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Tracing your Swedish roots: genealogy and journeys of discovery
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Jill Seaholm interview Easter witches and Bl책kulla Alice Babs remembered
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CONTENTS ( April 2014 )
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Swedish Press
Swedish Headlines 6 Headline News: Drama in Ukraine pushes defence policy up the Swedish political agenda 7 News at a Glance 8 Swedes in the News Business 7 Business News 9 Company File: c/o Hotels
ADVISORY COMMITTEE Björn Bayley, Olof Flodmark, Lars Romert, Ulf Waldén, Paul Horn af Åminne, Peter Ladner, Brian Antonson, Christer Garell, Anders & Hamida Neumuller
Heritage 15 Till Blåkulla med kvast: Påsktraditionernas ursprung 16 Swedish Roots, Oregon Lives 17 Maclayhem Lifestyle 18 Top Sju 19 Music Hemma hos 20 Design: Best of the 2014 Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 21 Treats à la Laurel 22 Lär Dig Svenska 23 Barn Sidan
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Feature 10 Family Places Revisited Interview 12 Jill Seaholm – ‘Finding my Swedish roots was life-changing for me’
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Letters to the Editor Hi Tatty, Joan and Claes, The March issue of Swedish Press arrived in my mailbox today (March 4), and it is an interesting publication, particularly with the emphasis on education. Your generous inclusion of our submission about the Swedish American Museum’s Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration highlights another aspect of education. Arriving to subscribers so early in the month, in advance of almost all of our March calendar events, the issue is most timely. As a longtime editor of periodicals, I congratulate you for the improvements you have made in Swedish Press. You already have our submissions for the April issue, which we will look forward to seeing in a few weeks. Stephen Anderson Chicago, Illinois Ett personligt minne av Alice Babs: En epok är över Jag hade turen att få lära känna Alice Babs redan som ung grabb. Det
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var hennes dåvarande skivproducent Frank Hedman som introducerade mig för Alice. På uppdrag av Frank och Alice man Nils Ivar gjorde jag en förteckning över hennes skivinspelningar som överlämnades på hennes 50-årsdag. Sedan dess har jag verkat som Alice personliga arkivarie och fått överta och sortera upp hennes privata samlingar av dokument som härrör sig till hennes karriär och liv. Jag har beundrat Alice Babs musikaliska intelligens som var unik. Musiklyssning hemma hos Alice och Nils Ivar var högtidsstunder som jag önskat att fler kunnat få ta del av. Nu har Alice Babs återförenats med sin Nils Ivar och det längtade hon efter. Frid Alice! Lasse Zackrisson Vaxholm, Sweden Editor’s comment: Lasse’s documentary on Alice Babs ‘Naturröstens hemlighet’ was recently shown on SVT and is available on DVD at www.vaxrecords.nu. See also Sthig Jonasson’s article on Alice Babs on p.19 /TM
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From the Editor’s Desk
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Swedish Press April 2014
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hy do we search for our roots? Why this need to find out where our ancestors came from? I’m not entirely sure, but there is an undeniably deep desire in many of us – particularly those of us with roots in other countries – to forge a connection with the past in order to create a sense of belonging. Genealogy is big business and the internet has made it easier than ever to hunt down the physical tracks left behind by previous generations. If you’re interested in looking into your family history, Swedish or otherwise, our interview with Jill Seaholm, Head of Genealogical Services at Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, provides some great tips and interesting stories. Barnsidan also has fun ideas for ways of tracing your roots along with your kids or grandchildren. Meanwhile, reader Charles Style and his daughter Elizabeth share their own personal journey of discovery, following in his Swedish mother’s footsteps as they travelled from Stockholm to Dalarna and investigated the origins of Elizabeth’s name, the story behind a mysterious painting and a maverick 17th century rector. One of the best things about moving to a new country is that you get to pick the most positive elements of both countries and cultures and use them to your advantage – something that both Jenny Ljungberg, owner of c/o Hotels (this month’s Company File, p.9) and Lennart Jönsson, subject of our Sista Ordet (p.30), managed to do. This month is of course Easter month. Last year, their first Easter in Sweden, my children were very happy to discover that this involves both Halloween-like trick or treating and dressing-up! On p.15 we explore the fascinating origins of the very specifically Swedish ‘påskkärring’ (Easter witch) tradition. Whether you’re hunting for your roots or just chocolate eggs, we wish you a very happy Easter holidays.
Tatty Maclay Editor-in-Chief Tatty@Swedishpress.com
My daughter Freya as a ‘påskkärring’. Photo: Tatty Maclay
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Swedish Headlines Drama in Ukraine pushes defence policy up the Swedish political agenda by Susan Holmberg
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s the crisis deepens in Ukraine, Sweden, along with other countries in the Baltic area, is re-thinking its defence requirements. Russia’s intervention into the Crimea set alarm bells ringing in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania, both containing large Russian minorities. Sweden, which has strong historic and economic ties to the Baltic countries, is emphasizing the need for direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian leaders brokered through a trusted third party such as the EU, the OSCE or the UN in order to bring stability to the region. During the first week of March, however, as Crimea was severed from the rest of Ukraine in an atmosphere of widespread confusion, some Swedish leaders used stronger language, condemning Russian aggression and calling for a “doctrinal shift” in Sweden’s defence policy. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt came under fire for what seemed like an appeasement stance to some observers, telling reporters that some of Russia’s mobilizing actions were “understandable” given the Russian minorities in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Although he was quick to add that Russia’s methods were not appropriate, his comment fueled criticism from fellow coalition leaders. Foreign Minister Carl Bildt used much stronger language to condemn Russia. He called the country’s actions a violation of international law and wrote in his blog that the Russian demand for Ukrainian forces
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to hand over their arms was no less than a “scarcely camouflaged Russian takeover of Crimea”. Another strong opinion in the initial wave of reaction to events in Crimea came from Deputy Prime Minister Jan Björklund (Liberal Party). Björklund called for a reassessment of Sweden’s defence doctrine, criticizing the years of defence cuts that have left many parts of the country de-militarized. Both he and Christian Democrat leader Göran Hägglund argued that Sweden should become a full member of NATO. Since the end of the Cold War, Sweden’s defence policy has shifted away from a focus on protecting Sweden from invasion to a smaller, more specialized force with a larger capacity to contribute to international operations – an approach known as “pooling and sharing”. The debate was heightened on March 4 when a Russian military exercise in the Baltic Sea prompted Sweden to send two fighter jets to the island of Gotland, located about 250 kilometers south of Stockholm. Swedish military experts were quick to neutralize the significance
of the move, emphasizing that such exercises are routine. “This isn’t the first time planes have been to Gotland”, military strategist Stefan Ring told wire service TT. “Considering what’s been happening in Ukraine, I’d say it would be verging on a dereliction of duty if the planes weren’t there now.” Sweden’s Supreme Commander Sverker Göransson stated that Sweden’s existing doctrine is working well. “I stick with my view that we are on the right path with our doctrine and the organization that we are currently building”, he told TT. While events in Ukraine have propelled the issue of defence to the top of the agenda in this election year, it is not likely to remain a key issue unless a clear sense of threat emerges from Russia toward the Baltic states. Both the former Social Democrat-led government and the current center-right coalition government have continued to cut military budgets, and although there may be a window for increased spending on defence, the Swedish population remains more concerned about domestic issues such as health care, education and employment.
Ukraine crisis: the situation in Crimea
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News at a Glance Malmö attacks Several people were attacked in central Malmö on the night of International Women’s Day (March 8) by members of the fascist Swedes Party (Svenskarnas Parti). One person ended up in intensive care with serious head injuries and a further three victims suffered knife wounds. One of the victims is a leading figure in the fight against racism and homophobia in the football world, indicating that the attacks were specifically targeted. It is the latest event in a recent spate of neo-nazi violence in and around Malmö.
number of unemployed Swedes has dropped over the past year by 16,000. 8.5% of working-age Swedes – some 404,000 – are currently unemployed. Arbetsförmedlingen’s Mats Wadman commented, “The statistics show that the number of registered unemployed continues to fall, particularly among young people and the short-term unemployed.” Another report released by Eures (European Employment Service) praised young Swedes for being ‘loyal’ and ‘punctual.’ Uganda aid withdrawn The Swedish government has decided to withdraw aid to Uganda, following a recent decision by the country’s President Yoweri Museveni to sign a law banning the ‘promotion’ of homo-
Unemployment figures drop According to the latest figures from the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen), the
Uganda hit with foreign aid cuts over anti-gay law.
sexuality. “The government reaffirms its strong condemnation of the Ugandan legislation that violates the fundamental rights of homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people,” said Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström, adding, “Swedish aid is not unconditional.” Sweden’s subsidies to Uganda in 2012 amounted to €26.5 million, 42% of which was directed towards promoting democracy, human rights and gender equality.
[Business] News
Mining for money in Northern Sweden
Bitcoin. Photo: Zach Copley/flickr
At the edge of the Arctic Circle in Boden, Sweden, work has begun transforming a former helicopter hangar used by the Swedish armed forces into a 10 Megawatt Bitcoin datacentre. Swedish company, KnC Miner, is behind the project which will contribute to the region’s push to become the global hub for data traffic. KnC Miner provides hardware used in the mining of Bitcoins, a digital currency that has captured headlines
recently thanks to its astronomical increase in value. “Given that our business is in the digital mining sector,” explains KnC Miner co-founder, Sam Cole, “it is particularly fitting for us to set up operations in a community rooted in crude material mining, and today characterised by its budding technology sector.” The news comes as Facebook unveiled plans to open up its second server farm in the neighbouring city of Luleå. Volkswagen sets sights on Scania Germany’s Volkswagen Group has offered Swedish truck maker, Scania $9.2 billion for the company’s remaining shares. The German automaker already owns 63% of Scania and currently holds 89% of the voting rights following years of active purchasing dating back to
2000. If approved, the deal would allow Volkswagen, which also controls German truck maker MAN, to create an integrated truck group that can challenge industry-leaders Daimler and Volvo. Scania is a Swedish industrial icon and many of the remaining shareholders feel that the deal is not in the best interest of Scania which has been performing particularly well as of late. In addition, labour unions are concerned that the acquisition could lead to job losses in Sweden and are pushing for written agreements against such moves. This is not the first time that Scania is poised to be purchased. MAN attempted a takeover in 2006 and in 2000, the European Commission blocked a Scania merger with Volvo due to concerns of a potential trucking monopoly in Scandinavia.
