Magazinesweden’s Christmas Supplement

Christmas Supplement

Magazine Sweden’s Christmas Supplement Good tidings we bring …

The season of goodwill will soon be upon us, with festivities, celebrations and traditions galore on offer in the coming weeks. Sweden is truly a fantastic place to experience all kinds of genuine Christmas fare, be it the sweet warming ’glögg & pepparkakor’ of the traditional Christmas markets or the age-old tradition of Jämtland’s Sjulsmäss, Sweden has something special to share with you. This year, the ghost of Christmas past will also be making an appearance at Stockholm’s Folkoperan, with Pernilla Isedals rendition of ‘A Christmas Carol’ in English! … We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

MAGAZINESWEDEN

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Christmas Supplement

A Christmas Carol

Director Pernilla Isedal has herself produced the English adaption of the Charles Dickens’ classic work ‘A Christmas Carol’. This summer, she held auditions in London in search of British actors. Now the ghostly performance of the unsympathetic Ebenezer Scrooge is all set to perform at Folkoperan in Stockholm. In English.

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o put on one of the world’s most classic works at Folkoperan’s stage - in your own English adaption, with a British cast - is not something for the fainthearted. But Pernilla Isedal did not hesitate for one second. MagazineSweden had a chat with the director of this great Christmas classic.

– What I love most about Dickens is the language. Therefore, it was clear to me to make the production in his own words. Obviously, it would have also worked with a translation to Swedish, but I felt that you lost some of Dickens’ own language and expression, says Pernilla.

Do you ever feel uncertain when working in a foreign language - even if it is English?

- Not really, but I have worked a lot in English. In 1988 I started working as an actress with The English Theater Company in Stockholm, so I am very used to English - both the people and the language!

Do British actors raise their eyebrows at having a Swedish director?

- Not at all! But it can happen sometimes that someone will have an opinion on the subtleties of my translation and then we will work together to adjust that.

- The only actors on the stage that are not British, are our children and adolescents.

This is because it was far more complicated to employ British children. Although Swedish children and adolescents speak impressively good English, we have had to work a lot with some pronunciations - just to make the audience’s experience as good as possible.

How did you select the British actors?

- We had the auditions in London in the

summer. I went over to England and met up with my musical director Tam Neal, who arranged the music and we made the selection.

I’ve been doing ‘A Christmas Carol’ in English since 2009, so I’ve got certain habits, even though it’s mostly new actors for each new production. We renew the performance from year to year, both musically and in terms of the manuscript.

-Every summer, I sit in the shade somewhere and read through Dickens’ book and after each reread, I find new details and small variations, which mean I can improve the performance a little more with each year that passes.

Many in the audience come back every year and see the performance as something of a Christmas tradition. This means that any changes we make are quite small, as it still needs to be the same story. Also, many in the audience have read the book themselves and maybe seen a film version, so it’s not possible to change too much.

It should be the traditional Dickens tale, because that’s what the audience wants, contends Pernilla Isedal.

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843. Is it the case that the story is still relevant?

- Absolutely! Although the story is old, the theme is absolutely relevant today. There are still mean, miserly people today, who might benefit from the opportunity to think about their ways a little!

Who is the old man Ebenezer Scrooge really? Is he really as nasty as he seems?

-He is definitely not a sympathetic person!

On the other hand, what we show in the performance, and what Dickens showed in his book, is that it’s possible for everyone to change for the better. One should not give up hope. In the beginning of the performance, Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean, miserly and unfeeling person. But, with the help of three ghosts, he experiences what has happened in past Christmases, present

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MAGAZINESWEDEN

Christmas Supplement A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Charles Dickens’ classic from 1843 is about old Ebenezer Scrooge who lives alone in a big gloomy house, once owned by his now dead friend Jacob Marley. He is a sad, miserly and angry man who runs a loan company with the help of the bookkeeper Bob Cratchit.

One evening he is visited by Marley’s ghost, who comes to warn him. If Scrooge does not change his greedy behaviour, he will, in the afterlife, be weighed down by heavy chains for eternity, just like his deceased friend.

Marley says that Scrooge will be visited by three ghosts who will guide him through the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ...

DID YOU KNOW?

