Swedish Language Blog

In one sense we should be grateful it rained on the 5^th of June 1893, since that was one of the reasons the 6^th of June became the Swedish national day. Arthur Hazelius – one of Sweden’s most successful advertisers was hosting a big spring party in his newly built museum at Skansen on the 5^th of June. He had built the museum two years earlier but was still in debt and was hoping a big crowd would solve his financial problems. To his disappointment it rained and the crowds stayed at home. So he decided to extend his party to the 6^th of June, a historically very important date for Sweden. Gustav Vasa had been chosen as king on this very day in 1523, as well as the appointment of system of government in 1809.

Hazelius could now turn the party into a way of celebrating Sweden and it’s history, his idea was a success and spread all over the country. During the First World War, 1916, the celebrations were moved to Stockholm’s stadium where the army marched in parades and free flags were handed out to the public. In 1963 the celebrations were moved back to Skansen as well as the army having been removed from the event. But the 6^th of June didn’t officially become Sweden’s national day until 1983.

Around about the period when Halezius took initiative flags weren’t widely used. Like in most other nations flags were only used out at sea. It wasn’t until 1873 that the Swedish flag was raised at the royal palace for the first time, and not without a lot of criticism. There were a lot of people who didn’t think the flag should be used for any other purpose than out at sea. But once the royal family had done it others followed.  Flagpoles were put up all over the country, in schools, vicarages and railway stations, one of the main reasons being that free flags were handed out for quite some time. That is why Sweden has almost the most flagpoles per capita.

But the national day isn’t at all a big event compared to Norways Syttende Maj (national day) or even any of our other neighboring countries. This is most likely because Sweden has never been occupied, the Swedish people have never longed for independence.

So on the 6^th of June, next Thursday, think of how a rainy day gave Sweden their national holiday.

I come from a country that’s hard to find Somewhere near the icy pole But though we are freezing please bear in mind

Sweden’s gonna warm your soul

Our people are cold but our elks are hot A horny horde in every fjord Our moose may be loose but they hit the spot On our Swedish Smorgasbord

A tour of our nation is certain to impress We’ve quite a few surprises for you A Swedish chef and Death playing chess

And a girl with a dragon tattoo Papa – Po

By winning this contest you get the chance To host a show you can’t afford But then sell your country through song and dance Here’s our Swedish smorgasbord

Part 2:

We’re green to our planet with eco-pride Recycling is in our hearts Mamma Mia Ikea has gone world-wide Good luck assembling all the parts

We’re strict and we’re structured and seldom vent Don’t show emotion never whine Not easy to please but we’re quite content When we get to stand in line

Does anyone know what this line is for Well… I’d better stay and find out

Proper and polite and private is our style Never ever talk on a train And if we see a stranger throw us a smile He’s either a drunk or insane

Everyday we face it Fly on up and taste it Try our Swedish Smorgasbord

Swedish Smörgåsbord

Part 3:

Beneath the midnight sun The blondes have all the fun And if you long for stockings say “Amen!”

From Vikings we descended It´s frightning what those men did

But see how we’ve evolved since then

Our roles are reversing Our daddies are nursing In all of our cities Though men don’t have titties They can still stay at home to raise the kids

And our girls can handle their balls With the best kickline of them all

You may now kiss the groom

Follow our example Come and try a sample Of our Swedish Smorgasbord!

Part 4:

It’s time for some dinner  we pray you’ll stay Come and try our fav’rite course We eat all our meatballs the Nordic way: Seasoned with a hint of horse

For Strindberg And Bergman And Celsius All rise For Thor and Björn Borg And the great Nobel Prize

There’s Volvo And Garbo The best lingonberry And all of our problems Digesting our dairy… Jaa…

Oh look it´s Carola

Haha  -  yeah Hohooo Capture by a love storm

We gave you Carola and Waterloo And Diggi-Loo who all adored

We’ll take you to heaven Euphoria too

Come and join our party Come on up and chill There’s room for everybody Gravad lax and dill

On our Aquavit-crayfish Yucky-salty-liquorice Randy-Scandinavian-race With H&M ’n’ Ace of Base

Our hurdy-gurdy super-duper Fab-as-ABBA Super-Trouper

Swedish Smorgas boooooooooooord O.o……………………………….

source: SVT Sweden

Who was this Swede? You probably feel like you have heard his name before, was he an author or perhaps a director? Well, depending on whom you ask in Sweden the reactions you will get will be quite different. Ask a young person and they will most likely know as much as you, but ask somebody a little older and everybody will know the name of this famous author, and for various reasons.

Strindberg was in fact an author, photographer, amateur scientist, journalist, director and even a librarian at the royal library at one point. Many others know him because of how he has expressed his hate for women in his plays.

Simple facts about the guy:

This man was born in Stockholm 1849 and was one of eight children.

Both his parents worked and didn’t have much time for him.

Strindberg was also very known for voicing his thoughts on all matters. This made things difficult for him when he decided to study medicine at Uppsala University. After many differences of opinion with his teachers he finally left the university and became a journalist for a newspaper called Dagens Nyheter. While he was writing for them he was also working as a librarian. His father did not approve of these career choices leading to a never resolved conflict between them. Strindberg died from stomach cancer in 1910. It is also to be mentioned that that was after arousing a huge debate between Swedish authors all around the country. He started this by yet again sharply criticizing a man called Heidenstam.

What Strindberg is most famous for are his plays and books, amongst others the famous Miss Julie, Röda rummet and Hemsöborna. He was born and grew up during the naturalistic period, together with many other famous authors and directors such as Zola, Guy de Maupassant and Ibsen, though it doesn’t seem like he was on such good terms with them either.

Strindberg’s plays were very liberal in the sense that he introduced never before preformed topics. Ones of the lives of the poor, giving one of two leading roles to a servant. He also let many of his plays be performed on a stage missing the fouth wall. For example a kitchen, with the audience looking onto the happenings, which had been private until then.

As for the rest of society, apart from the methods used on stage, well Strindberg had a lot to say about them too. He criticized the army, the royal family as well as Swedish academy and made many enemies as a result.

Nevertheless, many of his plays have been done over and over again, and are still appreciated today. He is a known face out into the international world of literature and drama, a person Sweden is proud to export.