The Swedish North Star, continuously published since 1872. Price per copy $4.25. Volume 153 No. 02, February 15, 2025
The Swedish Newspaper of America
Swedish comfort foods
Tuesdays with semla, Thursdays with pea soup and Saturdays with candy. These have become familiar pairings in Swedish culture. And during the winter months they are especially comforting, not the least for those who are passing along the traditions to friends and family members. Those “everyday” recipes as well as the special holiday recipes - the beloved recipes are always wanted. In this case, it’s Kristi Bissell’s soups, not seldom served with small pancakes (“plättar”) and more blueberries and, of course, in February, it’s time for a semla.
Name’s Days of the Swedish Calendar
February 01 Max/Maximilian
February 02 Kyndelsmässodagen
February 03 Disa/Hjördis
February 04 Ansgar/Anselm
February 05 Agata/Agda
February 06 Dorotea/Doris
February 07 Rikard/Dick
February 08 Berta/Bert
February 09 Fanny/Franciska
February 10 Iris
February 11 Yngve/Inge
February 12 Evelina/Evy
February 13 Agne/Ove
February 14 Valentin
February 15 Sigfrid
February 16 Julia/Julius
February 17 Alexandra/Sandra
February 18 Frida/Fritiof
February 19 Gabriella/Ella
February 20 Vivianne
February 21 Hilding
February 22 Pia
February 23 Torsten/Torun
February 24 Mattias/Mats
February 25 Sigvard/Sivert
February 26 Torgny/Torkel
February 27 Lage
February 28 Maria
February 29 Skottdagen
SCANDINAVIAN QUIZ
Kiruna, Sweden is nearing its final phase of what? A) recovering all the buried surströmming B) relocating the entire city C) building the country’s biggest floating sauna D) becoming a 100% gluten free fika city
2 What does Sweden’s Ice Hotel harvest from the Torne River every March? A) driftwood B) crayfish C) 1000 2-ton ice blocks D) sauna rocks
3 Between 1397 and 1524, all the Nordic countries were unified under whose rule? A) Sweden B) Denmark C) Norway C) England
4 What do Swedes do on Lillördag? A) enjoy a mid-week break B) start looking for the first semla C) go to Saturday afternoon church D) sculpt snölykta (snow lanterns)
5 Himmeli ceiling mobiles were once believed by their Nordic inventors to do what? A) guarantee going to heaven after death B) improve dance skills C) ensure good crops D) improve children’s behavior
CULTURE Namnsdagar
Yngve - February 11
Yngve is an Old Norse name, most probably the name of an unidentified god. It could also be an alternative name of the god Frej. According to Snorre Sturlason, the Icelandic author of the Prose Edda, Yngve was the first king of Sweden and his dynasty was named Ynglingaätten after him. Today the name is most common among men over 50, and not always as a given name, more often as a middle name. The name Yngve had its glory days during the 19th century when all things Viking were popular.
Sigvard
– February 25
The name Sigvard has been in use in Sweden since the 12th century, although Sigur was often more common. The name is combined by two words meaning “victory” and “watchman.” The birth of Prince Sigvard Bernadotte made the name popular.
6 What is Finland’s Avantouinti Society? A) magicians’ club B) ice swimming club C) sauna concert group D) death cleaning business
7 Which country is not among the International Vasaloppet Skiing Exchange that hosts their own Vasaloppet during the winter months? A) Sweden B) Japan C) China D) Germany
8 What does the “returrundan” truck offer when it arrives with a jingle in Stockholm neighborhoods? A) ice cream B) lördagsgodis C) recycling sorting D) used books
9 Swedish physician and engineer C.G. Engstrom saved countless lives and laid the foundation for modern medicine with what invention in 1950? A) ventilator B) ultrasound C) pacemaker D) nicotine gum
10 Which northern country is the top coffee consumer? A) Finland B) Sweden C) Iceland D) Estonia
February
Nordstjernan (ISSN 1059-7670), founded in New York City in September 1872, is published by Swedish News, 570 Lexington Ave, new York, nY 10022
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February TO DO
02.02 CROSS FINGERS: “HÅLL TUMMARNA” (hold thumbs) - that the groundhog who saw his shadow this day is wrong. Winter is hopefully over.
02.06 RAISE THE SAMI FLAG: SÁMI NATIONAL DAY / Sámi everywhere celebrate by flying the flag, wearing the national costume, attending cultural events, eating national foods, and singing the national anthem.
02.06 BE THANKFUL FOR COMPUTER KEYS: SEMIKOLONETS
DAG / Semicolon Day reminds us that during the 1980s, Swedish typewriters required three keystrokes to create a semicolon and many therefore refused to use it; this could be why the semicolon is no longer used much in Swedish ...
02.14 SPREAD LOVE: ALLA HJÄRTANS DAG / Valentine’s Day has been recognized in Sweden since the 1960s. Celebrate with ... cardamom?
03.04 Have A SEMLA (or two). It’s SHROVE TUESDAY: FETTISDAGEN (Fat Tuesday)
About the cover: A Manometer, pressure gauge from Schaeffer & Budenberg Stockholm, of circa 1900, in the Porjus engine room. The brass encased instrument measures kilogram-force per square centimeter. In Porjus case, one for each of the three original turbines. Original equipment in a huge building rising next to the Lule älv riverbed, built to impress with a tower, a royal emblem and rose window, once the heart of the Porjus power station—one of the world’s first with an underground engine room. (Story page 14)
Change is the only constant
After over twenty years with the same east coast printer our trusted supplier decided to shut down and whether or not you noticed, we changed to a new printer in November last year. We were informed close to a year in advance and had ample time to look for the right new supplier. We found what we need much thanks to our long time purveyor whose support and recommendations were instrumental in finding the perfect solution for the future.
As is so often the case with change, this has turned out to benefit not only us as we work your newspaper on a daily basis, but also all you readers, new and old. We have been able to upgrade and streamline our mailing procedures, and the new printer’s equipment allows for greater flexibility with page count. Many of you have noticed the enhanced print quality of Nordstjernan with more consistently balanced colors and less smear on pages. Our new printer also has the equipment to offer a continuous upgrade to Nordstjernan in the future. This is something we welcome after over 10 years of slow but continuous growth in print.