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[Swedes] in the News Princess Leonore born in New York
100 was Hans Rausing of TetraPak, with a $12 billion fortune; five more Swedes made it onto the list, which was topped, as usual, by American IT mogul Bill Gates.
H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf, H.M. Queen Silvia, H.R.H. Princess Leonore. Photo: Princess Madeleine The Royal Court Sweden.
Swedish journalist killed H.R.H Princess Leonore. Photo: Christopher O’Neill/Kungahuset.se
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rincess Madeleine of Sweden gave birth to a daughter, Leonore Lilian Maria, in New York on 20 February 2014. The baby’s father Christopher O’Neill was present at the birth and her grandparents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia flew to the US shortly after the birth. Princess Leonore has been given the title Duchess of Gotland and the Palace announced that she is officially fifth in line to the throne.
Nils Horner. Photo: Mattias Ahlm/ Sveriges Radio
Respected Swedish Radio foreign correspondent Nils Horner, 51, was shot and killed recently in broad daylight in the diplomatic district of Kabul. Horner, Swedish Radio’s foreign correspondent since 2001, was talking to his interpreter and driver outside a Lebanese restaurant when he was shot in the back of the head. Swedish Radio Director General Cilla Benkö commented: “Swedish Radio is in deep sorrow, it is one of the worst days in the history of Swedish Radio.”
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Nordqvist wins LPGA Thailand Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist recently won the $1.5 million Honda LPGA Thailand tournament, beating off stiff competition from world number one Inbee Park and
breaking a five year losing streak. Nordqvist’s last win was in 2009 and the golfer had been close to giving up the game, but the 26 year old was back on form as she closed with a 4-under 68 to beat defending champion Park by two strokes.
Stefan Persson. Photo: profashionals.de
Bäckström doping decision The 2014 Winter Olympics may be done and dusted, but Swedish ice hockey star Nicklas Bäckström remains in the news due to the IOC’s controversial decision by to ban him from the hockey finals after a drug test tested positive for pseudoephedrine, a drug found in allergy
Stefan Persson richest Swede
Anna Nordqvist. Photo: Siamsport Newspaper/AP
Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s billionaires lists H&M owner Stefan Persson as Sweden’s wealthiest man (and the world’s 12th), with a fortune of around $34.4 billion. The only other Swede in the top
Nicklas Bäckström. Photo: TT
medication. Sweden lost to Canada in the final, and the player’s silver medal has been withheld until the IOC decides whether or not it will be reinstated.
Company File
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f ever there were a company which combines the best of the American can-do attitude with Swedish style, the small, quirky hotel company c/o Hotels, comprising c/o The Maidstone in East Hampton, and c/o Häringe Slott outside Stockholm, is it. And it’s a happy mixture which creative director and owner Jenny Ljungberg, raised in both Sweden and the US, embodies herself. c/o Hotels is a family business and Ljungberg refers to herself as a ‘third generation entrepreneur’. Her grandfather Tage was a property developer from Småland who started LjungbergGruppen (now known as Atrium Ljungberg) and when her father Åke took over the company he expanded it to the point where, as Ljungberg puts it, ‘Sweden got too small for him.’ So the family moved to the US when Jenny was 13 and continued to expand their real estate and hotel empire. Jenny cut her teeth in the hotel business with internships at hotels including Beaver Creek Lodge in Colorado and the Diplomat Hotel in Stockholm and decided, while working as a busboy,
that she had found what she wanted to do with her life. By 2000, the family hotel chain c/o Hotels comprised a number of Swedish hotels including Tamsvik Konferens & Herrgård, Grytthyttans Gästgivaregård, Häringe Slott and the Lydmar Hotel, and in 2009 Ljungberg, after looking in vain for the perfect Manhattan property, added c/o The Maidstone, an historic inn in East Hampton (‘a sleeping beauty’, according to Ljungberg), to the portfolio. In 2013, the other hotels in the portfolio were sold off as Ljungberg decided to focus on creating a true, unique lifestyle brand at Häringe and The Maidstone. This branding takes the best aspects of Scandinavian design and lifestyle – innovation, honesty, and classic and modern design including masses of Svenskt Tenn – and merges them
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with American customer-centred culture. Meals, for example are served all day, and dogs are welcome guests at both properties. Intriguing photo art, jazz music played loud, a strong commitment to ethical practices, a taste for proper afternoon tea and a penchant for storytelling (and there are plenty of colorful stories to tell about both properties) are also hallmarks of the c/o Hotels brand.
The company now employs around 80 people and has a revenue of $8 million. As New York is her main base, Ljungberg saw an opportunity to bring the Swedish brand to the US’ and is currently looking to expand her lifestyle chain with that elusive Manhattan property at some point in the future. www.careofhotels.com
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Family Places Revisited By Charles and Elizabeth Style Charles
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y mother, Sigrid Elisabeth (born Carlberg, known as Sickan, and first married to Bengt Julin), came to England in 1951 to marry my father. She was then 31 years of age. My early memories include a rough ferry crossing – two nights and a day from Tilbury to Stockholm – and snapshot images of summers in the Stockholm archipelago. I learnt to love Sweden; thus it was that I brought my youngest daughter, Elizabeth Sigrid (named after her grandmother), to Sweden in 2011 so that she might learn her heritage. By my mother’s bed hung a small drawing of a church. Only after she died did I discover underneath the frame, in small pencil handwriting, the words Skånela Kyrka and a signature: B. Lamby, 4.12.36. My sister told me she thought this was my mother’s first boyfriend. She would then have been 16 years old. I had always found the thought of this unknown place touching and mysterious; it was obviously of special significance to her. Did they go there together; did she and B. Lamby declare young love there? Who knows? But it was an obvious objective to find the church.
Elizabeth As Dad and I drove north from Stockholm, in search of this hidden memory of my grandmother’s, all we had to guide us was the drawing, and those words: Skånela Kyrka. Part of me, I think, was sceptical that we would find it, and so I remember the
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Painting of Skånela Kyrka by Elizabeth Style.
excitement I felt as we drove round one more bend to see the little spire poking out above the trees ahead. As we got closer, there was absolutely no doubt that this was the Skånela church, drawn so beautifully (and accurately!), in the picture. It felt incredibly surreal to be visiting a place that had this unknown significance to my grandmother, and I loved imagining what might have happened there – was it a romantic story of young love as Dad wonders, or some other special hidden memory? Whatever it was, the thought that – nearly 80 years later – Grandma’s son and granddaughter had shared the adventure of finding it together was very special indeed. And it really did feel like an adventure. Erected in the 1160s in an ancient landscape, the church itself was
sweetly beautiful. Perched on a small hill, it was surrounded by golden fields, lit perfectly in the late afternoon sun.
Charles Later we travelled quite widely: to Älgö where my grandmother had a house overlooking the sea, and north to Lake Siljan in order to see something of the Dalarna landscape and its picturesque raised timber
Skånela Kyrka; Elizabeth holds the evocative drawing from 1936.
houses. My mother had taken me there on a similar expedition in 1972. Elizabeth and I also went to Kopparberg in whose vicinity generations of Carlbergs had lived. The church there – Ljusnarsbergs kyrka – dates from 1635; it is sheathed in wooden tiles, painted falu red, and it is attended by a splendid belfry tower of medieval appearance whose timbers have never had to be replaced and on whose roof traces of old tar caulking were visible. We were much amused by a story about Simon Bjurbäck, the rector from long ago. He conceived the need to enlarge the original church in order to provide a transept. He did this between 1691 and 1696 by cutting the church in half and having the two halves pulled apart in order to make the space. He is supposed to have directed operations on horseback, ready for a quick get-away, should the whole edifice have fallen down. It didn’t! We imagined my mother attending church services there 85 years ago. And then we went outside to find several fine family grave stones, restored by my aunt about forty years ago. This one commemorates Per August Carlberg (born 1811) and his wife Ulrika.
Elizabeth’s great -great-great-grandparents
Elizabeth It is a very surreal moment when, unwarned, you look down at a grave and see your own name carved in to the stone! This was a very special moment in our trip – discovering the origin of Grandma’s name and my own. Dad hadn’t known that his mother had been named after her grandmother, so it’s funny to think that a tradition has developed (unintentionally!): the naming a daughter, every other generation, with the names Sigrid Elis(z)abeth (something I’d love to continue!). It’s a wonderfully direct link with my Swedish blood; seeing the name in Kopparberg, where Grandma would have visited her grandparents, was very moving for both of us.
Charles
Outside Ljusnarsbergs Kyrka.
Their details are on the printed card (picture on the right); they were my mother’s great grandparents. The card also makes a further reference, as does the grave stone whose photograph is printed alongside it, which Elizabeth will explain...
From Kopparberg we drove south. We passed Björsarf, the home of my great aunt Ellen, from which my mother wrote to hers on 26 July 32, aged 12: “Varje morgon går vi upp klockan 7…”. Then we drove on to catch a glimpse
The origin of a name…. across a century and a half.
of the fine property, Stjernfors, where my mother remembered visiting her grandparents when she was young. The photographs were found in her belongings. The house, which in past times had two large wings, is nowadays surrounded by a smart golf course. The countryside is quiet and unspoilt; there remains no sign of the messy industrial buildings and tram-ways serving the mining industry which dominated part of this landscape a hundred years ago. Returning towards Stockholm we stopped at the prettiest of small timber churches, Ingarö kyrka, which overlooks the narrow channel separating the island from the mainland. My mother had two sons in Sweden; here at Ingarö lies her eldest, my half-brother Anders, who was born in 1942 and died in 1983 aged 40. Less than two years after the loss of her first born, my mother died of a broken heart, aged 64. Those were dark days; but she would have been happy, to know that another granddaughter who started her life in England has recently moved to Sweden to live. This is a return, born of instinct and an inherited love for Sweden. It completes a circle.
