An Englishman in Sweden

I found this funny blog about what it is like for and Englishman to live in Sweden. He writes about his everyday life in Sweden and compares it with what he is used to from home. His name is Jimmy and he is married to a Swedish woman.

http://jimmyinsweden.blogspot.se/


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New Year's Day - Ivanhoe

Happy New Year!! Gott Nytt År!!

Starting off the year by sharing a Swedish tradition. Since 1988 the screen version from 1982 of Walter Scott's story about the knight Ivanhoe has been shown in the afternoon of New Year's Day. The plot takes place in 12th century England where prince John is ruling the country in his brother's (Richard Lionheart) absence. Ivanhoe returns from fighting along side the king in the holy land and ends up fighting for both his life, love and honor. Isac, the jew of York, and his daughter Rebecca are also an important part of the story. There are plenty of famour actors in the movie, like Anthony Andrews, Sam Neill and Olivia Hussey to mention a few.

New Year's Day is a day after often a rough night so a lot of people just enjoy having a calm day off, watching movied and meeting friends. Fast food and Ivanhoe is therefore a tradition among many Swedes.

God fortsättning!


Picture: Gehrts Ivanhoe

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Christmas in Sweden mid 20th Century

I found this American film about how Christmas was celebrated in the mid 20th Century. A lot is still the same but maybe more modern. We usually do not have live candles in our trees any longer and we watch Donald Duck at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Many go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas day but just as many do not since we are not very religious.

GOD JUL!!

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Allt för Sverige - 2014 Christmas Special

The Allt för Sverige - 2014 Christmas Special is out. Learn how we celebrate Christmas in Sweden.

Dan före dopparedan - December 23, the day before Christmas Eve, this is also when we have uppesittarkväll

Christmas Eve (dopparedan) - Julafton, is when we celebrate Christmas. We have lunch, watch Donald Duck at 3 o'clock, have fika, open the gifts and then in the evening we have supper.

Christmas Day - Juldagen, visit relatives, have lunch, fika or supper together and exchange gifts. Or just hang out infront of the TV digesting all the food and candy.

Boxing Day - Annandag Jul, more or less like Christmas Day.

God Jul!



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Tomten - poem by Viktor Rydberg

Another Christmas tradition is the poem Tomten (Robin Goodfellow) by Viktor Rydberg.

Here it is read in a short film with English subtitles.

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Christmas music

From the first of Advent and right up until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I like to listen to as much Christams music as possible to get in the right mood. Therefore I will here list some of the best Swedish Christmas music.

First up is Peter Jöback, a very talanted Swedish musical artist who has done the Phantom of the Opera both in London and on Broadway. The first video is when he sings the his song "Jag kommer hem till jul" (I will be home for Christmas).

Secondly is O Holy Night but in Swedish. I have seen Peter live and he is an amazing singer and a very huble person.

Second is Carola Häggkvist who has competed in the Eurovision Song Contest several times and won it in 1991. She is considered to be the best singer in Sweden. Here she sings Mary's boychild.

Number three is Triad who in 1987 released the song "Tänd ett ljus" (light a candle). The song is not really about Christmas but it is about hope, that it is dark now but it will be brighter soon, light a candle for the children of earth.

Adolphson & Falk made the song "Mer jul" (more Christmas) in 1884 which is about how the person singing wants more of everything that has to do with Christmas.

Just D is a Swedish hiphop group from the early 90's. The song "Jul igen" (Christmas again) is about all the horrible things that happen that makes sure that you know that it is Christmas again.

These are just some of our favorites. There are several more. Hope you enjoy.


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Family Recipe Friday - Radiokaka (Hedgehog slice)

A must have in every Swedish home is the book "Sju sorters kakor" (seven kinds of cookies). The book is named after the tradition of having at least 7 kinds of cookies at social gatherings known as kafferep (coffee rope) where you drink coffee, eat cookies and talk. The tradition comes from the end of the 19th century and in 1945 a book with recipe got its name from it. Since then the book has come out in 83 editions.

One of the recipes reminds me of my childhood Chrismases. Mom used to make a so called Radiokaka, in English known as Hedgehog slice. I did not always like it but I have made it as a grown up for Christmas and I am thinking about doing one this year too. The story of the name of the cake is that in the 1920's, when radio had become popular, it was said that the cake did not make so much noice when eaten so therefore it was perfect to eat while listening to the radio. The cake also looks like the radio of that time with the bars infront of the speakers.

Recipe:

200-250 grams of coconut fat

200 grams dark chocolate

2 eggs

3 deciliters of icing sugar

25 buiscuits (square or round)

Melt the fat and the chocolate, low temperature, in a pot. Whisk the eggs and the icing sugar untill it is really fluffy. Stir slowly and carefully the lukewarm chocolat fat into the egg and icing sugar.

Dress an oblong cake pan, about 1,5 litres, with a baking sheet. Spred a layer of the chocolate paste on the bottom and then a layer of buiscuits, then another layer of chocolate and then buiscuits again. Keep going but end with the chocolate paste. Put the pan in a fridge over night. Cut the cake in thin slices and serve at once. 

This is the Swedish version of the cake but when I googled Hedgehog slice I found other versions with nuts and other fillings.

I also found the book in English at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Swedish-Cakes-Cookies-Melody-Favish/dp/1602392625

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

Sources:
http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sju_sorters_kakor_(bok)
http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sju_sorters_kakor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog_slice
http://www.icakuriren.se/mat-dryck/recept/radiokaka/

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