To level production this year we will twice combine two issues into one: once in March and once in October when instead of two printed issues you’ll receive one. The change allows for more resources to develop features such as this issue’s focus on Sweden’s north. Later in the year we’ll report from “den sköna lustgården,” Sweden’s happy forest, take you on excursions along the High Coast, re-visit Stockholm and tour Sweden’s summer paradise, a playground in the absolute south, to name some of what’s in the pipeline.
Value is an immensely personal matter. When we first started publishing this newspaper nearly 153 years ago, we set out to create a publication that would inform and entertain on what concerns us and make us all aware and proud of our mutual heritage or backgrounds. Us — native born Swedes, Swedish Americans and Americans with a strong affiliation and connection to Scandinavia, along with every organization connecting the two regions. Looking at the readership and commercial support we enjoy, we’re proud to say that so far, and for a very long time now, our endeavor has been appreciated. Any thoughts on content, suggestions for additions or future publishing frequency? Don’t hesitate to contact us, on the phone: 1.800.827.9333, or over email editor@nordstjernan.com or subs@nordstjernan.com We’re committed and always eager to hear from you.
Warm regards,
Dashboard, p4-5
Household arguments about screen time / Fäbodliv becomes UNESCO World Heritage / The sauna, heat and heart health / Swedish red cottage on the moon / Gårdsförsäljning of alcohol approved / Denmark’s response to Trump.
Ulf Barslund Mårtensson Editor & Publisher
Arguments about screen time
Most children have a screen instead of a book at bedtime, and one in three parents argue with their child about screen time, according to a new report from the Internet Foundation. At bedtime, 70 percent of children aged 8-19 use screens, and the use increases with age. The most common thing children do on the screen before going to sleep is to check social media, according to the report. It also shows that parents see both pros and cons of their children’s screen time. Internet use is seen as both a source of knowledge and a source of concern for children’s health.
The stories, the traditions, the people behind the news.
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Fäbodliv is UNESCO cultural heritage
Fäbod culture is now on UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage. The act of seeking higher altitude pastures in the summer is a culture in and of itself, a living tradition that includes everything from animal husbandry and pastures to food and music.
The decision to include it on the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity was made at the beginning of December at a UNESCO meeting in Paraguay. “It is gratifying that the Swedish and Norwegian tradition of fäbod farming has now been taken up by UNESCO. It is particularly gratifying that this recognition is given jointly to two Nordic countries, which clearly shows how culture moves across borders and how traditions are shared by several countries,” says Maria Wilenius, secretary general of the Swedish UNESCO Council. In Sweden, fäbod cottages with mountain pastures have been widespread mostly in Värmland, Dalarna, Gästrikland, Hälsingland, Härjedalen and Jämtland, but also in Uppland, Medelpad, Ångermanland, Västerbotten and Norrbotten. Today there are around 300 actively used around Sweden, and several of them are still used traditionally, according to the association Svensk Fäbodkultur. It is easy to confuse intangible cultural heritage with world
heritage, which are places, localities or environments that bear witness to the history of the earth and man in a unique way. There are today 1,223 world heritage sites in 168 countries; 15 are in Sweden. In UNESCO’s register of good practices for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, two living cultural heritages from Sweden have already been included: Sagobygden (2018) and Nyckelharpans Nätverk (the network of the key fiddle, 2023).
The Nordstjernan book “Memories from fäbodar in Sweden” by Rune Mats is a personal review of fäbodliv in the Dalarna region. ISBN 9780996846097 and available through Amazon or at for instance hemslojd.com
Gårdsförsäljning - direct sales of alcohol approved
The EU Commission allows the Swedish government to proceed with plans to allow sales of alcohol at production facilities, local wineries and breweries throughout the country. The approval was underway last autumn, but the decision was postponed for three months after objections from Portugal. Now Sweden and Portugal have presented their arguments, and the commission has decided to disregard Portugal’s criticism. On January 16, the government decided on the proposal. The new regulations are proposed to enter into force on June 1, 2025 and to apply for six years from entry into force. Before the regulation is repealed or continued after that, the results of the reform will be evaluated. If no reasons arise that speak against an extension, the evaluation should form the basis for a decision on whether the regulation should be extended or made permanent.
The fäbod – a cabin at the summer pasture – was an important extension of the Swedish family farm.
heat and heart health
The Finns were the first to recognize the health benefits – and joys – of sweating. Regular time spent sweating in a sauna (known as “bastu” in Swedish), has been shown to reduce the risk of heart–related health concerns. This is great news for sauna addicts: The mortality rate may be 40 percent lower among people who “basta” (spend time in the sauna) at least four times each week. Researchers are still determining whether the heat itself is good for the heart or if it’s a correlation with the time spent relaxing in the sauna. Climateinspired artists Mats Bigert and Lars Bergström took this to heart and designed a sauna inside their acclaimed sculpture “Solar Egg”– the heating element is shaped like a human heart. Solar Egg was for some time on view in Minneapolis but is now permanently perched in Luossabacken in Kiruna.
Denmark’s response to Trump
Denmark is countering Donald Trump’s new statements about Greenland with an offer to let the U.S. increase its military presence on the island. This was stated by two informed sources, according to the news site Axios. The offer is said to have been sent in private messages to Trump’s associates. The aim is to show that U.S. security can be strengthened without the country taking over Greenland, Aixos writes. Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. needs Greenland to be secure against Russia and China, and in early January he said putting military or economic pressure on Denmark is not out of the question. According to Swedish media, Trump’s threat remains to ensure that Greenland belongs to the U.S. in the future. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Trump met to discuss the talk of economic pressure in January, but very little has been said about the meeting.
Almost three in four state employers have difficulty finding competent applicants for vacant jobs, shows a survey from the Swedish Employers’ Agency. Defense, police and other parts of the justice system are among the state employers that are growing rapidly.
Swedish red cottage on the moon
A house was sent to the moon with a rocket built in Japan and launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on January 15. After a four month journey through space, the little red house with white trim will be placed on a sunlit area on the moon’s northern hemisphere, the first building on the lunar surface. The Swedish Moon House is the result of a spectacular story about an artist’s 25-year project to place a little red house on the surface of the moon. The long awaited artwork is now in place.
Initially, the idea was that the house would be the size of a playhouse and placed by means of its own lunar landing. At that time, the total price for the project was close to $60 million. In the end, the rocket had space only for a miniature house — about 5x3 inches — and reportedly at a cost of between half a million and a million USD.
