A very Swedish Christmas – part 3
Glazed ham, sausages, meatballs, red cabbage, herring, herring and herring are all washed down with a gift from St Schnapps – patron saint of the drunken bastard.
Dec 17
Glazed ham, sausages, meatballs, red cabbage, herring, herring and herring are all washed down with a gift from St Schnapps – patron saint of the drunken bastard.
This is the day appointed for Lucia, the Italian patron saint of light, to arrive at dawn and spread some Mediterranean cheer into the deep darkness of the Nordic winter. Her arrival is to remind everyone that the warmer months are just around the corner.
So just why do I love Xmas so much? Of course there is the spirit of giving, spending time with family and friends, enjoying long held traditions and that bit about Jesus being born, but I much prefer the spending of money and the eating of sugar
Glögg, St Nick be praised, is mulled red wine served warmed with raisins and almonds. It can be enjoyed any time you don’t have plans to drive.
Midsummer is all about nature, feeling the sun on your skin, the coming summer and sticking wildflowers in your hair. We will drink, eat, sing and dance, yes just another Friday in Sweden.
It’s been a few weeks since our latest pagan ritual, so surely it’s time for another one. This long weekend, we are going to set Sweden alight in bonfires, burn away the evil winter spirits and welcome in Spring, the bastard.
For Sweden, Easter’s all about witches. I mean what’s Easter without the resurrection of a good old pagan tradition?
Bound for Scandinavia? Then there is a risk you might be invited into a small room, heated to almost 100°C and then asked to take your clothes off. Welcome to the world’s hottest party.
Oh Sweden, another day, another cream bun. And not just any cream bun. I’m talking about a plump, cream filled organza called Semla and a special day dedicated to eating them.
I love living in Sweden, especially when it means you get to be lazy.
Up north, those crazy Swedes like to leave their Christmas tree and decorations all in place for quite a bit and it’s not until 20 days after Christmas, that you actually have to bother taking them down. So that’s a good 3 weeks of post-Christmas lulling around you can enjoy, before you need to get your butt off the couch to start packing things away.