Elizabeth It’s impossible to capture the significance and the happy memories of our trip in Sweden in just a few words. It really was a very special few days, for a number of reasons: precious father-daughter time that’s so difficult to achieve in the business of modern living; not only visiting Sweden for the first time, but finding places significant to multiple generations of my family; spending time at Anders’ grave, located next to the loveliest of churches and hearing Dad’s happy memories of his brother; driving through breathtaking Swedish landscape, visiting remote pretty towns. In sum, a few days spent getting to know, and truly feeling, the Swedish in me.
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INTERVIEW WITH JILL SEAHOLM – SWENSON SWEDISH IMMIGRATION RESEARCH CENTER
How would you summarize the mission of the Swenson Swedish Immigration Center? What is its primary purpose? Our key mission as a national archive is to provide resources for the study of Swedish immigration to North America in order to build knowledge and understanding about the communities they established and the roles they played in American life. Another major role for the Center is to assist people researching their Swedish-American family history. How did the Center come into existence? The Center was founded in 1981 to fill a need for major archives and research on Swedish immigration to North America. Augustana was a logical, central place because it had already been collecting SwedishAmerican materials for decades. Give us a sense of a typical case – who do you see most? A lot of people contact us through e-mail because
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‘Finding my Swedish roots was life-changing for me’ By Susan Holmberg
Jill Seaholm Head of Genealogical Services, Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
[ [ Born in Moline, Illinois to SwedishAmerican parents, Jill Seaholm has been managing archives and helping Swedish-Americans find their way back across the Atlantic since 1992. Susan Holmberg spoke to her to learn more about her experiences and the work of the Swenson Center.
not everyone can make it to the town of Rock Island. They are looking for their Swedish ancestors who came to the US in order to trace them back to a settlement in Sweden, to learn more about them. One of the ultimate things is to try to find living relatives over there. That’s everybody’s mecca – to find living relatives and go visit them. How do you go about identifying a Swedish immigrant to North America? Our core collection is the Swedish American church records. Those are records from churches formed by Swedes throughout North America as they formed settlements. It can be challenging because so many immigrants came over using similar names. Often they changed their name once they were here. There’s a lot to take in, you have to decide what name they left under, hope you know their original name. We ask people to ask older relatives if they knew where their immigrant relatives went to church. Obituaries and cemetery records can also
lead to the name of the church where the funeral was held. In bigger cities, like Chicago and Minneapolis, we can use census data to identify a street address which can help locate the Swedish church nearest to that residence. For the many Swedes who did not join churches, we can try fraternal lodge records. Our collections cover the mass migration period, roughly 1850-1930.
Once an immigrant has been identified in North America, how do you track further back to find where they came from in Sweden? In Sweden, the authorities kept track of many things about citizens over the centuries, so there is a wealth of information. The trick is to learn where the immigrant came from, mainly the parish of birth or residence. Sometimes this can be found in the emigration records from Sweden, but sometimes the parish is known as the general region from which the ancestor came, as most immigrants spoke of com-
ing from, say Misterhult in Kalmar County – often the name of the town or village is synonymous with the parish, which kept population records for the villages and farms surrounding that church. After finding Swedish ancestors in Sweden, as you say the big dream is to locate and establish contact with living relatives. How does this process work? Once we know the parish of origin, we use Swedish subscription websites to access birth records and some census databases. If the records stop at a certain point, it might be necessary to write to a ‘länsarkiv’ (county archive) to obtain a probate document that will give leads to the next generation. At that point we can go into Swedish online search databases such as Eniro.se or Hitta.se – there’s also one called Birthday.se – and search contact information by entering first and/or last names (or birthdays). Technology has made it quite easy. I’ve used Facebook to find living relatives who weren’t in Eniro or Hitta. Last fall I was able to find one man’s living relative on Facebook and I told him “you better sign up for Facebook and friend this person!”, and he did and he went to Sweden last September
and met them and formed good friendships and is very happy. What about your own story? Did you rediscover your Swedish roots? Yes, my mother’s grandparents were all from Sweden, and my father’s great grandparents. I was so fortunate that my folks were interested in their ancestry and in travelling. When I was 14 some Swedish relatives had come to visit us, so we were gung ho about visiting them and seeing others. They organized a big reunion, so when we got there, there were probably about 50 people at one of the ancestral farms in a little settlement called Mellby in Småland. It was really life changing for me. They held a midsummer celebration even though it was July 4 (my 15th birthday was July 5). They had a midsummer pole and dancing and singing and midsummer games and a nice smörgåsbord. It was really cool and it inspired me to learn Swedish and go to Augustana College.
Are you still in touch? Yes, I’ve been back many times to visit relatives and friends. There are always Swedish students here at Augustana and I have befriended them and stayed in contact with a lot of them since the 1980’s. Facebook has made it extraordinarily easy to stay in contact with people. Do you mostly hear about the success stories? I’ve heard from some people who said that they wrote to their newly discovered Swedish relatives and never heard back, but mostly we hear from people who were successful and want to thank us. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t, but one thing I always say is do your homework before you go there. Find your relatives before you go and don’t spend your trip looking for them, spend your trip with them instead, because there are so many ways to find your relatives before you go. www.augustana.edu/ swenson
Swedish American Genealogist is a quarterly journal published by the Swenson Center. www.augustana.edu/sag
[ ]
April 2014 13
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April 2014 14
H E RI TAG E
Heritage
{
}
Påskhäxorna
Till Blåkulla med kvast: Påsktraditionernas ursprung Av Monika Nordqvist
Trots att påskfirandet har sin grund i kristendomen så är det 1600-talets häxjakt som ligger till grund för de moderna påsktraditionerna i Sverige. Sägnen säger att Sveriges häxor varje påsk reser till Blåkulla för att äta, dricka och festa med djävulen.
P
åsken är kristendomens mest betydelsefulla helg, och påskens religiösa budskap har varit att påminna om Jesus lidande, död och återuppståndelse. Men i Sverige har det historiskt sett också funnits en tro på övernaturliga väsen och länge ansågs det att vättar, älvor, tomtar, troll och häxor var extra aktiva under storhelger. Påsken var förstås inget undantag, och ansågs vara den högtid då häxorna var som mest aktiva.
Historierna om häxorna och deras resor till Blåkulla har sitt ursprung i de stora häxprocesserna på 1600-talet. Historiskt sett var Sverige ett land med få häxprocesser i jämförelse med andra europeiska länder, men cirka 400 personer dömdes och avrättades för häxeri mellan 1492 och 1704. Häxjakten i Sverige kulminerade under åtta intensiva år mellan 1668 och 1676. Perioden kallas för “Det stora oväsendet”, och då avrättades cirka 300 personer för häxeri. Sägnen
Lena Granefelt/imagebank.sweden.se
säger att på skärtorsdagen bjuder djävulen och hans anhängare in landets häxor till fest på Blåkulla för att fira häxsabaten. Orsaken till att festen skedde på just skärtorsdagsnatten har sitt ursprung i kristendomen, eftersom skärtorsdagen var den dag som Jesus förråddes av Judas och enligt folktron släpptes alla onda makter fria i samma stund som frälsaren blev dömd. Först under påskaftonen eller påskdagen återvänder häxorna hemåt igen genom att använda olika redskap som färdmedel, till exempel en bakspade, ugnsraka eller ko. Men det färdmedel som ändå starkast förknippas med häxornas resa är kvasten. Det var förstås viktigt att man skyddade sig mot påskkärringarna, och man gömde och låste in redskap som en häxa skulle kunna använda som färdmedel. Sedan mitten av 1800-talet har det varit en populär påsktradition bland svenska barn att klä ut sig till påskkärringar. Både pojkar och flickor klär ut sig till påskkärringar genom att sätta på sig klänningar, förkläde och huckle, och ofta bär de med sig en kvast som symboliserar häxornas populära färdmedel. Barnen ger sig sedan ofta ut i grannskapet för att önska grannar och familj glad påsk genom att dela ut påskkort som de själva har ritat. Som tack får de ofta godis eller en mindre summa pengar. Häxjakter och myter om fester med djävulen på Blåkulla har skapat traditioner som kan uppskattas av både små och stora.
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April 2014 15
HE RITAG E
A move to America in 1923 A series of oral histories from some of the thousands of Swedes who made their way to Oregon during the Great Migration, extracted from Lars Nordström’s book, ‘Swedish Roots, Oregon Lives.’ (swedishrootsinoregon.org)
{
Emma Nordgren (1901 – 1998) Emma Nordgren was born in Umeå in northern Sweden. Her father emigrated in 1902, and eight long years later, the family was finally reunited in Colorado Springs. After crisscrossing the West they settled in Portland in 1918. For years, the family struggled to gain economic security. Emma never married.
W
ell, you come to the land of opportunity, the land of milk and honey. You are trying to make it here. You get a job in this country, and the people you leave behind, your family, think, “Oh, boy, he’s making it, earning so much money.” A lot of people send money home, the Scandinavians, the Greeks, and the Italians. They all did. We had just bought this property and put a little crude shack on it that we lived in when Mother got a letter from her sister in Örnsköldsvik. Their youngest child, a girl, was just graduating from high school and had been majoring in music, and my aunt thought it would be so nice if Aunt Anna and Uncle August could send money for a grand piano. Could they possibly help her? When I came home from work that evening, Mother was holding the letter in her hand. She was half crying, half laughing. “Of all the nerve,” she said. “Where in the name of God would we get all that money?” I told her to write back and tell them the truth. They, of course, didn’t know any better. A lot of people had that stupid pride that wouldn’t let them know back home that you worked but didn’t make a big fortune from it. An Italian once came in to the photo studio where I worked. He was an elevator operator for J. K. Gill Company and needed a photo taken for citizen papers. He was kind of apologetic, but I told him I was a naturalized citizen too. Lots of people were so busy they didn’t have time to worry about their papers. I told him that I had relatives in Sweden, and he told me about his in Italy. He was sending money to some of them, and they thought that he was wealthy. I told him about my family’s request for a piano and that the reason for this was that my mother had been too proud to write and tell them that we were having a rough time of it. Mother said that it wasn’t possible for me to understand what it was like.