The Moon House will be the first site-specific artwork on the moon. The moon has always stimulated the human imagination with its cold beauty. The knowledge that there is a red cottage in the middle of the “magnificent desolation,” as one of the first moonwalkers put it, has the potential to change the entire picture.
“Perhaps the artwork, the first house on the moon, can be a symbol of life’s eternal struggle to survive
and develop; a perspective on existence and an eye toward the earth,” says the artist, Mikael Genberg. Genberg, who has been working with the idea for 25 years, lives in Västerås, Sweden, and has always explored human life, perspectives and living environments. Genberg’s signature subject is the classic Swedish red house with white trim. He makes them and places them in unusual places such as treetops, on the water, under water, on the roof of Stockholm’s Globe Arena and even in space ... always with the dream of one day reaching the moon.
For more info, see www.themoonhouse.se
Stopping clothing waste
As of the new year, it is forbidden to throw textiles in household waste in Sweden. Instead, municipalities will collect the material for recycling, according to a new law. Nearly 44 percent of municipalities will only allow such submissions at large recycling centers, according to a
survey conducted by Swedish television. 50 percent will have collection stations in residential areas. However, the system may be temporary. In a few years, the responsibility will instead be placed on textile producers, according to a proposal being investigated at EU level.
The Moonhouse visioned in collaboration with Lars Ahlberg, LAJ illustration.
The sauna,
The Moonhouse together with the lunar rover Tenacious and the lunar lander Resilience.
Local Events
California
San Francisco
Feb 16, 6 PM
Gunhild Carling: Sweden’s Queen of Swing returns, singing favorite swinging jazz standards, playing one of many instruments (or juggling and tap dancing. Bisquits and Blues / www.biscuitsandblues.com / www.gunhildcarling.net
Connecticut
Fairfield
Feb 16, 2 PM
Lena Jonsson Trio: Together with guitarist Erik Ronström and bassist Krydda Sundström, Lena Jonsson has created a unique style inspired by traditional Swedish music as well as rock, pop and American old-time and bluegrass traditions. At The Scandinavian Club, hello@ thescandinavianclub.com / https://lenajonsson.com
Mar 2, 2-4 PM
Semlor: Indulge in the tasty Swedish obsession, the semla! While they last at The Scandinavian Club, hello@thescandinavianclub.com / www.thescandinavianclub.com
It isn’t just a Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day, it’s an important cultural practice the Nordics have been doing for centuries for its physical and mental health benefits. Jumping in cold water during the winter is really good for you! Learn to embrace winter in this exciting new cold water workshop on March 8 in Minneapolis to learn about the health benefits of winter swimming and how to practice it safely. This is a comprehensive two-part workshop: Start on dry land at ASI, then head into the wild with a short, guided group dip at a local Minneapolis ice hole. For ages 18+. 1-4 p.m. at American Swedish Institute / www.asimn.org
Florida
Clearwater
Mar 7, 11:45 AM
Suncoast Scandinavian Club Luncheon: Wear green and purple to celebrate St. Urho and enjoy 20 Scandinavian Questions (Part 2). Lunch $21, RSVP to 732.546.7756, SunScanClub1965@ gmail.com
Chicago
Feb 22, 9 AM
Viking Breakfast: Come for pancakes, rune carving, Viking crafts, and even a visit from a Viking! $15-$20. RSVP, Swedish American Museum, museum@ samac.org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Feb 22, 2 PM CST ONLINE Book Club: Discuss The End of
LOS ANGELES
Saturday February 15, 5:00 PM
SWEDISH CHURCH SERVICE WITH COMMUNION in Lutheran Church of the Master, Corona del Mar, followed by a light meal. Sunday February 16, 2:30 PM
SWEDISH CHURCH SERVICE WITH COMMUNION in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks Lunch is served prior to service at 1:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall.
Sunday March 2, 11:00 AM
SWEDISH SUNDAY SERVICE | GUDSTJÄNST followed by Member’s Annual Meeting. Lunch and semla served after the meeting. More info on our website.
FRIDAYMIX every Friday, 9:30 AM-4:00 PM See website for updates.
For more information, visit us on Facebook or see: churchofswedenla.com
CHURCH OF SWEDEN, LOS ANGELES 1035 South Beacon Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 Tel. (310) 292-7080 • Epost: losangeles@svenskakyrkan.se Hemsida: www.churchofswedenla.com
Drum-Time by Hanna Pylväinen. An epic love story set in a remote Arctic village, with a young reindeer herder and a minister’s daughter in the 19th century. www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Mar 2, 12 PM
Herring Brunch: The traditional herring breakfast includes meatballs, potato sausage and much more, will be catered by Tre Kronor restaurant. Prepaid and confirmed reservations are required. Swedish American Museum / www.museum@samac.org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Ongoing
Let the Hand be Seen: Exhibit from Carl Larsson-gården in which Karin Larsson’s work in textiles, furniture, and interior design reflect innovation and trends of the late 1800s. This exhibit highlights her experience as an artist, wife, and mother, and features reproductions of several designs. Her work was known to few during her lifetime but today it greatly contributes to art and history. Through April 20 at Swedish American Museum / www.museum@samac.org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Peoria
Feb 25, 7-9:30 PM
Gunhild Carling: Sweden’s Queen of Swing returns, singing favorite swinging jazz standards, playing one of many instruments (or juggling and tap dancing. Bradley University Jazz Fest, www.gunhildcarling.net/c1/event/peoria-il-gunhild-carling-bradley-university-jazz-fest
lllinois
Maryland
Potomac
Ongoing
Hilma af Klint: Swedish artist Hilma af Klint’s series Tree of Knowledge, 1913–1915 is featured in an exhibit that showcases the works of more than 50 artists who have made some of the most radical contributions to art in the 20th century. Glenstone Museum, www. glenstone.org
Massachusetts Newton
Feb 15, 10-11 PM
Nordic Kids: Birch and Birds – Learn how birch trees are an important part of Nordic culture, history and the environment, used for many purposes, including construction, food, and medicine. Then add your own birds to a birch forest print to take home! For all ages. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www. scandicenter.org
Feb 16, 12 PM EST
VIRTUAL Book Talk with Katja Panztar: Helsinki-based writer and journalist joins in live from Finland to talk about her new release The Power of Hot and Cold: From Sauna to Sea: The Finnish Way to a Happy, Healthy Life. www.scandicenter.org
Feb 21-23
Got Sauna celebrates National Sauna Week: Sign up for a session in an authentic, traditional Finnish wood-fired sauna experience! Choose between 60-minute and 90-minute sessions which comfortably accommodate three people at once. Special Friday Sessions offer the thrill of thermal extremes with a dip in the cold plunge tank (or in the snow) followed by relaxation around the fire pit with tasty snacks. Pre-registration required. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www.scandicenter.org
Mar 1, 1 PM
Grieg Reimagined: Norwegian NYC-based jazz guitarist Tim Johnson returns with Swedish jazz pianist and singer Ebba Dankel, a presidential scholar at Berklee College of Music, to present their brand new jazz project “Grieg Reimagined,” featuring exciting new arrangements and improvisations. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www.scandicenter.org
Mar 2, 3 PM
Meet the Author! S.J. Taylor shares a brief presentation about weaving traditional folklore into modern children’s fiction, with time for Q&A and a book signing. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www.scandicenter.org
Mar 6, 7-8:30 PM
Cookbook Club: Prepare a recipe from The Finnish Cookbook by Beatrice Ojakangas, bring it in and the group will sample the recipes and discuss them and the cookbook. Free with registration, Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www.scandicenter.org
Mar 15, 1 PM
Book Talk: Author Joan Wickersham discusses her book No Ship Sets Out To Be A Shipwreck. In this nonfiction/poetry hybrid, Wickersham meditates on a Swedish warship Vasa, which sank only minutes into its maiden voyage and lay forgotten underwater until it was found and raised more than three hundred years later. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www.scandicenter.org
Sommerville Feb 18, 7 PM
Lena Jonsson Trio: Together with guitarist Erik Ronström and bassist Krydda Sundström, Lena Jonsson has created a unique style inspired by traditional Swedish music as well as rock, pop and
Söndag 9 mars kl 11.00
SVENSK GUDSTJÄNST i San Francisco med efterföljande kyrkkaffe.