Walt Disney’s Scrooge McDuck is named after Dickens’ grumpy miser!

day Christmas and even what will happen in future Christmases if he does not change his ways – with this revelation, he actually changes.

- When the ghosts take him back to his own childhood Christmases, both he and the audience get to clearly understand how and why he became like he is. He is indeed an awful man, but everyone can change. Somewhere deep inside there is a heart, even in Scrooge!

The music is an important component of the performance. Can you tell us a little about that?

- There is a lot of traditional Christmas music in the show, even though it is not a musical or an opera. I usually say that it’s a play with music. We have noticed that there are just as

many who come to see the show for the actual theatre, as come to listen to and enjoy to the atmospheric music.

-We use the music to drive forward the story. Everyone in the cast can sing and we perform live music on stage.

Is it just ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ and other Christmas classics, or is there any newly written music?

- The newly written material is the work of Tam Neal. Additionally, we have made the performance very cinematic. There is a musician on stage who follows all the action, playing differently depending on what’s happening, maybe it is Scrooge wandering across the stage or another of the characters. In fact, it is not

that different from how music is usually used in film, which feels both exciting and a little new. One can say that the performance has a very musical side too. The music contributes to creating different moods and atmospheres within the performance, that makes for another dimension of the audience’s experience.

Somebody who could have played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge with ease, was your father, Tor Isedal, who was of course, himself, a well known Swedish actor.

- Yes, indeed! Dad had a face that looked like he had slept outdoors for 17 years! concludes Pernilla Isedal with a hearty laugh.

Text: Tony Manieri Photo: Johan Lygrell

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Christmas Supplement

Meet Santa in Gamla Stan The Christmas Market located at Stortorget is Stockholm’s oldest Christmas market and has been running for more than 100 years. Stortorget in Gamla Stan has been used for many different purposes over the centuries but records show that it has been used as a market place as early as the 1300’s.

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Christmas Supplement

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n the 19th century, Stortorget’s Christmas Market consisted of over a hundred stalls, it covered Slottsbacken and even parts of Skeppsbron. It was a distinguished craft market. Bleachers, book binders, makers of gloves, hats, instruments, combs, brushes and baskets gathered alongside copper and brass workers, wood turners, tin casters and other skilled professionals that have today more or less disappeared. Those who sold ornamental churches made from plaster of paris and other Christmas trinkets were happy to display their goods on tables in the square. The quality of goods gradually fell during the late 19th century and in 1907 trade was banned on Stortorget because of the noise and drunkenness. But not long after, already in 1914, Stockholm’s Gillet was formed with the ambition of rebuilding the then shameful reputation of the market. And in this they have been very successful.

Today, the market is overflowing with delights, you can find food products like smoked sausage and fish, Sami crafts from Norrland, ceramics from southern Sweden, many different handicrafts made of wood and metal, sheepskins, jewellery, trinkets, Christmas ornaments, marzipan, honey, cheeses, candy, spices and much more. Additionally, there is hot glögg with gingerbread biscuits, hotdogs, soda, coffee, espresso, candyfloss, waffles and sweets, games and a tombola.

We met up with Thomas Johansson, the manager of Stockholm’s Gillet, to answer some of our questions.

Stockholm through the various grants that we award annually.

First, tell us about Stockholm’s Gillet.

- Some years it is something that we would never have bet on! We believe that high quality products and a broad offering is the best for our visitors. What people are interested in buying depends very much on the age of the customer and the day of the week we are talking about. In the middle of the

- Stockholm’s Gillet is a non-profit association that works with Stockholm’s history and development. We have about 500 members who meet three times a year for pleasant get-togethers where we hold lectures and presentations and socialise in a comradely spirit. We have run the Stortorget Christmas Market since 1915 and any surplus profit goes into research on

There must be many people who want a stall in the market each Christmas, however, there is only room for 41 vendors, what is your selection criteria?

-Gillet’s policy is that the goods sold must be genuine Swedish products, this applies to both food and handicrafts. Furthermore, we strive to maintain a wide range of products so that as many people as possible can find something that appeals to them. We want all visitors regardless of their age or background to leave the market with quality goods and a positive image of the market. The range of products has developed over the years to what we see today. During these years, we have been investing more and more in genuine Swedish craftsmanship, in order to get us on the map as a high-quality market. It is an honour for us that we appear on The Daily Telegraph’s topten list of Europe’s Christmas markets.