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April 2014 16
}
Swedish Roots, Oregon Lives
H E RI TAG E
A move to Sweden in 2012 Tatty and her family recently moved from Scotland to Sweden. Half-Swedish and half-English, Tatty grew up in the UK and works as a journalist. This is a journal of her first year in Sweden with her Scottish husband and four young children.
{
Maclayhem
}
Maclayhem: Thoughts from the Motherland by Tatty Maclay
T
he first time I read Wilhelm Moberg’s ‘The Emigrants’, many years ago, I remember being so moved and fascinated by the idea of the emigrant story. Leaving one’s homeland as his heros Kristina and Karl-Oskar did for a better life elsewhere and all the longing, bravery, hope and pain that entails struck a deep chord with me. Perhaps it’s because my grandmother was also an emigrant, leaving Sweden for England in the 1950s for that notorious pull factor: love. Although her story was different from that of Moberg’s mid-19th century Swedes in that she wasn’t pushed from her homeland by poverty or religious persecution, the experience was similar in as much as she left her home country and most of her family (including two of her three children) behind, never to return. When we decided to emigrate almost two years ago, the push and pull factors were the dismal Scottish climate and a desire to give the children a freer childhood in a country with space to play and breathe. But ultimately it was for the same reason that has always driven people to up sticks and emigrate: the desire for a better life. These days, innovations such as Skype, global commerce and low cost airlines mean moving country ( for those of us who do it by choice, at least) is not quite the drastic, irreversible decision it was in the days of Karl-Oskar and Kristina, or even my grandmother. No amount of video calling with grandparents, though, can take the place of baking a cake with them in their kitchen, and though you can get hold of almost every international foodstuff imaginable in a large enough supermarket, some things will never taste quite the same way they did ‘back home’. Forgive me, I’m in a nostalgic mood. But the fact remains that though we can visit our old home country by flying in an airplane for two hours rather than sailing on a scurvy-infested boat for weeks on end, most modern-day emigrants will still recognize Kristina’s bittersweet longing, feelings of displacement and rose-tinted reminiscence as an inevitable part of the emigrant experience.
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April 2014 17
Lifestyle
Top Sju
1
41 600
Stockholm is the number one tech city in the EU, according to a new study by Belgium’s KU Leuven University. The study found that around 18 per cent of all Swedish employees work for technology companies, compared with an EU average of 10 per cent. 22 million employees throughout the EU work within the technology sector, of which 600,000 jobs are in Sweden.
liters of blueberry soup were served at this year’s Vasaloppet, in the race’s 90th year. The 90km cross-country ski race, held on Sunday 2 March, was won by Norwegian John Kristian Dahl with a time of 4:14:33. Unseasonably mild weather conditions threatened the race, but in the end the race went ahead with some 15,800 skiing the famous route from Sälen to Mora in Dalarna.
15
100
is the number of medals Sweden took home at the recent Winter Olympics in Sochi. Two golds, seven silvers and six bronzes left them in 14th spot overall, with medal winners including our February cover star, Anna Holmlund (Bronze in skicross) and interviewee Charlotte Kalla, who won silver medals for crosscountry skiathlon and classical races and a spectacular gold in the relay.
balla ställen i Stockholm is a new guidebook by comedian Valle Westesson which reveals the best hidden gems in Sweden’s capital. The pocketbook contains a fold-out map and leads the way to quirky destinations such as the room in Furusund where Evert Taube wrote about Rönnerdahl, as well as the birthplace of the Swedish punk movement. For visitors to the south of Sweden, there is also an 100
[ ]
April 2014 18
balla ställen i Skåne. Both books will be published in May by Roos & Tegnér.
40
coon, Gerard Bonnier. ‘The donation is fantastic news for all art lovers in Sweden,’ said Daniel Birnbaum, the museum’s director.
years after Waterloo, a new book ‘Abba: The Official Photo Book’ has revealed that Abba’s outrageous stage costumes were not purely for show, but also a way of avoiding the tax man. The sequined catsuits, flares and platform heels were chosen to exploit a Swedish law which meant clothes were tax deductible if it could be proved they were not for everyday use.
1 485 000 8 important European artworks, including two paintings by Picasso (‘Baigneuses au ballon’, 1928, and ‘Deux personages,’ 1939), were donated to Stockholm’s Museum of Modern Art recently in the last will of Elisabeth Bonnier, the widow of media ty-
kronor, is the total price for an exclusive tailor-made ice suite at the Ice Hotel. Guests now have the chance to design their own completely personal ‘haute couture’ suite, which will then be sculpted out of Torne river ice and snow by the hotel’s ice artists. The suite can be stayed in between December and March, after which time it will melt back into the river and guests will be left with a bottle of the melted water as a memento of their (seriously expensive) stay. www. icehotel.com.
Lifestyle
Alice Babs, den swingande hovsångerskan Av Sthig Jonasson
H
ovsångerskan Alice Babs avled efter en längre tids sjukdom den 11 februari 2014. Hon blev 90 år gammal. Alice Babs föddes som Hildur Alice Nilsson i Kalmar den 26 januari 1924 och växte upp i Västervik där hennes far Jean var biografpianist
och modern Hildur sjöng. Hildur såg Alices potential och de flyttade till Stockholm för att utveckla hennes karriär. Alice Babs var bara 15 år när hon började spela in skivor, bl.a. med dragspelsvirtuosen Nisse Linds Hot-trio. Som sextonåring blev hon en superkändis genom sin roll i filmen ”Swing it magistern” (1940) där hon spelade en skolelev som sjöng swing. Alice blev genast symbol för den nya populärkulturen och Babsfeber rasade runt om i landet. Hon älskades av den jitterbuggade ungdomen och av folkparksdirektörerna som kunde notera publikrekord efter publikrekord varhelst hon uppträdde, men avskyddes av självutnämnda moralens väktare. Själva filmen, som var en harmlös underhållning, fick gott mottagande hos kritikerna. En kritiker skrev att ”producenterna dykt mitt in i den
Music
moderna skolungdomen och fångat dess egen melodi, som går i swing”. Men producenten/regissören Schamyl Bauman hade inte räknat med styrkan av den moralpanik som bröt ut. Jazz och swing var inte rumsrena och en magsur figur såg den närmast som en andlig mul- och klövsjuka och folk uppmanades ta avstånd från ”Babskulten”. En kulturbyråkrat, Stim-chefen Eric Westberg, sade att Alice Babs lät som en slyna och att swingsångerskor borde få smisk och sättas i skolbänken. Det fick Olle Carle, ”Cello”, att genmäla i Stockholms-Tidningen: ”Hur smärtsamt det än är att behöva påpeka det, så förhåller det sig nog så, att swingsångerskor fröjdar flera svenska hjärtan med sin slynsång än hr.Westberg med sina kompositioner.” Trots turbulensen rullade karriären för Alice vidare och hon gjorde ytterligare ett tjugotal musikfilmer. I början av 40-talet var hon Sveriges främsta jazzsångerska. Under 1950talet bildade Alice trion Swe-Danes tillsammans med de danska musikanterna Svend Asmussen och Ulrik Neumann och 1958 blev hon Sveriges första representant i den europeiska melodifestivalen med sången “Lilla stjärna” som i finalen slutade fyra. 1963 inledde hon ett samarbete med Duke Ellington, som kallade henne “en kompositörs dröm” och sade att ”hon har all värme, livsglädje, rytm och tragik som för mig är jazzens innersta hemlighet”. Känslan fanns i den mångsidiga och speciella klockrena rösten och hennes känsla för jazz, blues och gospel. Lägg så till att hon hade ett ovanligt stort tonomfång, enligt henne själv tre och en halv oktav.
Alice och maken Nils Ivar (Nenne) Sjöblom flyttade till Costa del Sol i Spanien där Alice ägnade sig bl.a. åt golf och att vara kyrkvärd i Nordiska kyrkoförsamligen. De bodde där i dryga 30 år innan ohälsa fick dem att återvända till Sverige. Alice fick en stroke 2004 och året därpå flyttade de tillbaka till Sverige. Alice och Nils Ivar hade gift sig den 15 april 1944 och producerade raskt tre barn. 1972 tilldelades Alice Babs som första icke-operaartist titeln “hovsångerska” och 1974 utsågs hon till ledamot av Musikaliska Akademien. Hennes karriär kom att omfatta runt 800 inspelningar: förutom jazz och schlager även barnvisor, kyrkosång, klassiskt och joddling. 2008 kom tv-dokumentären ” Alice Babs, naturröstens hemlighet”. 2012 drabbades Alice av ännu en stroke och senare meddelade familjen att hon fått diagnosen Alzheimers. I den mycket tveksamma tv-filmen ”Alice Babs förlorade rättigheter” påstås att hon inte fick träffa sina vänner, som ansåg sig uteslutna ur hennes liv av familjekretsen. Vissa menade rent av att hon var inlåst på demensboendet mot sin vilja. Ett trist slut som förhoppningsvis inte skall skymma minnet av en stor konstnärs liv.