Lördag 15 mars kl 15.00
SVENSK GUDSTJÄNST i Los Altos Lutheran Church med efterföljande kyrkkaffe.
Mer information om barnsång, ungdomsträffar, vardagsmässa, filmkvällar m.m: www.svenskakyrkan.se/sanfrancisco
SVENSKA KYRKAN SAN FRANCISCO
Norska Sjömanskyrkan, 2454 Hyde Street, San Francisco
Just in time to celebrate their 80th anniversary, the Moomins return in a U.S. premier of an all-new adventure. On the weekends of February 28-March 16 during the New York International Children’s Film Festival, Scandinavia House screens several children’s films and shorts, including Finland’s newest Moomins film that the entire family can enjoy. In Moominpappa and Aunt Jane, Moominpappa mustn’t let a surprise visit from his formidable aunt spoil his book launch party! Also an SOS from an old friend sends Moominpappa and Moomintroll on a rescue mission into the frozen wilderness. See listings at www.nyicff.org/festival
American old-time and bluegrass traditions. At The Burren, www.burren.com / https://lenajonsson.com
Minnesota Grand Marais
Feb 15-17
Fiber Week: North House celebrates fiber arts and features speakers, demonstrations, community gatherings, and coursework. This year’s featured guest instructor is Emma Ewadotter from Umeå, Sweden. North House Folk School, 218.387.9762 / www.northhouse.org/events
Feb 27, 6:30
VIRTUAL class - Sølje Spoon Earrings: Create your own silver and gold-washed earrings in this short, live virtual class designed to introduce you to the beauty of Scandinavian silver work. Assemble up to two pairs of earrings using multiple disc elements suspended from sterling silver French hook ear wires. American Swedish Institute / www.asimn.org
Mar 1-2
Midwinter Folk Fest: Celebrate Scandinavian folk music with a weekend full of performances, workshops, classes, and demos. Jam with other musicians, dance your heart out, or just listen to music; and if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about a nyckelharpa or a spelmanslag, this is your chance! www.asimn.org/experience/festivals/midwinter-folk-festival
Mar 13, 6:30 PM
Nordic Culture in Focus: Try to unpack
and understand the term “lagom” and how it is a way of living. American Swedish Institute / www.asimn.org
New York Buffalo
Ongoing
Nordic Art and Culture Initiative: This unique platform for art of the Nordic Region has begun and will over the next 60 years develop North America’s leading collection of contemporary art from the Nordic region. Buffalo AKG Art Museum, 716.882.8700 / www.buffaloakg.org
SAN FRANCISCO
reverse migration
The circle of life
It was a stunning and eerily quiet early morning last July —
I walked over to Britta’s yard and very carefully selected a daisy, a pink rose, and three small buds of yellow Jerusalem artichoke. I wrapped them in an ivy vine I cut from the yard between our houses. It was a small nosegay, and reminded me of many Britta had brought to me over the years. I secured it with a piece of twine and small bow.
My heart was heavy. This one extraordinary human had walked with us through every step of our Reverse Migration. As I observed tiny details of her gardens I also thought about our earliest meetings and the first time she stepped into Solbacka’s kitchen with me. It was through Britta that I came to understand a sense of being on sacred ground. She took my hand and said, “Jag står i Hanna’s kök.” I am standing in Hanna’s kitchen. Hanna — my predecessor. Britta’s best friend. And on that day, now almost 10 years ago, Britta told me how long it had been since she sat with Hanna at that kitchen table, intimately sharing all the details of one another’s lives ... over coffee and a cinnamon roll, of course.
I walked down one of Britta’s well-worn stone paths and I wondered how long it had been since she could edge, care for, and weed the garden the way she truly wanted to. I thought about her life in the yellow house. I pictured the way she raised her children and grandchildren right in that space. And
the way she said good-bye to Sven, to her daughter and to her grand-daughter. With a lump in my throat, I went home to get dressed for Britta’s funeral.
I had been instructed that all guests would arrive at the church with either a single rose or small bouquet, which is why I had mine in hand. We stood off to the side of the church yard, and I watched as an entire community of people who loved Britta arrived. I noticed right away that most of the young men were wearing dark suits, white shirts and white ties. I asked one of her great-grands, “So, what’s the deal with the white ties?” Arvid replied, “We are the closest family.”
We walked into the church and informed the funeral director that we were part of Britta’s extended family. He ushered us to a pew just behind her grandchildren. The organist was playing familiar hymns I recognized from my Swedish-American church back home, and I was catapulted back to my childhood. It smelled like church. And even the 200-year-old benches felt comfortable.
