We explain Sweden
Before we know it, December will brighten up our lives again. Although probably cold, with all the lights and festivities around it’s always a warm welcome after an often grey November. Yes, it will be dark before 3 pm, but all the Christmas decorations make it much more bearable. People in the city have already […]
An American friend landed at Arlanda airport in Stockholm and jumped into a taxi towards the city. On the road, he looked out of the window and watched the Swedish countryside pass by. When I met him later in the day, he looked confused. I asked him what the issue was and he said – […]
The end of the year is here and we yearn for the white winter. It is almost like the way they celebrate Christmas Eve and New Year in every other country — the festive lights and red-white decorations surround you. Except, it’s freezing cold and the nights are darker and longer here. Yes, you know […]
With the winter solstice around the corner and the streets waiting for snow glistening like Christmas cards, the Swedes are turning inwards, in space and time. Knowing there is no way we can overcome the darkness, we embrace it. We collect and bring home warming fragrances of citrus, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, saffron, conifer needles. Stars […]
Christmas time is here, finally, many of us think. But look around you. If you live in Sweden you probably know someone who actually doesn’t celebrate Christmas. I had never thought about it until I had a Swedish class in which we discussed celebrations and festivities. There and then, I understood that those who do […]
One of the most fun parts of moving to another country is experiencing different traditions and tastes. And, as a bonus, in my family we already love eating and cooking, so it is inevitable for us to taste and also bake Lussebullar! What is Lussebullar? It’s basically saffron bread with raisins (but when it comes to baking, it’s […]
It is time for Stockholm’s Gay Choir´s traditional Christmas concert! Together with women’s choir Sapphonia they will hold two concerts at Saint Göran’s Church on Kungsholmen in Stockholm – a perfect way to start Christmas. This year the theme is Christmas Around the World, and the choirs will be singing Christmas carols from various countries […]
Christmas is soon to come and even though The Newbie Guide to Sweden writes about life in Sweden – we think it’s only fair to test our Newbies knowledge of Christmas traditions around the world. So let’s get international in true Christmas spirit! And just so you are warned this is a difficult one.
It’s December and let’s face it – the darkness sucks. In some parts of the country the snow has arrived already and in the rest of Sweden it’s simply cold and wet. All in all, not a great set up. So it’s not surprising that Swedes, being resourceful creatures, have come up with a a […]