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April 2014 19
[Design]
Hemma hos Best of the 2014 Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair By Kristi Robinson
N
ew and original, familiar with a twist, it was all on display over five days in early February at the 63rd annual Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair. The fair brings together designers from all over the world to reveal the fruits of their creative endeavors. For over a decade now a chosen designer has been commissioned to take on the coveted role of designing the lounge area in the entrance hall of Stockholmsmässan, where the fair takes place. This year’s guest of honor, the first Nordic designers to have this distinction, was Danish-Italian studio GamFratesi with their installation titled ‘Balance’. Multicolored pedallike shapes made from textiles hung from the ceiling like oversized mobiles. The dynamic shapes emphasized the movements of the fair’s visitors, while acting as sound absorbers, and also dividing the large space into more intimate area lounge areas. New this year was the ‘Twelve’ area, where 12 established and high profile Scandinavian designers in the fields of product, textiles, and furniture design exhibited together in one space. Swede Lisa Hilland was one of the deserving
‘Bow Sofa’ by Lisa Hilland for Gemla. © Gemla
dozen with her design of ‘Bow Sofa’ for Gemla, Sweden’s oldest furniture company producing bent wood since the 1800’s. Made from steam-bent ash and organically tanned leather, the sofa embraces the Swedish motto of beauty in simplicity. Another ‘Twelve’ exhibitor that created a lot of excitement was Stockholm-based design duo Färg & Blanche, who were responsible for bringing innovation to the fair with their wood tailored furniture. Using
‘Layer Chair’ by Färg & Blanche. Photo: Färg & Blanche
an industrial sewing machine they stitched together leather and plywood. Färg & Blanche’s ‘Pocket Cupboard’ had leather pockets stitched to the outside of the cabinet doors to provide extra storage and a modern
aesthetic. Their ‘Layer Armchair’ took wood tailoring a step further by sewing layer upon layer of thick plywood in different shades together to create the look of a topographical map. The result is a wonderfully organic pattern that, as articulated by the designers, “resembles the growth of wood”. Full of the anticipation of making industry connections and leaving their mark in the ‘Flesh chair’ by Nanna design world is Kiil. Photo: The Royal the Greenhouse Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Design area, vibrant with the fresh energy of independent and student designers from across Scandinavia. One of the most talked about pieces from not just the Greenhouse but the entire furniture fair, was that of Nanna Kiil of The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Design. With the shar-pei as her muse she created the ‘Flesh Chair’, a voluptuous and amusingly humanlike chair using large amounts of foam folded over on itself. Kiil was exploring the balance of an undesirable form with something that can embrace the user with its comfortable volumes. Looking at the trends from the fair, this year was full of natural wood and a subdued color palette. With the overall vibe a little more toned-down, the result was classic taste combined with down to earth cool.
‘Balance’ by GamFratesi. Photo: Stockholmsmässan
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April 2014 20
[Treats] I
à la Laurel
am a third-generation Swedish/Irish/English woman, Canadianized. I am very happy to have such colourful, fascinating roots. Swedish culture was quite prominent around the edges of my life, growing up. My grandparents used extremely emphatic words while playing cards – an intriguing entry to the Swedish language. Celebrations were wonderful; Christmas with candles, prickly fir trees draped with blue and yellow paper flags, crinkly dresses, loud laughter and over all wild confusion as we youngsters charged throughout grandpa’s house – adults all the while debating vociferously, fuelled with glögg, herring and bursting smörgåsbords. Summer at grandpa’s cottage at Lake Brereton in the Whiteshell was simply heaven on earth. Part of the self was determined by the inky black lake, the lure of the rocky canyon, its wild tiger lilies, and deliciously scary nights spent whispering on the verandah while the wind bent the Jack Pines. Special mornings delivered giant Swedish pancakes from a cast iron pan on a wood stove, heating up the cabin like a sauna. Later, I yearned to live in the country – a dream that came true and where I enjoyed the childhood of my two beautiful daughters. They too inherited the love of nature and
family gatherings. The urge for family revival led to a hilarious reunion of relatives in 2001, on my father’s side – the Anderson and Roos clans. Those reunions continue to be precious. Eventually, everything came mysteriously together from a past that almost disappeared, to a resurrection of family ancestors, tales, achievements, memories and
loves – through the re-discovery of the poetry of my Swedish grandfather. What a gift it has been to awaken those remarkable Scandinavian roots! By Laurel Anderson McCallum
Salmon Turnovers Ingredients: • ½ package Lax Filé from Ikea (2 frozen fillets) • 6 frozen puff pastry squares • ¼ cup bread crumbs • salt, pepper • dried dill • 1 egg
METHOD • Thaw the puff pastry squares • Partially thaw the salmon fillets • Mix up ¼ cup dry bread crumbs with pepper, salt and dry dill to taste • Cut each partially frozen fillet into 3 portions • Take the small chunk of salmon and place it on the pastry square • Add some of the breadcrumb mixture on top of the salmon • Fold the square over into a triangle and pinch the edges together • Make a cross on the top of the turnover • Brush the edges and top with raw beaten egg Bake: Place turnovers on baking sheet in a 400oF oven for 25 min. Serve: With a favorite sauce if desired, like mushroom, cream with dill, HP, or simply plain.
Grandma’s Apple Pie Ingredients: • 5 apples • ¼ cup white sugar • ¼ cup brown sugar • 1/3 cup flour • 1/8 tsp salt • 1 tsp cinnamon • ½ tsp nutmeg • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 1 tablespoon butter • 2 tablespoons cream
This one is really delicious! It’s a lovely addition to any family gathering. METHOD • Core and peel the apples; slice into about ¼ inch thick slices; set aside • In a large bowl, mix sugars, flour, spices and salt • Add the apple slices to the dry mixture and toss them to cover with mixture • Put the mixture into an unbaked pie shell that has been pricked in several places to prevent shrinking of pastry • Dot the apple mixture with butter, lemon juice and cream • Cover with a top pastry; cut slits or designs into the top; seal the edges. Bake: Bake in a 425 oF oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375 oF and bake for another 20 – 30 minutes. This is lovely served warm with vanilla ice-cream.
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April 2014 21
LÄR DIG SVENSKA Glad = Happy, Påsk = Easter: Glad Påsk!
E
aster in Sweden is quite different from the North American Easter traditions. In this issue of Swedish Press, the vocabulary will be about Swedish Easter and you can test yourself in the quiz to see what you know about the Swedish traditions. Correct answers will be found on Swedish Press website in the Swedish2go blog, or in the next edition of Swedish Press. In the blog you can also view a video about Swedish Easter and learn more about the Swedish language. Ord om påsk (Words about Easter) Skärtorsdag – Maundy Thursday Långfredag – Good Friday Påskafton – Easter Saturday Påskdagen – Easter Sunday Annandag påsk – Easter Monday Påskkärring – Easter witch Påskbrev – Easter letters, drawings/ paintings made by children, handed out to the neighbourhood houses. Påskris – Easter decoration of a sprig of twigs (often from birch) decorated with colourful feathers. Påsklov – Easter break Påskmust – Special kind of soda that we drink at Easter. Påskägg – Beautiful egg made of cardboard, filled with candy. Påskhare – Easter bunny (this is generally not as strong a tradition as in North America) Åsa Bouck is the Swedish language teacher for Swedish Press and also the owner of Swedish2go, a web-based company that provides you with video material and quizzes to help you learn Swedish anywhere and anytime. Right now Swedish2go has special spring discounts so don’t miss out, click onto the website: www.swedish2go.com.
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April 2014 22
Fråga läraren Hej Åsa! I have a question for you. I saw a sentence that looked like this: “Nu är vi färdiga.” I don’t understand why we use “färdiga” instead of “färdig”. There is no noun in this question. Why is the adjective changing form? It is correct that an adjective is changing its form to an –a ending in the plural form of the nouns. However, this rule also applies when we use pronouns. Therefore we say: Jag är glad. – Vi är glada. / Jag är färdig. – De är färdiga. Here is another question, for the more advanced Swedish learners after learning about prepositions in the last number of Swedish Press. To challenge your Swedish, the question and answer is written in Swedish. Framför/Bakom och Före/Efter – vad är skillnaden och när ska man använda vilket ord? På Swedish2go’s medlemssida med grammatikfilmer finns en video som handlar om prepositioner i rummet. Dessa prepositioner beskriver en placering av saker eller personer. Ex-
empelvis: Bordet står framför/bakom soffan. Här kan vi inte säga före/efter. Före/efter handlar oftare om tid: Världsmästaren kom i mål före alla andra tävlande. Eller: Mamman kom hem efter de andra i familjen, eftersom hon hade stannat och handlat mat. Här kan vi inte säga framför/bakom. Före/efter kan också användas när vi pratar om ordning: Ursäkta, men jag stod före dig i kön. I den här situationen skulle vi faktiskt också kunna använda framför, eftersom det inte bara är en ordning, utan också en placering. Ett annat exempel: Alla barn måste gå efter sin lärare, när de promenerar till biblioteket. Också här kan vi byta prepositionen till placeringsprepositionen bakom. På engelska kan dessa ord ofta (men inte alltid) översättas så här: • Framför = In front of • Bakom = Behind • Före = Before • Efter = After Prepositioner är komplicerade, i nästan alla språk. Det här ger grundförklaringarna (the basic explanations), men det finns alltid många undantag (=exceptions). Hoppas det hjälpte lite!
What do you know about the Swedish Easter traditions? Test yourself! 1. What do Swedish children traditionally do at Easter? A. They hide eggs made of cardboard B. They dress up as Easter witches and hand out Easter letters to the neighbourhood houses. C. They do trick or treat at Easter instead of Halloween. 2. What do Swedes eat as their big Easter meal? A. Eggs, and only eggs. Sometimes with caviar from a tube.
B. Lots of eggs as part of a big smörgåsbord. C. Ham and egg cooked together with some pickled herring. 3. Which day do Swedes celebrate the most? A. Skärtorsdag B. Påskafton C. Påskdagen 4. Easter bunny = A. Påskkärring B. Påskkanin C. Påskhare
Correct answers from Swedish Press March 2014: Match the phrase: 1E, 2J, 3F, 4I, 5A, 6H, 7D, 8C, 9G, 10B. Underline the prepositions + Translate for the situation: 1: hos, på = at, for 2: utan = without 3: på = to 4: i = during 5: på, på = for, on 6: på = n/a 7: till = with
B A R N SIDAN Do you know Pippi Longstocking? Tracing your family’s roots
Finding fun ways to trace your family’s genealogy is a great way to help kids learn about their roots and the past in general. Create your own family tree Most genealogy websites will have simple family tree templates you can print off for free and fill in (for example, http://familytree-template.org). But why not get creative and paint a huge, wall-sized tree with each family member written on an apple or flower? Or create a mobile out of old wire coat hangers with photos of each relation hanging from threads.
