Nordic Happenings

Vasa Junior Folk Dancers Meet the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 9 – 10:30 a.m. Children ages 3 to 18 are welcome. Contact carolynspargo@gmail.com. Swedish Hospital Alumnae Assocation (SHAA) Our SHAA Board activities have been limited this past year. As an organization we are committed to support our future nurses and to celebrate our history as graduates of the former Swedish Hospital School of Nursing. We are looking forward to the time when the Board can meet again in person at the American Swedish Institute. Västergötland Society We will meet for our day trip on Saturday, August 14. We will tour Lindström and Center City in the morning with lunch and tour(s) at Scandia — Gammelgården in the afternoon. The reservation deadline is July 31. Contact Gordon Anderson at anderson.gpagpa.gordon@gmail.com or (763) 788-8532. Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Visit our website sgsmn.org for meetings and for further information about our society. Contact us at sgsm1983@gmail.com. Kaffestuga Friends Contact Margareta Beyer at (651) 644-5116. SVEA Club Contact Margareta Beyer at (651) 644-5116. SWEA International in Minnesota For information on upcoming activities, contact us at Minnesota@swea.org or visit our website at Minnesota. swea.org. ASI Spelmanslag The ASI Spelmanslag hopes to begin meeting soon. Members, and others who are interested in the group, can visit our website at asispelmanslag.org, or call Suzanne Walters at (651) 633-1607 for information.

Clubs & Performing Groups

Lilla Spelmanslag A youth fiddle/cello folk music group of young musicians ages 8 to 18. We learn traditional Swedish folk music. In 2022 we will travel to Sweden to connect with three youth folk music groups in three different parts of Sweden and attend a folk music festival and a fiddle camp. Once the weather is warm enough, we will resume outdoor rehearsals. Visit our website for upcoming events and contact Ingela Haaland at ingela_eilert@yahoo.com. www.asispelmanslag.org. Twin Cities Folk Dancers Our group will not be practicing at ASI until further notice. Contact tcsfdmn@gmail.com. Scandinavian Friends Call or e-mail Muriel Johnson at (952) 831-4180 or murjo3663@gmail.com ASI Cloudberries Facebook at “ASI Cloudberries” or contact Gloria Rosen at (952) 240-7523. On September 11, the annual Nordic Music and Arts Festival will be held at Lion’s Park in Victoria, Minnesota from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Two stages of Scandinavian dancers, choirs, bands, instrumentalists and more will be performing. A silent auction will be held. This event is free. ASI Male Chorus Contact Chuck Upcraft at (612) 371-3731 or email Ted Johnson at tdreamintl@mindspring.com. Visit the asimalechorus.org. Swedish Cultural Society of Duluth We are not meeting in person during COVID-19. Our Monday conversation class meets via ZOOM. ‘A Virtual Midsommar’ will be featured on our website beginning June 1 at www.swedishculturalsociety.org. Contact Jennifer Conboy at (218) 624 2264 or jenniferconboy@hotmail.com. Twin Cities Nyckelharpalag For information about rehearsals and events, contact inquiries@tcnyckelharpalag.org or Cheryl Paschke at (612) 670-6356.

Sweden Swedish

The Swedish “Grill Party”

During sommar (summer), Swedes take every opportunity they can get to be outside. This is not only because of the Swedish love for natur (nature), but also because the long summer nights allow for outdoor activities to extend well into the evening. One telltale sign of the season is the emergence of engångsgrillar (disposable grills) for sale at grocery stores. A Swedish grillfest (known to us as barbeque) typically features plenty of korv (sausage), grönsaksspett (vegetable skewers) and, of course, öl (beer) from Systembolaget, the state liquor store. If the get-together is on a Saturday, Swedes rush to Systemet before it closes at 3 p.m. Often spontaneous, grillfester take place all summer long and are casual ways for friends to enjoy a dinner together outside.

NEWS FROM SWEDEN

Vocabulary

Doris Beling/Folio/imagebank.sweden.se

Swedish Required?

Sweden has proposed adopting a language requirement for wouldbe Swedes, which would mean that foreign nationals applying for citizenship would first need to show proof of Swedish language skills and an understanding of the society. It would apply to folks between ages 16 and 66, with some exceptions. The proposal still needs to be passed by parliament. If you’re considering a move to Sweden, check out ASI’s Swedish classes now! Visit ASImn.org for more information.

sommar :: summer

natur :: nature

engångsgrillar :: disposable grills korv :: sausage grönsaksspett :: vegetable skewer

For pronunciation, visit The People’s Dictionary: folkets-lexikon.csc.kth.se/folkets/folkets.en.html