Archive for December, 2008
Nyårsafton Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 31, 2008
Today is nyårsafton and everybody, their mother and their dog are getting ready for some mad partying tonight. Yet, I am staying home, because jag är förkyld. Yes, I have a nasty cold, and so there’s no partying for me. I will stay at home, watch TV, and then watch fireworks, which they normally tend…
The Days Between Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 28, 2008
Between what? Christmas and New Year’s, naturally! I don’t know about you, but I am positively glad that Christmas is finally over. No more coming up with excuses to avoid eating lutefisk (lutfisk in Swedish, but “lutefisk” in English, OK?). Yay! And no more julskinka (Christmas ham). Yay! (The one we were treated to this…
Julafton!!! Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 24, 2008
It’s julafton (Christmas eve) and in Sweden it means many things, but the most important of them all will start at 3PM on SVT1. Kalle Anka!!! The sacred Swedish Christmas tradition! How did Donald Duck become a staple of Swedish Christmas cheer, I am not really sure. Nobody is. But the fact is, it’s not…
Julbocken and Other News Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 21, 2008
I received several emails from the readers asking me what I thought about the riots in Malmö. So, what did I think about the riots? Absolutely nothing. It barely registered on our radars here in Norrland. Much more exciting news is that Lindex is going to open a store in Lycksele next year – at…
Use of Capital Letters Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 18, 2008
In my last post I mentioned that “jul” in Swedish is written with a small letter. In all fairness, in some cases it IS written with a capital. You can see it especially in advertisements and greetings. And in his comment, Luke from Sydney very aptly pointed out that it’s not only “jul” – names…
Julmarknad and “skriva ihop” Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 16, 2008
This year, because I was away, I missed our local julmarknad. No big deal, really, because it’s tiny and not all that interesting (went last year, and the year before, and the year before-before, and so on) and held only during one weekend at our local skansen-type attraction – Gammlia. Yet, the official city hall…
Sankta Lucia! Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 12, 2008
Tomorrow’s the celebration of St. Lucia (no, I am NOT talking about that happy island in the Caribbean) but unfortunately, I am not in Sweden and will have to miss it this year. Bummer. So what’s the big deal with Saint Lucy’s celebration? You know the stuff you hear about Swedes parading with candles (lit…