Swedish Jews Observe Yom Kippur Posted by Chelsea B on Sep 16, 2021
Yom Kippur, is considered the holiest day of the Jewish calendar year. A day of atonement, fasting, and prayer, emphasis is placed on individual reflection and atonement in preparation for the year to come. It’s estimated that 15,000-20,000 Jews live in Sweden, and because even secular Jews tend to celebrate Jom kippur, as it’s spelled…
Refresh your Swedish Reflexive Verbs and Pronouns Posted by Chelsea B on Sep 10, 2021
To understand reflexive verbs, start by thinking about activities where the action reflects back on its subject. For example, “I’ll behave myself.” “He’ll shave himself,” and so on. In Swedish we pair even more verbs with a reflexive pronoun – the verb “to learn” is reflexive, “to concentrate” is reflexive, too! In this post, we’ll…
Melancholy via Melissa Horn on the Musikblogg Posted by Chelsea B on Sep 3, 2021
The cool breeze from Lake Superior tells me that autumn isn’t far away. After a stressful week, these chilly evenings just make me want to be mysig (cozy). And if you know me, music is central to my type of mys. Melissa Horn is a Swedish artist I play when I want to slow down…
Västerbottensost Pie: Kräftskiva’s BFF Posted by Chelsea B on Aug 27, 2021
My first ever kräftskiva was at the end of August. I fumbled through learning to eat the small, briney, dilly kräftor watching my Swedish family crack and slurp. Although crayfish are the reason for the party, the side dishes are often the stars. My kräftskiva debut was also my first time eating Västerbottensostpaj, a beloved, cheesy…
Latest News from Afghanistan in Swedish Posted by Chelsea B on Aug 20, 2021
It’s been a turbulent week for Afghans at home and abroad. With the U.S. and allied forces withdrawing from Afghanistan and the Taliban immediately and swiftly taking control, the headlines are intense. Evacuations of Afghans and foreign nationals are difficult, the democracy has collapsed, and the rights of women and girls hang in the balance…
Choosing Between Swedish “Because Phrases” Posted by Chelsea B on Aug 13, 2021
How do you say “because” in Swedish? Lots of ways! But what is the difference between darför, för att, eftersom, and för? While they all have similar meanings, they differ in application slightly. The primary difference is the sentence structure that accompanies them. Put your grammar caps on, let’s get nitty-gritty with “because phrases”! Varför…
Olympic Pump-Up Songs på svenska! Posted by Chelsea B on Aug 6, 2021
Blood pumping. Sweat dripping. Adrenaline on high. Olympic athletes are experiencing these things in abundance right now. But how do they get themselves in the zone to perform at such a high level? Lots of folks put their headphones on, bob their heads in time, and blare a great pump-up song. Music has been used…