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JUL, LUCIA OCH ADVENT

December is of course the month of Christmas decoration, crafts, baking and celebration. This issue we will learn essential festive words and phrases so that you can get around in Sweden without feeling lost during the holiday season.

Christmas is also the time for peace, love and giving – so watch the video on the Swedish Press website and learn sweet and loving words to say to one another at this time of year, or indeed at any time of year! Another Christmas gift from Swedish2go to Swedish Press readers can be found below. God Jul!

EN JULKLAPP TILL DIG

A Christmas gift to all Swedish Press readers: Subscribe to Swedish2go Premium Swedish for 12 months, but pay for only 3 months! Reg. price: 990 kronor, now 290 kronor. Discount code: swedishpress

Swedish Language Teacher Åsa Bouck is a Swedish teacher, living in Alberta, Canada with her Canadian husband and two bilingual sons. 2011 she set up Swedish2go, an online company offering self-instructional material for learning Swedish in the form of videos, presentations, quizzes, listening comprehensions and more.

Feel free to ask questions about the Swedish language by contacting Swedish Press or visiting Swedish2go.com.

DO YOU KNOW THE SWEDISH CHRISTMAS WORDS?

Try to match the Swedish words to the correct English explanation: a. Tomten 1. One candle is lit on the first of advent, then two on the 2nd of advent, and so on, until Christmas. 2. A star, often with a light inside, that hangs in b. Julstjärna many windows in Sweden at Christmas time. 3. This day is celebrated the most over the c. Julbord Christmas period. 4. Jesus was born on this day, but the day before is celebrated more in Sweden. d. Julgransplundring 5. A buffet with traditional Christmas foods (ham is the Swedes’ turkey) is eaten many times e. Juldagen 6. during December, and especially on the 24th. The gifts we give each other on December 24th are called this. f. Adventsljusstake 7. December 13th has its own traditions and you can see this phenomenon in many places in Sweden. g. Julafton 8. The 13th day of Christmas is celebrated with a holiday in Sweden. h. Trettondagen 9. 10. Boxing Day is a holiday in Sweden. Santa Claus usually comes to visit the children and give presents to them. What is the Swedish i. Julklappar word for Santa? 11. Dancing around a Christmas tree is a fun tradition and these dances have a special name. j. Ett luciatåg 12. The end of the Christmas period ends with a big party and finally the Christmas tree is thrown k. Annandag jul out. Translation of the word for this party would be “Christmas tree robbery” and it happens around January 13th and involves singing, l. Ringdanser dancing and loads of candy for the children.

Correct answers from the October issue can be found on the Swedish Press website: Swedish2go

KÄRLEKSFULLA ORD (LOVING WORDS)

• Jag älskar dig. • Vad söt du är! (I love you.) (How cute you are!) • Jag älskar dig med. • Tack! (I love you too.) (Thank you!) • Jag tycker om dig. • Du är så vacker. (I like you.) (You are so beautiful) • Jag tycker om dig också.* • Det är du också. (I like you too.) (You are too.) • Jag saknar dig. (I miss you.) • Jag längtar efter dig. (I long for you.)

*The words “med” and “också” can be used as synonyms in this situation.