Britta’s granddaughter opened the service by singing a classic hymn, and the pastor followed with a greeting. Next, beginning with Britta’s children, every person in attendance walked to the casket. Some went alone, her neighbors stood together, couples walked forward and some small family groups encircled the casket. Some people spoke a word of blessing or thanksgiving, and most bowed, older women curtsied in a beautifully traditional
way. They spoke words similar to this, “Thank you, dear Britta for your presence in our community, and for your sweet friendship, you will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed.” Even now, my emotions swell — I have been to countless funerals starting from the time I was 4 years old, but none quite like this. All of these individuals placed their roses or bouquets on the casket, or in a pocket along its side. Then it was our turn. I walked forward with our sonin-law, daughter and granddaughter, and I placed the morning bouquet upon her casket, words escaped me, but I followed along with the tradition of a gentle bow over the life of this dear woman who had impacted and welcomed me so significantly.
There was a short sermon. A confession of faith. A family hymn. My daughter sang Amazing Grace, first in English, then Swedish, with a nod toward Britta’s American family and our Reverse Migration. Then one by one again, we walked past the casket for our last good-bye, then in silence down the long center aisle behind her immediate family, through the graveyard, past Britta’s family graves and directly across the street to the church fellowship hall. There we sat at long tables, enjoyed lunch, family time and over two hours of speeches and memorials. For an extraordinary woman who had lived over 100 years, there was a lot to say!
This lovely fellowship luncheon was followed by a family gathering time back in the village — adjacent to the old yellow house and garden I picked flowers in that morning. Britta’s great-grandchildren raced around her yard, chasing one another, throwing balls, falling down in giggles. shouting to cousins they rarely see but somehow know. It was ruckus and loud and so full of life … exactly how Britta would have chosen the day to end.
Reverse Migration has brought us a million new experiences. This was my first funeral in Sweden. It won’t be my last. Precious moments like this day are fleeting. The reality of the full circle of life can sting as it hits home and still I wouldn’t change a thing.
Martha Swanson
Martha Swanson’s book Returning to Noisy Village about Martha Swanson’s experiences and the story of one family’s “reverse migration” is forthcoming soon – per Martha herself,“an exposure to the more personal transformation of our beloved house, Solbacka, and my interior journey.”
(Image above for illustration purposes only.) Photo: Per Pixel Petersson/imagebank.sweden
NYC
Feb 28-Mar 2, 6 PM
Gunhild Carling: Sweden’s Queen of Swing returns, singing favorite swinging jazz standards, playing one of many instruments (trumpet, trombone, harmonica, oboe, harp, flute, recorder or jazz bagpipe!) or juggling and tap dancing. Birdland, www.birdlandjazz.com
Feb 22, 12-2 PM
Adult Art Workshop: inspired by artwork in the current exhibition, Nordic Utopia? African Americans in the 20th Century, Margrethe Aanestad guides students in using collage and painting techniques to create visual interpretations of music and sound. All materials provided. At Scandinavia House, www.scandinaviahouse.org
Feb 25, 2-3:30 PM
VIRTUAL Author Talk: Sámi author and journalist Elin Anna Labba discusses her book The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow about the forced displacement of the northern Sami. RSVP for Zoom link, www.scandinaviahouse.org
Mar 4, 6:30 PM
Book talk: Award-winning Chicago architect Carl J. D’Silva discusses his new book Lost Danish Treasure, which tells two stories: 1) the history of Finn Juhl’s iconic Chieftain Chair and a long-forgotten painting that preceded it, and 2) the individual connections to this design by a small group of collector researchers. At Scandinavia House, www.scandinaviahouse.org
Mar 6, 7-9 PM
Live Jazz with Cecil and Ari Alexander: Enjoy a captivating selection of original compositions, timeless classics, and Danish folk songs from the duo’s albums. At Scandinavia House, www. scandinaviahouse.org
Feb 28-Mar 16
The New York International Children’s Film Festival takes place throughout New York City over three weekends with several screenings at Scandinavia House. For complete lineup and tickets visit www.nyicff.org/festival / www.scandinaviahouse.org
Oregon
Portland
Feb 7, 6-8 PM
Nordic Paint and Sip: Let your creativity flow as local artist Joel Henriques guides you through painting a Nordic scene of majestic beauty and Scandinavian folklore. Fun for all skill levels while you sip wine from a local winery. Skål! Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / www.nordicnorthwest.org
Feb 21, 3:30-7 PM
Sauna with Us! Come for a one-hour sauna session with the Alma Mobile Sauna on the Nordic Northwest Campus. Each time slot has an 8-person capacity – with access to the sauna, changing room and outdoor shower. $5$45. Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / www.nordicnorthwest.org
Feb 26, 6-9 PM
Little Saturday: Have a relaxing Little Saturday, or “Lillordag,” with homemade Nordic desserts, games, crafts, and spirits for all ages and families! At Nordia House, 503.977.0275 / www.nordicnorthwest.org
Mar 2, 2-5 PM
Fastelavn Nordic Kids Festival: Celebrate the Carnival season in the Nordic fashion with this family-friendly afternoon of crafts, games, fastelavnsboller, snacks, beverages, hilarities and a costume contest! Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / www.nordicnorthwest.org/fastelavn
Mar 7, 6-7 PM
VIRTUAL and in-person lecture: Scary, Clumsy, Lovable Trolls. Lotta Gavel Adams, who knows A LOT about trolls, discusses the world of the trolls in literature, film and art from the mid-1800s to the present. At Nordia House, 503.977.0275 / www.nordicnorthwest.org
Mar 8, 11 AM
Marimekko-Inspired Printing: Explore block printing inspired by the bold flowers and geometric shapes of Marimekko! Your end creations will be suitable for framing, cardmaking or wearing! Ages 8+. Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / www.nordicnorthwest.org
Pennsylvania Bethlehem
Mar 14, 7:30 PM
Dancing Dream - The Tribute to ABBA: The New York City based touring tribute act is transporting nostalgic audiences back to the happy and groovy times of the 70s. At Musikfest Cafe, www. dancingdreamtribute.com/tour
Philadelphia
Feb 18, 10:30 AM
Toddler Time: Tour the museum and test each of their senses, including scent exploration of the Sauna is Life exhibition, then try different activities and crafts all about how we touch, taste, see, hear, and smell! American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / www. americanswedish.org
Through Mar 9
Exhibit - Sauna is Life: Sauna Culture in
7th annual Sámi Film Festival
Don’t miss the annual Sámi Film Festival, February 7-13, which celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi people through a diverse selection of new and classic cinema. The festival line-up was curated by Sámi visual artist Matti Aikio. Virtual Festival Passes are available—enjoy the festival from anywhere in the world. In-Person Screenings: New York City, NY: February 6-7 at the Scandinavia House | Seattle, WA: February 7-8 at Majestic Bay Theatres. Virtual Streaming, February 7-13: $25 ($20 for National Nordic Museum Members; email marketing@nordicmuseum For more info, see https://nordicmuseum.org/events/sami-film-festival / More on Sapmi and the Sámi community, see page 21
Finland. Saunas are integral to culture in Finland, their earliest versions believed to be from 7000 BC. This exhibit will introduce visitors to the history and tradition of saunas while exploring the future of contemporary urban sauna as well. American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / www.americanswedish. org
Ongoing
Outdoor Sauna: Sweat out the stress, connect with friends, or simply bask in a story for the ages, in an Ebba Sparre Sauna experience. Reserve time by yourself or with a group (up to 4 people per sauna) - book your session today!
