian angel, and us.  It wasn't luxurious, but it held its own fun.  And it allowed us to get to Ven without having to wait an hour and a half for the next ferry.

 

Ven's 2.9 square miles are home to less than 400 people, but it must boast a bustling tourist trade judging from the number of bicycles that are available to rent (my bicycle number was 930).

 

 

Aside from its being lovely to cycle around, a local point of interest is that astronomer Tycho Brahee (1546–1601) built two observatories here. Apparently the King of Denmark (the island was Danish at the time) was so impressed with the astronomer that he give him the island. 

 

Museum seen, and picnic lunch enjoyed, on our bikes we rode. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may be wondering if I have enhanced the color on these pictures.  The answer is no. 

The color is God's handy-work.

 

 

 

 

I scream. You scream. We all scream for

noun
		glass	ice cream, ice
		glasspinne	ice cream
		gräddglass	ice cream

I have to say, Swedes know how to make some great ice cream.,  It is very creamy and smooth.
I can't exactly share that with you.  But something I can share with you are the flavors.  They are very different from those found in American markets.

So - Happy Summer!!!

Doesn't everyone bring their camera to the grocery store?

So, here we have chili licorice, salt almond, pear milk chocolate, 

pear strawberry, raspberry, amazing vanilla with butter toffee, toffee, and godis (candy!)

Next up: coffee latte, orange chocolate, raspberry salt licorice, and what I assume in peppermint candy.

Regarding salt licorice: imagine taking a piece of black licorice, wetting it so it is sticky, and then dipping it in salt.  

Then, what I find is strange is, then Swedes eat it - and like it.  

This might be French - but I get to eat it in Sweden.  

OK - let's get a little more up close and personal with this: 

Ahh...that's better.

On the top left, we have (had) more knäck (toffee), then creamy lemon licorice, 

Then you see our open container of chili licorice flavor (truthfully, I have yet to taste the chili).

Wienernougat is... OK, I don't actually remember, but I think it is vanilla with an almond nougat.  Then mascarpone with a rich berry swirl, vanilla with what tastes like fresh strawberries, and we end with chocolaty chocolate.   And that's a nice place to sit and stop.  

I went for a walk today and brought my camera.  I had no plan but to simply record what I saw as I got a little exercise.

May 8th, 2013, Malmö

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valborgsmässoafton

The last half of April 30^th and all of May 1^st are Swedish red days.  Red days are the nick name for Swedish holidays.  I believe this comes from the fact that the days are marked in red on the calendar.  Many Swedes have this day and a half off of work. 

And so to answer the burning question: Why?

May 1st is the International Workers Day.  But long before it was international workers day, the day was set  side to celebrate Saint Walpurga, who was canonized on May 1^st 870.  Saint Walpurga (In Swedish: Valborg) left England to travel with her brothers and uncle to evangelize Germany.  An interesting aside is that Saint Walpurga’s father, two brothers and uncle were also sainted.  An educated woman, she is considered by many to be the first female author of England and Germany.  For more, I refer you to the Catholic Encyclopedia:   http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15526b.htm

But today not many Swedes remember any of this.  April 30^th has become the official welcome of Spring.  And believe me when I say, it is very very welcome!!  I like winter, but this has been long even for me!!

Burning question number 2: How is it celebrated?  At a minimum: by singing very traditional Swedish songs of Spring and by lighting a HUGE bonfire. 

The songs:  I have listed  Vårsång as an example

Vårsång

Glad såsom fågeln i morgonstunden

Hälsar jag våren i friska natur'n,

Lärkan mig svarar och trasten i lunden,

Ärlan på åkern och orren i fur'n. …

 Se, hur de silvrade bäckarna små

Hoppa och slå,

Hoppa och slå

Vänliga armar kring tuvor och stenar!

Se, hur det spritter i buskar och grenar

Av liv och av dans,

Av liv och av dans  

I den härliga vårsolens glans!

Translated:

Spring Song 

Happy like bird in the morning hour
I greet the spring in healthy natur'n,
Lärkan me answers and thrush in the grove,
Ärlan the field, and black grouse in fur'n. ...

See how they silvrade small creeks
Jump and hit,
Jump and hit
Friendly arms around tufts and stones!
See how it sparkles in the bushes and branches
Of life and of dance,
Of life and of dance
In the glorious spring sun shine!

For a lovely recording of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuRHZJtzSrs

Bål (The bonfire)

I read somewhere that the original purpose of the bonfire was that the farm animals were being released to graze and the fire was to discourage predators.  Whatever the reason, the fires are a definite part of the celebration. An alternative thought has to do with scaring away witches.  Why a witch would not like fire is beyond me. 

So what did we do last evening?

Our church hosted a community celebration.  We had singing, happily accompanied by professional musicians, the bål, offered simple food for a nominal fee, and ended the evening with a wonderful jazz concert!!  Dang.  Aside from this being a great church, having a church that hosts a great jazz concert is terrific!! 

A friend, and professional photographer, Balázs Schlemmer, generously lent me the first four pictures included in this post.  The last was lent to me by my husband. 

 

And now I must end this.  We just got a call from a friend.  They are out gardening and are going to grill out, and we are invited!!  She mentioned, BTW, that today is a big day for gardening.  "If you are not out demonstrating [presumably for (or against?) labor] you are out gardening.

And so off we go!!