- The stall-holders come from all corners of the country, Sami handicrafts from Kiruna, ceramics from Lund and Stockholm, honey from Värmland, Swedish food delicacies from Hälsingland, handmade Christmas elves from Småland, jewellery from Simrishamn, knitted items from Adelsö, cheese from Öland, lights from Dalarna, just to name a few.

week there are many school classes that visit the market and then there is a high demand for a lot of hotdogs, sweets and candyfloss. On Saturdays and Sundays, it is more mature and quality-oriented clientele looking to purchase our fine range of genuine Swedish handicrafts, that can be anything from ceramics and craftworks to delicacies from Sweden’s best.

How many visitors do you have each year?

-We have no idea really because it is free entry and many people pass through Stortorget in December, but I would guess that it is hundreds of thousands of visitors.

As you mentioned, you are a non-profit association. What is the surplus profit used for?

- The whole of Stockholm’s Gillet’s Profit from the Christmas market is used for scholarships for research on Stockholm. Our interest is quite broad, but the main focus is architecture, history, culture and community buildings. Scholarship applications that are received are handled by Gillet’s Scholarship Committee, which is compiled of members highly skilled in these specified areas.

One final question, has Santa ever been looking around the market stalls?

-The fact is that Santa has visited us since the market days of the Middle Ages. He often appears with his little helper elves on the dark winter Christmas nights.

Text: Marie Tillman Photo: Stockholms Gillet

What things are people interested in buying?

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Christmas Supplement

Europe’s Christmas Markets It’s not just us here in Sweden that think it’s nice to stroll around Christmas markets with a warming mug of Glögg in hand. All around Europe, Christmas is celebrated with traditional markets and most are within easy reach, perfect for a day trip or weekend away!

Text: Marie Tillman Photo: Adobe Stock

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Christmas Supplement

Berlin In Berlin, the variety of Christmas markets is huge and they get going at the end of November. One of the most sought-after Christmas markets in Berlin is at The Charlottenburg Palace. The stall holders and food vendors are all hand-picked and the palace also holds special exhibitions. Food, toys and gifts can be purchased in the market, making it perfect for those who want to start enjoying the Christmassy atmosphere.

November 25 - December 31st www.visitberlin.de/en/christmas-markets-berlin www.vdsc.de

Copenhagen Copenhagen has a big selection of Christmas markets, but it is the traditional market at Tivoli that draws the most attention, attracting over a million visitors each year. It is packed full of Christmas elves and ice sculptures, an ice-skating rink, a pantomime theater and activities for children. It is truly spectacular with its many kilometers of fairy lights and over 60 beautifully decorated huts selling old-fashioned toys, Christmas decorations and much more. They serve their glรถgg with raisins and almonds, just like we do in Sweden. The market is open from the beginning of November to the end of December.

November 17 - December 31st www.tivoli.dk

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Christmas Supplement

London In central London’s Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland spreads Christmas joy all over London, it is appreciated by both tourists and Londoners alike. The market has grown exponentially since its inception and today houses the city’s largest outdoor ice-skating rink as well as a Christmas circus, a Ferris wheel and over 100 other attractions. Naturally, there are many stalls selling all kinds of treats to help keep your strength up as you wander this huge site.

Free entrance.

November 23 - January 6th www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Vienna Austria’s capital is one of the world’s leading cities for celebrating Christmas with a market that has been held annually for over 700 years.

Here you can drink glühwein and eat vanillekipferl (a vanilla sugar covered biscuit) and roasted chestnuts. The celebration is very social and there are many meeting places. Every year the City Hall’s windows are painted by local artists with Christmas themes. The cosy markets are tightly packed together in the city: Altweiner Christkindlmarkt is especially cosy and is dominated by local artists and their work, the market next to the City Hall in Rathausplatz sells simple and less sophisticated gifts, while the market at Schönbrunn Palace, in addition its striking setting, offers Christmas items of a more lavish nature.

November 15th - December 31st. www.wien.info

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Christmas Supplement

Lübeck This Christmas Market held on a square next to the Town Hall is very old and was first mentioned more than 350 years ago. Today, it has grown and spread out onto the pedestrian streets surrounding the Town Hall and Koberg.