Through March 29 at American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / www. americanswedish.org
Utah
Salt Lake City
Feb 15, 8 PM
Arrival from Sweden: Founded in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden, this ABBA tribute band quickly became one of the world’s most popular and most selling ABBA show bands. Eccles Theater, www. saltlakecountyarts.org/venues/ecclestheater / www.themusicofabba.com/ tourtickets
Washington Seattle
Feb 25, 11 AM
VIRTUAL Meet the Author: Sámi author and journalist Elin Anna Labba discusses her latest publication, The Rocks will Echo Our Sorrow: The Forced Displacement of the Northern Sámi (2024). The book tells the deep and personal story—told through history, poetry, and images—of the forced displacement of the Sámi people from their homeland in northern Norway and Sweden. National Nordic Museum, 206.789.5707 / www. nordicmuseum.org
Ongoing
Nordic Journeys: This exhibition spans centuries of journeys and challenges across 1.3 million square miles and the footsteps of Nordic immigrants to North America. National Nordic Museum, 206.789.5707 / www.nordicmuseum.org
Photo: Lola Akinmade
Bar Nordic - Stockholm out of the ordinary
Stockholmers have a new watering hole and visitors to the Swedish capital have a new destination.
Bar Nordic is located in downtown Stockholm, a stone’s throw from Central Station with theaters, hotels and restaurants very close by. The bar is unique, serving cocktails made with drinks produced in the Nordic belt along with blueberry and lingonberry wines.
For all of autumn 2024 passersby have seen a sign saying “Bar Nordic is opening soon - offering extraordinary experiences” at Vasagatan 52. Then finally at the end of November, the signs covering the windows were taken down and the first guests were welcomed by the owners from New Nordic Beverage, Li Holmberg, CEO, and Lars Normark, winemaker.
Bar Nordic is not just any bar. It serves wines and other drinks produced in Sweden and the Nordic countries. New Nordic Beverage in the Västerbotten region produces wines and liqueurs in the Rålund, Bergskär and Episk series.
In addition to wine and liqueur, Bar Nordic also serves cocktails based on gin, vodka, whisky and rum produced by other companies in Sweden and the Nordic region. The drinks also feature a large selection of first-class nonalcoholic additions, soft drinks and syrups pro -
duced from Swedish fruits and berries.
“It has been an exciting job to create new cocktails with the Swedish-produced ingredients. I start with the alcoholic drinks, such as gin or liqueur. Then I match them with acidic additions and juice. Sometimes a combination does not work as
Scandinavian Park Inc , NFP presents
20th Annual Vasa Park Fundraiser and Luncheon
Saturday, March 22, 2025
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Belvedere Banquets, 1170 West Devon, Elk Grove Village, IL
Choice of Sliced Prime Rib of Beef, Chicken Rosemary Veloute or Vegetarian Complimentary Mimosas and Cash Bar
There will be a cash drawing as well as Raffle Table with wonderful and generous donations from Nordic organizations, businesses and individuals
Entertainment by singer James Libera and additional music courtesy of Swedish Folk
payments will be accepted at the door, For more information please call Carol Hoidahl at 847 358 1527
planned, and I have to remove or replace a component. It is all about tasting, tasting, tasting until the taste is just right,” says Aaron Fisher, bartender at Bar Nordic. Wine and cocktails at Bar Nordic are served in select glasses from Orrefors Sweden.
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Nordic flavors and Nordic terroir
For those who want to experience Nordic terroir and Nordic flavors, Bar Nordic organizes tastings, group nights and theme events. Their range of beverages also invites producers from all parts of the Nordic region to make guest appearances at the bar.
“At Systembolaget there are currently shelves labeled France or Italy, but no shelves labeled Sweden, or for that matter Denmark, Finland or Norway. So to create a showcase for drinks from the Nordic countries, we have opened Bar Nordic,” says Li Holmberg.
It is not only Nordic terroir that you can now experience at Bar Nordic. The experience includes the feeling of being closer to the Nordic wilderness in the middle of Stockholm. The interior of the bar was designed by architect Anna Lovehed with details in reindeer antler by artist Emma Sundström from Arjeplog, leatherwork by Aaron Fisher and murals by Skellefteå artist Staffan Lidman (who also created the labels for the wines in the Rålund and Bergskär series).
Sustainability is important to the owners, so interior details from the previous restaurant at the location were integrated into the new furnishings. An old church pew from Rålund’s church was shipped to Stockholm and Bar Nordic. Lars Normark has done all the woodwork himself, including covering the beautiful bar counter with birch boards from Västerbotten.
The ingredients for the drinks that New Nordic Beverage produces are wild forest berries and fruit from organic producers. Unlike cultivated berries, wild berries do not need any pesticides, which is one of the reasons wild blueberries and lingonberries as ingredients are well in line with the company’s overall philosophy. If you add up the portion of Swedish blueberries that humans and wild animals eat, it only makes up about five percent of all blueberries that grow in the forest. That means 95 percent of these amazing berries actually rot away.