She’s smart, she’s sassy and she’s unfeasibly strong – Pippi Longstocking has entertained and inspired children for generations. Astrid Lindgren’s heroine is now coming to Philadelphia for an interactive new exhibition at the American Swedish Historical Museum, opening on March 23. Visitors can explore Pippi’s house, Villa Villekulla, lift her horse and go on a ‘Thing Finding’ adventure. www.americanswedish.org.
Interview the older generation There’s nothing like the anecdotes and memories of older family members for helping create a record of the past, and it’s a nice reason to bring the older and younger generations together. Help your child compile a list of questions to ask, take along photographs or letters as ‘memory joggers’ and remember to make a recording of the interview.
Go on a journey of discovery If you happen to still live in the same area as your ancestors, plan a journey of discovery with your kids, visiting gravestones (make grave ‘rubbings’ with crayons on paper while you’re there), family homes and local libraries. If your roots are abroad, plan a ‘virtual’ trip (which you may well take some day), using online maps, images and sources.
Calling all cartoonists!
Are you a budding artist or aspiring cartoonist? We invite all our young readers to enter our cartoon competition. Your cartoon can be about anything, but must have a Swedish angle. Email your entry to: info@ swedishpress.com by April 10, 2014. The winner will see their work published on May’s Barnsidan page.
Make a scrapbook Set aside some free time (this activity will take much longer than you planned!) and pull out those boxes and files of old family papers and photographs from the garage or attic. Select interesting photos, letters and documents and help your child make a family scrapbook. Nb. Use a book with acid-free paper and permanent markers to ensure memories are preserved forever.
Graphics by Ingrid Vang Nyman
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BOHUSLÄN När kommunen rustade upp lekplatsen på Opalvägen på Fasseröd i Uddevalla hamnade den populära dataspels-figuren Angry Birds på lek-redskapen. Olämpligt och obegripligt, tycker en del besökare. Inget konstigt alls, tycker man på Parkavdelningen. Två gungdjur på lekplatsen har fått det kända ansiktet. Dessutom täcks sidorna på några soffor samt papperskorgen av Angry Birds-figuren. Föremålen kostade 51 000 kronor.
Foto: Lasse Edwartz
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En elev på Mjällby skola i Sölvesborg har inte fått det stöd han behöver. Det slår Skolinspektionen fast efter en omfattande utredning. Det var elevens föräldrar som anmälde skolan för att den 8-åriga pojken vid flera tillfällen utsattes för kränkande behandling av personal och elever. Tvisten mellan pojkens föräldrar och skolförvaltningen i Sölvesborg har pågått i flera år. Föräldrarna och skolan ger skilda bilder av vad som har inträffat vid de anmälda tillfällena. Nu ska Sölvesborgs kommun vidta åtgärder så att elevens rätt till särskilt stöd tillgodoses.
En kvinna som skulle riva ut en väggfast garderob från sin lägenhet på Kungsholmen fick sitt livs överraskning. Under garderoben låg en plastpåse med en uppstoppad krokodil. Kvinnan har bott i sin lägenhet i tre år. Hon anlitade hantverkare som rev bort garderoben medan hon var på jobbet. När hon kom hem på eftermiddagen låg den meterlånga, högst verklighetstrogna, krokodilen på golvet i en genomskinlig plastpåse. Djuret har nu lämnats in till Skansen.
Åsa-Helena Bjärenäs, 32 år, är inte välkommen ombord på Malmös stadsbussar. Nu DO-anmäler hon Skånetrafiken för att de förbjuder människor på elrullstol med styre. Häromveckan skulle Åsa-Helena, som är i behov av sin elskoter för att kunna förflytta sig utomhus, ta linje 5 in till centrum från St Knut där hon bor. Men när hon skulle gå ombord sade busschauffören att hon inte fick åka med. Åsa-Lena struntade i busschauffören och rullade ombord. När hon kom hem googlade hon vad som gäller för elskotrar på bussen och blev varse att föreskrifterna säger att de på grund av säkerhetsskäl är totalförbjudna. I reglerna anges exakta mått och vikter för olika förflyttningshjälpmedel som får medtas på resan. Exempelvis får de max väga 300 kilo, vara 70 centimeter breda och 120 centimeter långa. Åsa-Lenas olika skotrar väger inte ens hälften så mycket och klarar centimetermåtten med råge. Men de har styren och sådana är förbjudna ombord.
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Kritikerna undrar varför kommunen köpt in något som är direktriktad reklam mot barn. Man har alltså betalat för att ha företagets logotyper på en kommunal lekpark. Angry Birds är ett så kallat pusselspel för mobiler och spelkonsoler som utvecklats av det finländska datorspelsföretaget Rovio och som sedan lanseringen för fem år sedan har närmare två miljarder nedladdningar. Spelet har dessutom gett upphov till en mängd leksaker och kringartiklar riktade till barn. JÄMTLAND
Östersunds kommun begick inget miljöbrott när parasiten Cryptosporidium spreds i dricksvattnet för tre år sedan, enligt tingsrättens dom. Kommunen slipper alltså betala de sex miljoner åklagaren hade yrkat på – hälften i företagsbot, hälften i så kallat förverkande. Förverkande handlar om vad kommunen bedöms ha sparat på att inte investera i en säkerhetsbarriär. Det var första gången i Sverige som parasiten spreds via råvatten. Uppåt 30 000 personer blev magsjuka och kommuninvånarna tvingades koka kranvattnet i tre månader. Tingsrätten anser inte att det funnits några regler för barriärer mot föroreningar. Det är inte bevisat att det 2010 fanns kunskap om risken för parasitangrepp. Efter utbrottet installerade kommunen en UV-ljusanläggning för skydd mot parasiten, men inte ens i dag är experterna eniga om att just UV-behandlingen är den bästa tekniken, skriver tingsrätten i sin dom. 30
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LAPPLAND
verksamhet och utpressning, enligt polisen. Att gängen nu ligger i strid bottnar i att flera ledande Cobra-medlemmar häktades för narkotikabrott för drygt en månad sedan. Då såg Romano sin chans att expandera. Samtidigt har Bandidos kommit till stan för att markera att de stöttar sin supporterklubb Romano. Polisen befarar nu att Bandidos kan dras in på allvar, vilket skulle innebära att kriget skulle hamna på en helt ny nivå, och bli nationellt.
NORRBOTTEN
VÄSTERBOTTEN
JÄMTLAND
HÄRJEDALEN
ÅNGERMANLAND
MEDELPAD HÄLSINGLAND
DALARNA GÄSTRIKLAND UPPLAND VÄSTMANLAND Stockholm VÄRMLAND SÖDERMANNÄRKE LAND DALSLAND ÖSTERGÖTLAND BOHUSLAND VÄSTERGöteborg GÖTLAND GOTLAND SMÅLAND HALLAND ÖLAND SKÅNE
BLEKINGE
NÄRKE Gängkriget mellan gängen Black Cobra och Romano är det värsta i Örebros historia och nu har våldet flyttat ut bland vanliga människor på gatan. Fyrverkerier, hann en butiksägare tänka när han hörde två höga smällar utanför. Men ljudet var i själva verket pistolskott. Kort efter att de avfyrats segnade en 25-årig man ned på marken framför chockade vittnen på Drottning gatan i centrala Örebro. Dagen efter var det helt tomt i butikerna. Många Örebrobor är rädda för att av misstag hamna i skottlinjen. Vem som sköt 25-åringen är fortfarande oklart. Men då offret tillhör gänget Romano är en av teorierna att motivet finns i gängkonflikten som blossat upp i länet. Både Black Cobra och Romano har funnits i länet under flera års tid. Black Cobra har de senaste åren stärkt sin ställning i Örebro och tjänar pengar på alltifrån narkotika till beskyddar44
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We are the Swedish Club
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När Lunds kommun skulle namnge en park i nya stadsdelen Solbjer föll ögonen på namnet Lovelace. Vid Solbjer ligger bland annat Ericssons stora anläggning och där har kvarter, gator och torg i flera fall fått namn med anknytning till tekniska verksamheter. Det aktuella namnet skulle vara en hyllning till Ada Lovelace, världens första programmerare. Men vad ingen tänkte på är att den mest kända Lovelace heter Linda i förnamn och var en av världens mest kända porraktriser. Risken för att parken skulle få namnet porrparken i folkmun var uppenbar. Nu har kommunen backat från förslaget och ett alternativ är att parken kort och gott ges namnet Ada-parken.
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Stop by for lunch or dinner on Fridays.