Lübeck’s medieval squares and houses set the perfect stage for Christmas and hundreds of vendors purvey everything from glühwein to old-fashioned wooden toys, gifts and Christmas treats. The Enchanted Forest at St Mary’s Church is a creation inspired by the brothers Grimm’s fairy tales, 20 fairy tale houses depicting favorites such as Hansel & Gretel and Sleeping Beauty make for a charming Christmas atmosphere for all the family.

November 26th - December 30th. www.lubeck.nu

Strasbourg One of the oldest Christmas markets not only in France but in the world. Christmas decorations and lights are not spared in this town. It’s peppered with Christmas choirs singing out, Santa and his elves and even a depiction Jesus’s birth. In the area around the Notre Dame Cathedral you will find lots of stalls selling traditional Christmas items, decorations and spices and a huge selection of gourmet foods.

To accompany the local version of glögg, try a flammekeuche (a thin pizza with bacon, onions and crème fraiche), goose liver or the traditional Christmas biscuits recettes de bredele.

Perhaps the biggest point of pride in the market is the Christmas tree in the middle of the square: At 30 meters high, it’s Europe’s largest naturally growing Christmas tree.

November 23rd - December 30th www.noel.strasbourg.eu

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Christmas Supplement BLIXTEN & CO PRESENTS

A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS. A MUSICAL PLAY BASED ON DICKENS’ MAGICAL STORY. PERFORMED IN ENGLISH

GUEST PERFORMANCES

AT FOLKOPERAN RUNS

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13TH-30TH OF DECEMBER Tickets: blixten.se, Folkoperan.se 08-616 07 50

MAGAZINESWEDEN

Christmas Supplement

Christmas Market IN GAMLA STAN

Julmarknad Gamla Stan

Welcome to Stortorget’s traditional Christmas market in Stockholm!

There has been a Christmas Market in Stortorget since the Middle Ages, a time when nearly all trade took place at markets.

Stockholms-Gillet has managed the Christmas market for over 100 years, offering a broad selection of handicrafts and treats.

Come along with all your family and friends and experience a genuine Christmas atmosphere in the middle of Stockholm!

Open daily between 11 – 18 From 24th November to 23rd December

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Christmas Supplement

I väntan på Sjulsmäss* In the run up to Christmas, Absolut Jämtland is giving a concert in every municipality in Jämtland. Kjell-Erik Eriksson is the artistic director for this year’s concert program called ‘I väntan på Sjulsmäss’ (Waiting for Sjulsmäss). This year’s line-up includes Hoven Droven, Triakel, Ellen Sundberg and Merit Hemmingson.

Text: Tony Manieri Photo: Marlene Nilsén

*Sjulsmäss is a celebration in Jämtland that takes place on 23rd December. Sjulsmäss is a very old local Catholic tradition celebrated in Tröndelagen and the area to the north, Jämtland and Härjedalen. The name Sjul is derived from the name Sigurd, but who Sigurd was exactly is not known for certain. He was possibly a local bishop who was declared a saint after his death. The celebration was banned after the Reformation and the name Sjul was then used by Protestant priests to mean the devil. However, the tradition has lived on and the word is still used in the local dialect for 23rd December and signifies the preparation and cleansing rituals before Christmas. How they celebrated in the past is not known. Source: Wikipedia.

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Christmas Supplement

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bsolut Jämtland is Eshtrad Norr’s new venture, an ensemble of folk and world music. The constellation of performers will vary from year to year, but will always consist of musicians either living in Jämtland or having roots in the county.

-This first year we want to give the audience a unique opportunity to meet nine established and much valued Jämtland musicians representing folk and world music, says Monica Bergander, producer of music and theatre at Estrad Norr.

-There are many people involved in folk and world music in Jämtland, so we want to make a big effort for them. We asked Kjell-Erik Eriksson to become the artistic director, Kjell-Erik is also a member of Hoven Droven and Triakel. So, he got the role of putting together this year’s Christmas performance of Absolut Jämtland.

The tour has the subtitle “Awaiting Sjulsmäss”. What does it mean?

-Sjulsmäss is the day before Christmas Eve and traditionally the day when you cleansed yourself and got ready for Christmas Eve. And we thought it was an exciting, fun name with clear local connotations, laughs Monica Bergander.