2025 Trondheim World Cup
World Cup Finals this year are in Trondheim, Norway. Dale of Norway has created a special edition
“I wanted to find a way to make use of both the berries themselves and the tradition that surrounds them, since many people in the Nordic region have a relationship with wild blueberries. I had heard of window wine that used to be made from blueberries in a sunny window, and that sparked the idea of producing a modern wine from blueberries,” says Li Holmberg.
From the kitchen to the world market
To make a long story short, in 2014 Li Holmberg and Lars Normark began experimenting at home with making their own wine from blueberries. They eventually created the company Idunn Wine, built a winery in Norsjö, and in 2018
they were able to present Rålund wine from blueberries as their first wine.
Now, 10 years in, the couple has teamed up with Umeå-based author, cocktail expert and bartender Emil Åreng, who for a week in October 2024 brought the spirit of his Facit Bar in Umeå to the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. His beverage producing company Episk (meaning epic in Swedish), which produces liqueurs, has merged with Idunn Wine to become New Nordic Beverage. With the merger, the list of products from the winery has been expanded. In addition to three varieties of Rålund wine from Blueberries and Bergskär dry wine from lingonberries, the company produces an aperitif, a dessert wine and a mulled wine, as well as two non-alcoholic drinks, one from blueberries and one from lingonberries. Episk contributes the liqueurs Blåbär, Lingon and Hjortron (cloudberry), all made from wild berries, and Hallon (raspberry) and Svarta Vinbär (blackcurrant) from garden berries. In addition, the collaboration has resulted in an Episk Glögg—a mulled wine made from blueberry wine launched in Sweden for Christmas 2024.
Idunn has outgrown its present winery in Norsjö and is looking for a new location to scale up production. The plan is to produce both wines from blueberries and lingonberries as well as other drinks for the export markets.
Bar Nordic offers Nordic drinks and a sparingly flavored bar menu with snacks and small dishes to go with the drinks. All ingredients are exclusive and purchased from sustainable producers.
“The way we see it, our production philosophy at New Nordic Beverage and the sales through Bar Nordic are our contribution to the green transition in the wine and beverage industry,” comments Li Holmberg as we part ways in downtown Stockholm.
Gunilla Blixt
For more info, see www.barnordic.com and www. newnordicbeverage.se
Bar Nordic bartender Aaron Fisher at work onw the bar’s unique cocktails.
Warm woolen Lovikka mittens
On the Sweden-Finland border in Lovikka, true Lovikkavante (Lovikka mittens) were knit with natural, undyed wool featuring a braided tassel and geometric embroidery in the colors of blue, yellow and red. They were sold with a certification tag that authenticated their origin and timeless beauty.
The mittens were designed more than 130 years ago in accordance with a pattern established by their creator Erika Aittamaa in 1892. Especially suited for the cold climate of northern Sweden — Lovikka is in the Lapland landscape (now part of Norrbotten) near Pajala and the border with Finland — they were made with heavy Swedish wool, slightly felted and combed to make them fluffy, then embroidered to make them festive.
Wendy J. Johnson is a Minnesota textile artist, knitting designer, author and teacher in the textile arts, among many other award winning endeavors. Half of Wendy’s Swedish heritage comes from the southwest coast of Sweden, particularly the province of Västergötland, and the other half comes from the Hälsingland province. These areas of Sweden have been a great influence in her work and something she likes to share with others. This has been reflected in her successful writing about and promotion of Swedish fiber art traditions within her patterns and books and through teaching Swedish knitting technique, such as tvåändstickning, color work from the Halland province and Lovikka knitting and embroidery.
The winter season is upon us and good warm wool mittens can be invaluable. Knitting Lovikka mittens is a popular element of Wendy’s Swedish Heritage Knitting curriculum, through workshops and in person. She explained the history and significance of Swedish traditional knitting, especially mittens:
Are Swedish designs in some way relative to the climate, weather, community, etc.? folklore?
If you dig into motif origins, you can often see worldwide similarities. Granted, origins can be traced with archeological help, but true origins are usually murky. Design influences don’t have distinct borders.
Swedish knitting as an enterprise started in the 1600s in the Halland province in southwestern Sweden, mainly due to garments needed by the military, although household knitting was known to be present before this time. This knitting was commonly called Binge, which in old Swedish meant “to knot or bind,” and has distinct pattern motifs — first created in a knit/purl pattern and later in two-color patterns when color dyes became easier to acquire.
Trade and travel between Europe and the Middle East probably influenced many of the pattern motifs. There are also connections between Danish and Halland knitting designs, traceable through historical artifacts and pattern motifs. Early Norwegian knitting reflects patterns found in Halland knits. We know that easier travel between the southwest
Halland province of Sweden, Norway and Denmark in the 1600s led to these design commonalities.
What sets apart Swedish knitting techniques from others?
Swedish garment knitting techniques could be defined by practicality. The garments created were meant to keep a person warm in cold weather and cool in summer. Materials came from what could be grown and made in the region. There is also an economic aspect to this. Those who lived off the land or in remote areas needed fiber for garments that could be made inexpensively and locally, often by rudimentary knitters. In Sweden, those fibers were primarily wool and linen (flax) — although linen was mostly for woven garments.
With today’s concern for the environment and the growing “slow textile” movement seeking to
make textiles more sustainable, such fibers are returning to prominence in Sweden.
The Swedish knitting designs also follow a practical form. Lovikka mittens were heavily influenced by the Arctic Sami region, where Erika Aittamaa created them in the late 1800s. The Lovikka designs use a thick wool yarn that is slightly felted and double at the wrist, which creates a very warm mitten for the harsh north. Their embroidered patterns and colors reflect the Sami culture.
The less bulky tvåändstickning knits (alternately knit from two ends of a single ball of finer wool yarn) are mostly from the province of Dalarna. Based on recent archeological finds, that knitting technique may go back to the 1500s (there is no known origin for the technique) and
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Wendy J. Johnson of Minnesota with the classic Lovikka colors and make.
are more suited to that snowy but less frigid region of central Sweden. Their almost woven appearance also made them popular for more elegant provincial costumes in nearby provinces. Halland (Binge) knits from the coastal southwest of Sweden use fine wool yarn to create twocolor motif patterns. The two colors used across a single row make a slightly thicker and more waterproof wool fabric designed to keep those in the coastal areas warm and dry.
What is the purpose of a tassel? Color meanings? Are they random?