SMÅLAND En undersköterska på ett äldreboende i Växjö kommun anklagas för att ha stoppat in en tejprulle i munnen på en dement omsorgstagare. Undersköterskan ska ha agerat på samma sätt flera gånger för att dämpa omsorgstagarens aggressivitet. Anställda inom omsorgen är skyldiga att rapportera missförhållanden och det var en av undersköterskans kolleger som slog larm om hennes behandling av omsorgstagaren. 54
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The Swedish Club New members welcome! 1920 Dexter Ave. N. Seattle, 98109
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206.283.1090 www.swedishclubnw.org Visit us on Facebook
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D I R E C T O R Y
A D S Books by
Donald White
Grandson of Swedish Immigrants
TROUT ROCK LODGE
Call for our free catalog and order online at www.ingebretsens.com 612-729 9333 • 1-800-279 9333 info@ingebretsens.com
Preserve, Present and Promote Swedish Immigrant Heritage
World Class Aurora Viewing and Trophy Pike fishing on Great Slave Lake, NWT Contact: Ragnar Wesstrom www.enodah.com 867-873 4334
Need a Dala Horse or Tomte? Check out the great selection of Scandinavian gifts, imports and goodies in our catalog or at:
www.hemslojd.com
800-779 3344 or 785-227 2983 PO Box 152 • 201 N Main St Lindsborg KS 67456 USA
The Lady in the Willows and Her Nest of Spies
The Day the Snow Fell Up Written by Donald R. White Illustrated by Darlene Kemery
The Day the Snow Fell Up Death in Plain Sight Order from Amazon.com
Established 1972 Elim Lutheran Church
5 Historic Buildings tell the story of Swedish Immigrant life in Minnesota
www.gammelgardenmuseum.org Visit our website for Tours, Festivals, Events & Programs
Museum/Butik open May 1—Dec 23, 2014 Historic Building Tours: May– mid-Oct Tour Groups Welcome: Luncheon Tours Available! 651-433-5053 * 20880 Olinda Trail N. Scandia, MN 55073
Founded in 1981
Swenson Center
Augustana College Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Phone 309-794 7204 sag@augustana.edu www.augustana.edu/sag
Nordic Roots Adventures
Custom Guided Genealogy Tours of Scandinavia Steven Persson 720.438.8670 nordicrootsadventures@gmail.com
www.nordicrootsadventures.com
Dr. Bo I Höglund
Certified Specialist in Orthodontics Orthodontic applicances, braces and invisible braces for children and adults. White Rock/South Surrey/Whistler Phone: 1 888 535 3028 www.whiterockortho.com
Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center National archives and library for Swedish-American historical research Publishers of Swedish American Genealogist 639 38th Street | Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Telephone 309.794.7204 www.augustana.edu/swenson
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Local Community News in Swedish North America
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Mixed-media exhibit is modern take on immigrant stories of past – “Mapping Empty Spaces,” a mixed-multimedia installation created by Swedish artist Peter Hammar, opened March 6 at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark Street, Chicago, for an indefinite stay. Born and raised in Stockholm, Hammar has developed concepts that reflect a modern take on the immigrant experiences that are illustrated in the Museum’s permanent archival exhibit, “A Dream of America – Swedish Immigration to Chicago.” In his first solo presentation in Chicago, the artist attempts to reexamine, with a twist, some universal questions about past and present, loss and gain, absence, selective memory, myths and popular Swedish culture. In Hammar’s view, “Mapping Empty Spaces” is a minimal, pop-infused presentation that includes found materials and a video projection about a home to which one cannot return and that may never have been. Nostalgia for the lost places of a person’s past is reflected in an assemblage of enlarged and distorted passport photographs. 8
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Hammar believes that his mixed-media sculptures and suggestive installation speak both to permanence and to the fleeting moment, and are posited on various distortions of time. The artist has a master of fine arts degree from Florida International University in Miami, where he has lived and worked for a decade. He also has an arts degree from Beckman’s School of Design in Stockholm. A recent honorable mention recipient in the Miami New Times Mastermind Award competition, Hammar won a grand prize in an Art Takes Miami contest last year.
Seattle Northern Lights Auktion Set for May 10 at the Grand Hyatt – The 29th Annual Northern Lights Auktion benefitting the Nordic Heritage Museum will be held on Saturday, May 10 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Seattle. From bottles of rare aquavit to lavish vacation packages, the auction features
hundreds of one-of-a-kind silent and live auction items ready to go home with the highest bidder. This year’s auction is a celebration of mothers, and the perfect opportunity for guests to pamper the special lady in their lives and find some great Mother’s Day presents. Many of the auction items are Nordic, including pieces by Nordic artists, bottles of cloudberry liqueur, and enticing Nordic dinners! Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with a champagne reception and silent auction, which closes in stages until dinner is served at 6:45 p.m. During the meal, guests will enjoy a rousing live auction, as well as a tribute to Einar Pedersen, exiting Vice-President of the Board of Trustees, and his wife Emma, both long-time supporters of the Nordic Heritage Museum. Tickets for the 29th Annual Northern Lights Auktion are $100 for each guest through April 25, and $125 after April 25; reserve a table for 10 for $1,000. For more information call Katy Ahrens at 206-789 5707, ext. 33.
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Guide to interesting and fun events in Swedish North America
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Nordic Lodge # 708, Atlanta Tel: 770-392 0528 www.vasaorderatlanta.org Apr 30 – Wednesday 3:00 to 9:00 pm: Valborgsmässoafton at Lutherwood, Lake Allatoona, near Acworth off Sandtown Rd. Games, canoeing, potluck food, bonfire, Vasa Drängar will sing Swedish spring songs.
CHICAGO
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Swedish American Museum 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640 Tel: 773-728 8111 | info@samac.org www.swedishamericanmuseum.org Apr 3 – Thursday 1 and 7 pm: Free viewing of Swedish film, “Offside.” Apr 6, 13 – Sunday 10 to 11 am: Bullerbyn, a time for children of ages 6 months to 5 years to speak and sing in Swedish with adults. Apr 8 – Tuesday 6 pm: Annual Meeting and dinner at which Museum volunteers will be honored. Apr 11 – Friday 5 to 9 pm: Preview party for the next day’s Tantalizing Treasures Sale, with bidding on selected items. Apr 12 – Saturday 8 am to 5 pm: Biannual benefit Tantalizing Treasures Sale of jewelry, collectibles, furniture, children’s toys and more. Apr 13 – Sunday 1 to 3:30 pm: Scandinavian Jam with instruction by Mary Allsopp and Paul Tyler; guests are invited to bring instruments and participate. Apr 19 – Saturday 6 pm: Swedish Easter buffet, a traditional smörgåsbord. Apr 26 – Saturday 10 am to 12 noon: Nordic Family Genealogy Center program, “The Viking Discovery of America” with Swedish-American scholar James Borg, a collector of Viking antiquities. Apr 26 – Saturday 1 pm: Guided tour of the permanent exhibit, “A Dream of America – Swedish Immigration to Chicago.”
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Swedish Club of Southeast Mich. 22398 Ruth Street, Farmington Hills MI 48336 | Info: 734-459 0596 www.swedishclub.net Apr 6 – Sunday 1 to 2:30 pm: Buffet 8
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MINNEAPOLIS
American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 Tel: 612-871 4907 | info@ASImn.org www.asimn.org Continuing through Saturday April 26 – Metatranslations: Ed Bok Lee’s Intervention in ASI’s Library and Archives. Continuing through Sunday May 25 – Papercut! The Incredible Psaligraphy of Karen Bit Vejle – Discover the incredible psaligraphy of this Danish-Norwegian. Continuing through April 26 – Entangled Introductions: The Work of Sonja Peterson
NEW YORK
SACC – New York 570 Lexington Avenue, 20th Floor New York, NY 10022 Tel +1 212 838 5530 | info@saccny.org www.saccny.org Apr 15 – Tuesday 12 to 2 pm: Speaker luncheon feat. H.E Jan Eliasson Deputy Secretary-General of the UN. For further information contact Anna Aggeryd, ann. aggeryd@saccny.org.
the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame. He’ll team up with bassist Jeff Davies for an evening of elegance at our Happy Hour. During dinner, Kurt Armbruster, author of Before Seattle Rocked: A City and Its Music will fill us in on the contributions of Scandinavians to Seattle’s musical history. Nordic Heritage Museum 3014 N.W. 67th Street, Seattle, WA 98117 Tel: 206-789 5707 | nordic@nordicmuseum.org www.nordicmuseum.org Continuing through Sunday April 27 – Pull, Twist, Blow: Transforming the Kingdom of Glass introduces the work of young, innovative Swedish glass artists. Continuing through Sunday Jun 1 – Nordic Chamber Music Series (the 19th Season) – the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series and Smörgåsbord will bring musicians from the Nordic countries to Seattle.
American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145 | Tel: 215-389 1776 info@americanswedish.org Apr 13 – Sunday 2 to 4 pm: Easter Workshop and Egg Hunt – Introduce your little ones to Swedish Easter traditions. Free for members and children 2 years and under, $8 for non-members. Pay at the door. Apr 26 – Saturday 7 to 9:30 pm: Valborg Bonfire and Choir Concert – Welcome Spring in typical Swedish fashion, with a lively bonfire and a performance by the Swedish Museum Singers. Register by phone or online or pay at the door.
SEATTLE
WINNIPEG
Swedish Cultural Center 1920 Dexter Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 Tel: 206-283 1090 info@swedishculturalcenter.org www.swedishclubnw.org Apr 4 – Friday 7:30 pm: First Friday Jazz. At 77, pianist Overton Berry is a member of 18
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Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC V5B 4P9 Tel: 604-294 2777 info@scandinaviancentre.org Apr 12-13 – Saturday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturday evening at 7 pm: Nordic Spirit 2014: The Home Front – The hugely popular Nordic Cultural Weekend will take place on April 12 & 13th. Class Fees are only $10 per day. Please register by April 6th. Contact Carolyn Thauberger cthauber12@gmail.com or Judith Anderson judithanderson@shaw.ca. May 3 – Saturday 8:30 am to 3 pm: Spring Clean-Up – This is a great way to meet the other volunteers, and to get to know the Centre from top to bottom! 60 participants is the number to beat – that’s how many showed up last fall! Breakfast by the Finnish War Veterans at 8:30. Lunch provided by Sweden House to follow.
PHILADEPHIA
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Scandinavian Cultural Centre 764 Erin Street, Winnipeg, MB R3G 2W4 Tel: 204-774 8047 scandinaviancc@shawcable.com www.scandinaviancentre.ca April 27 – Sunday 11 am: Brunch hosted by the Swedish Canadian Club 28
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[Ads] & Info Alberta Organizations Svenska Skolan i Calgary bedriver undervisning för barn 3-15 år gamla på lördagar kl 9:30-12. Alla barn är välkomna. Undervisningen sker på svenska. Kontakta Svenska Skolan genom Scandinavian center 403-284 2610 eller skicka epost till contact@swedishschool.com. Läs mer om vår skola på www.swedishschool.com
Swedish Press Classified: The Fast and Inexpensive Way to Buy, Sell or Tell
Gustav Vasa Place. Please contact Prop. Mgr. for viewing. Pres. C. Hulten, Vice Pres. T. Edlund, Treas. K. McLean, Secr. D. Carlson.