This year’s show has a large number of artists; everything from newcomers to the stage to popular old favourites.

- That’s right and of course that makes for extra excitement. When it became clear that Merit Hemmingson wanted to take part, it felt like we had scored a big goal. The blend of Hoven Droven’s bold folk music and Merit’s more delicate tones will create an amazing dynamic in the performance. And that’s something the audience will surely appreciate!

Is it all newly composed music or will the audience get to hear some old Christmas favourites?

- It will be a mix of old and new. It’s hard to imagine a real Christmas concert without some of our old favourites ...

On the stage: HOVEN DROVEN

Founded in 1989, they are today, considered one of Sweden’s biggest folk-rock bands. By combining folk music with modern rock music, they have made their very own sound. They have won several awards over the years and have toured the world over.

TRIAKEL

Triakel have been around since the mid 1990’s and have toured the length and breadth of Sweden. Triakel plays everything from old revue hits to hymns. Their ballads often have roots in Jämtland or Hälsingland. The music is low-key but engaging with the arrangements built around Emma Harlem’s singing, which is at the core of their sound.

ELLEN SUNDBERG

Ellen got her breakthrough in 2013. In a short time, it has been a very eventful journey for her with tours both nationally and internationally.

She has often been described as a female Neil Young, a female Bob Dylan and a female The Tallest Man on Earth.

MERIT HEMMINGSON

Tour dates 2018: Thursday 29th November at 19:00 Duved Church Friday 30th November at 19:00 Hackås Föreningshus Sunday 2nd December at 18:00 Bräcke Folkets Hus Wednesday 5th December at 19.00 Storsjöteatern, Östersund Thursday 6th December at 19.00 Svegs Church Friday 7th December at 19.00 Centrumlokalen, Hammarstrand Saturday 8th December at 19.00 Strömsund Church Sunday December 9th at 18:00 Offerdal Church

In the mid 1950’s, Merit played piano in various jazz-influenced orchestras in Jämtland. Then in the mid-1960’s, she moved on to the Hammond organ. In total, she has released nineteen separate albums since 1967. The most famous being Huvva! - svensk folkmusik på beat (1971), Trollskog – mer svensk folkmusik på beat (1972) and Bergtagen (1974), all three of which became gold discs. Merit’s most famous single recording is probably Jämtlandsk brudmarsch from the album Bergtagen, which at that time, was a groundbreaking new version of the Jämtland song. In 2012 Merit Hemmingson was awarded the Jan Johansson scholarship and last year she was selected for the Swedish Music Hall of Fame.

MEDVERKANDE MUSIKER

Kjell-Erik Eriksson Jens Comén Bo Lindberg Pedro Blom Björn Höglund Emma Härdelin Jan Strömstedt Ellen Sundberg Merit Hemmingson MAGAZINESWEDEN

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Christmas Supplement

welcome to sweden's most famous home!

CARL LARSSON-Gร RDEN IN SUNDBORN IS AN ICON IN SWEDISH INTERIOR DESIGN AND FAMILY LIFE.

Jenny Nystrรถm ILLUSTRATOR AND PIONEER 26 OKT 2018 - 17 FEB 2019

CARLLARSSON.SE

Christmas Supplement

This year’s craziest game – guaranteed!

Take a deep breath, get ready and challenge friends, family and yourself with this game of unbeatable records. 20 incredible challenges and 600 world record questions help you collect points in this exciting board game.

Did we say ‘unbeatable’? Nothing is unbeatable in the Guinness World of Records. World records are made to be broken.

So get ready, set the timer and GO!

Available to buy online and in selected toy shops and book shops! www.algaspel.se

LISA FRESH FISH AND FOOD ONLINE

How much we still see you visit us in Ă–stermalmshallen, we also understand that your time is not always enough.

That is why Lisa Elmqvist's e-commerce is available. With amazing fresh ingredients, ready-made fish, meat, menus, food boxes, gifts, recipes, and more, you can shop online and get delivery to your home, office, job or even abroad.

Our e-commerce, Mat Online, can be found through our website: lisaelmqvist.se.

It's easy and fun to shop there just as we want it to be with us in real life. And do not think that the knowledge and quality will be missing just because you shop online. On the contrary, it is available 24 hours a day. When it suits you.

www.lisaelmqvist.se

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