Victoria BC Organizations Swedish Club of Victoria Meetings held third Wednesday of each month at 1110 Hillside Ave. Contact Annabelle Beresford 250-656 9586.
BC Organizations
Washington Organizations
Scandinavian Business Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month. New members welcome. Phone Ben Marklund 604524 2915. Visit us at www.sbc-bc.ca
Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle, 3014 N.W. 67th St., Ballard 206-789 5707 Open Tuesday – Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm, Sundays 12 noon to 4 pm. Monday closed.
Scandinavian Community Centre Beautiful setting for weddings, parties, birthdays, meetings and seminars. 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC info@scandinaviancentre.org 604-294-2777 www.scandinaviancentre.org
Swedish Cultural Center 1920 Dexter Ave., N, Seattle, WA 98109; Tel: 206-283 1090. Open MonFri. Pancake breakfasts on first Sundays. Catering available for all events.
Svenska Kulturföreningen Ordförande Monica Olofsson, 604-987 6086. Kassör är Linda Olofsson, 604418 7703 www.swedishculturalsociety.ca Email:swedishculturalsociety. ca@gmail.com Svenska Skolan En gång i veckan för barn mellan 3 och 14 år. Ordförande Mia Logie 604-725 8431, Administratör Anette Anastacio svenskaskolanvancouver @gmail.com
Classified Sales Representatives Wanted Swedish Press is looking for full or part-time advertising sales representatives. Great commission rates offered. To apply e-mail advertise@ swedishpress.com.
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Sista Ordet From Gränum to The Gift Shop: the life of Lennart Jönsson By Maria and Hans Jönsson
N
ils Erik Lennart Jönsson, born October 30, 1924 in Växjö, Sweden, was the first born child of Sven and Ida (Nilsson) Jönsson. The oldest of three siblings, sisters Svea and Marianne were born in 1930 and 1935. The Jönsson family owned and operated two general stores, a bakery/café, and a taxi service in Gränum, in the province of Blekinge. After finishing his general education, Lennart (as he was known) enrolled at Sigtuna Folkhögskola (folk-college) for one year during WW II. He also served for a year and a half in the Swedish Armed Forces and was on active duty when victory was declared in Europe in May of 1945.
After the war, Lennart operated the family taxi service and planned trips for locals throughout Scandinavia and other European countries. Novelist Sven Edvin Salje from Jämshög was one of his more famous passengers. Lennart even delivered a baby during one of his taxi rides. Other interests included scouting, photography, hiking and skiing, especially in the mountainous regions of Scandinavia. Lennart loved his family and country, but times were tough. He was ready for a new adventure and dreamed of emigrating to the United States, where
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many opportunities were available for immigrants during the 1950s. Fortunately, an aunt who lived in St. Charles was related to Edythe Anderson, founder and owner of The Gift Box in Geneva, Illinois. Edythe’s uncle August lived in a cottage in Farabol, not far from Gränum. In 1954, Lennart boarded the M.S. Kungsholmen ship in Gothenburg, destined for New York City. After settling in St. Charles, he worked various jobs around the Fox River Valley. Edythe eventually hired Lennart to help her run the shop. His knowledge of Sweden, Scandinavia, and giftware was a great asset. In 1965, Cole Travel Service was incorporated into the retail space and Lennart’s travel planning skills were put to successful use. After placing a personal ad in a Swedish magazine, Lennart met and fell in love with Ingrid Alm, the daughter of a Swedish Lutheran minister from Uppland. He convinced her to move to America in 1959, and in April of 1960, they were married at Geneva Lutheran Church. In the following years, they raised two children, Maria and Hans, and incorporated many Swedish traditions into their daily lives. The Jönsson family spent many vacations visiting family and friends in Sweden. Their alternate summer getaway, closer to home, was the beautiful Door County peninsula in Wisconsin. In 1984, Lennart took ownership of The Gift Box and turned it into what it is today. He also continued to manage
Cole Travel Service until 2012. He had a passion for all things Swedish and enjoyed helping people plan trips to Scandinavia, just as he had done in the past. He loved telling stories and educating people about all the Swedish goods in the store. He was an important part of the community and an ambassador for Swedish culture. Ingrid passed away in 2007. Lennart found the strength to go on through the love of his family, his businesses, and all the wonderful people who worked for him. Many employees became part of his extended family and helped him out when Maria was in New Mexico and Hans was in Florida. Lennart continued to work as much as he was able, even up to his last days. He even made several trips back to Sweden after Ingrid’s passing, particularly to visit his loving sisters, Svea and Marianne. Even though an ocean separated them, he maintained a close relationship with them throughout his life. They both looked up to him and were proud of their older brother. He will return to Sweden one final time to rest in eternal peace together with Ingrid in their chosen plot at Kyrkhult Church in Blekinge. We cherished every moment with you beloved father. We spread our wings and followed our dreams as you did years ago. You will not be forgotten. Love from your children, Maria and Hans
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Press Byran 1 Swedish Antiques
2 The Nordic Diet
O
3 Swedish Cakes
4 Swedish Fairy Tales
5 Traditional Cooking
$34 $24 $35
$24
$24
This inspiring full-colour guide highlights the rich traditions of Swedish furniture and décor. Hardcover 192 pages, with beautiful photographs, size: 8.5”x11”
It’s all about eating locallysourced ingredients in a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates and good fats. Softcover, 144 pages, size: 8” x 10”
6 Scandinavian Classics
7 Swedish Desserts
The only book you need to master the delicious art of baking and decorating Swedish goodies. Hardcover, 192 pages, with nearly 300 recipes, size: 6” x 8.25”.
8 Alice Babs 2 CDs
Spellbinding art by Sweden’s greatest fairytale illustrator, John Bauer, brings the enchanted world of folk-tales to life. Hardcover, 254 pages
9 Dragspelsmästare
A “culinary treasure” by popular author Caroline Hofberg. Hardcover, 196 pages, size: 9.5” x 10.9”, 200 full colour photographs will inspire any cooks.
10 Cornelis Vreeswijk
$39 $24
$29 As one of Sweden’s hottest chefs, Niklas Ekstedt shares with us his favourite traditional dishes. Hardcover, 256 full colour pages, 126 photographs, size: 7.8” x 9.5”.
$35
Item 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Cost
Swedish Antiques The Nordic Diet Swedish Cakes and Cookies Swedish Fairy Tales Traditional Swedish Cooking Scandinavian Classics Swedish Desserts Alice Babs 2 CDs Svenska Dragspelsmästare Cornelis Vreeswijk 2 CDs Alice Babs 2 CDs + 1 DVD
$35
The best of Scandinavia’s favourite singer on 2 CDs, or purchase a new documentary DVD about Alice Babs for the same price!
A beautifully illustrated guide with 80 recipes by Cecilia Vikbladh to baking traditional Swedish desserts. Hardcover, 128 pages, size: 6.4” x 8.6”.
Pcs
Total
$ 35 $ 24 $ 24 $ 24 $ 34 $ 29 $ 24 $ 35 $ 35 $ 39 $ 65 Sub-Total 1
1 year $ 35 1 year $ 28 1 year $105
2 years $ 65 2 years $ 50 2 years $200
One of the very best concerts ever with Cornelius Vreeswijk. Conny Söderlund on guitar and Owe Gustavsson on base. 2 CDs.
Item Pcs Cost 12. Trio Con Tromba 4 CDs $ 55 13. Sweden’s Greatest & Swedes on Love 2 CDs $ 35 14. 3 CDs + 1 DVD on Ruben Nilson $ 65 15. Swedish Bread and Pastries $ 34 16. Swedish Knits $ 24 17. Ten New Lives $ 21 18. The Big Book of Woonden Boat Restoration $ 29 19. Carl Larsson Birthday Calendar $ 10 20. Double Deck Sweden Playing Cards $ 15 21. Carta Marina in 1539 (14” x 10.25”) $ 15 22. S-sticker for the car and luggage $ 4 Sub-Total 2
Price includes shipping and handling in the US. Canadians must add $5.00 per item for shipping plus provincial and federal taxes. Print Digital Overseas
Double-CD with Swedish Masters of the Accordian plus Swedish text booklet presenting more than 40 recordings from 1906 to 1951.
Total
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★★★ ”Sweden’s best experience” – TR I P Global Award ★★★
Göta Canal is wending its way between the two largest cities in the country. On board the traditional canal boats, authentic Swedish style is combined with an atmosphere that harks back to the glory days of continental rail travel. Welcome on a magical journey!
This 4-day cruise will take you from coast to coast, from Gothenburg to Stockholm. The boat is moored every night, so you can experience the entire journey during the daylight hours. At a sedate pace you will enjoy the beautiful scenery that passes by on the other side of the railing. All meals are included in the price and are served in the elegantly laid dining room. Other highlights of the trip include: The impressive lock staircase in Trollhättan with a total drop of 32 m Läckö Castle Sweden’s smallest ferry, “Lina”, in Töreboda Forsvik with the oldest lock in the canal, built in 1813 The Carl-Johan lock staircase with seven connected locks
Price from $ 1.510* per person
from $ /person
Price from $ 2.825 *(6 days)
Incl. six days and five nights on board, full board and lodging. The boat makes nine stops for excursions/ sightseeing. Guiding.
The classic canal cruise
Price from $ 1.890 *(4 days)
Incl. four days and three nights on board, full board and lodging. The boat makes five stops for excursions/ sightseeing. Guiding.
Mini Canal Cruise
(4 days)
Incl. four days and three nights on board, full board and lodging. The boat makes one stop for an excursion/sightseeing. Guiding.
* Fare will be charged in local currency (SEK). See actual prices in SEK on www.gotacanal.se
full board
615
The great Swedish cruise
Coast to coast
• • • • •
ise incl 2 day cruing and lodg
Price from $ 615*(2 days)
Incl. two days and one night on board, full board and lodging. Guiding.
+46 (0)31-80 63 15 bookings@gotacanal.se www.gotacanal.se
*