The Lovikka mitten tassel has a clear purpose: It allows the mittens to be hung up to dry after a day of wear in the snow. The cuffs of the mittens are embroidered to reflect Aittamaa’s desire to honor the people of her Sami region. Blue stands for the moon or sky, red for the sun, and yellow for animals. Modern versions of the mittens might use different colors, but authentic Lovikkavanten mittens remain faithful to the primary Sami colors.
How do you maintain, wash, clean and dry the mittens?
As with any woolen garment, the mittens can be hand-washed in lukewarm water with a bit of neutral pH soap, rinsed, and laid flat to dry. Alternatively, you can put them under a layer of snow and gently scrub them to “snow wash” the fabric. That is true of any woolen garment! Just be sure the snow is clean.
Where have you taught Swedish knitting?
I have taught Swedish knitting at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Gammelgården Museum in Scandia, Minnesota, Ingebretsen’s Nordic Needlework shop in Minneapolis, and various education centers in Minnesota. In 2022, I received a Teaching Tools Grant from the American Swedish Institute. I began teaching Swedish flax history and linen processing workshops using the tools I purchased and created with the grant funds. All of my workshops start with a presentation on the subject’s history so students can appreciate the importance of Swedish knitting and textile history (workshops are posted on my website www.SagaHill.com).
What’s the Swedish connection?
Both my mother’s and father’s families emigrated from Sweden. My mother’s family was part of the second group of earliest Swedish immigrants to Minnesota. They arrived in the 1850s from Västergötland and had a business sense. My mother’s family influenced me to turn textiles into a business and teach. My father’s family emigrated to the U.S. at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s. They were from Hälsingland and were known for their strong, creative nature. My farmor (father’s mother) instilled a love of textiles in me as I watched her knit, weave and sew.
Can flax be knit?
Many associate linen (flax) with weaving, although it makes an elegant knit fabric. Its quick water absorption and release qualities make it excellent for towels and garments. There is a perception that flax (linen) is challenging to knit, although that doesn’t have to be true. Understanding the fiber and its limitations and benefits is the key! I am teaching an inw-person linen cloth knitting workshop on June 1, 2025, at the American Swedish Institute (www. asimn.org), where the students will learn the tips and tricks of knitting with linen yarn.
Future plans for teaching Swedish knitting?
Norwegian and Icelandic knitting designs are often defined as Nordic knitting, but Swedish
knitting has a significant history, although it is usually not as well known, if at all! In fact, it is possible that Swedish knitting had a more substantial influence on ALL Nordic knitting than history has recorded. Case in point: In the 1600s, Swedish traders (knälle) traveled from Halland and Västergötland to Norway and many other regions of Sweden, bringing their knit goods and design influence to those places. How could that not have impacted all of Nordic knitting? One of my goals in teaching is to illuminate this history. There is also a strong aspect of women’s history in Swedish knitting, with their efforts raising the economy of many Swedes. Yet, little historical acknowledgment of the importance of that contribution exists. I feel compelled to share the women’s stories, bring what they did into the light to shine in the modern world, and perhaps influence others to see how their handwork can impact their own communities today.
I currently have two strong rivers of interest in teaching. I have researched, grown, processed, and knitted with linen flax for many years. This interest circles back to my family origins. Hälsingland is known for growing and processing linen flax, and Västergötland is a province that manufactures textiles, including linen! I cannot help but incorporate my, perhaps genetic, love of linen flax fiber into my teaching wherever I can. I am also very interested in the Binge knits of the Halland province, next door to Västergötland. I have been researching the wide array of Binge motifs and am designing a series of ski headbands highlighting the different patterns. I will continue to share the rich history of the Binge knitting women in future workshops.
Nils R. Caspersson
You may know the history of the popular Bohus Stickning organization from the Bohuslan province, which has been recently revived around the world, the Halland knitters had a similar beginning in raising their province’s economy — but well over two centuries before the Bohus Stickning organization began.
Fingerless Mitts Vallkulla from my Yarn Works book.
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This was once the heart of the Porjus power station. Today, the brick-red building is an eloquent monument to the electrification of Sweden. The main entrance is the same gate that King Gustav V would have used at the opening ceremony 110 years earlier, on February 8, 1915, though due to the war, the king chose to remain at the palace in Stockholm and forgo the long journey north for security reasons. Despite this, the gate is still called “Kungaporten” (“the King’s Gate”) today.
The intention was originally to demolish the entire structure. In connection with the renovation and expansion of the power plant in Porjus in the 1970s, large parts of the switchgear building became redundant. And keeping a building that did not fulfill any specific function was not considered economically justifiable by the owner, Vattenfall. There were those who wanted something different, however. An opinion was mobilized against the plans to demolish the mighty building. It was called “a cultural and historical devastation.” And after Vattenfall’s CEO Jonas Norrby had been on a study visit, he decided the building should be preserved.
And that was it. The building was designated a national monument and is today a renovated and oft-visited tribute to Swedish industrial history. In addition to offices, workshops and a well equipped sports hall, the entire story of the power plant’s creation and operation is told here, with a photo exhibition, museum and carefully maintained turbines accessible in the engine room, 160 feet (50 meters) underground.
The Lule River has always been a valuable resource. Its waters held plenty of fish, ore and timber were transported on its waters, and the rapid parts powered sawmills. For Linnaeus and many other curious travelers, it was an important route for the exploration of the northern part of the country.
Less than five years had passed since the deci-
sion to build the power station in Porjus had been made. Sweden was on the verge of electrification. The gas lamps were extinguished. Coal-fired steam power was replaced by hydroelectric power. The foundation for a welfare and industrial society was beginning to be laid.
In the infancy of tourism, the Svenska Turistföreningen (The Swedish Tourist Association) gave advice and tips on how to best travel the Lule River. The association had cabins built, marked out hiking trails and arranged for boats that took travelers further and further up the river valley, to the alluring mountain world.
But the rivers of Norrland also contained waterfalls and rapids that could provide the energy that the mines, industry and railways so badly needed. The newly formed Vattenfall advocated investing in a large power plant in Porjus, where the Stora Luleälv River is squeezed into a series of rapids, despite the fact that the area was deserted and virtually undeveloped, with neither road nor railway.
In the spring of 1910, the Riksdag approved the proposal and the task of taming the waterfalls began immediately. Porjus was to become the site of the
largest power plant dam in the Nordic region and one of the world’s first underground power plants.
The task was enormous and the schedule was tight, with mostly shovels, spades and wheelbarrows to work with. The nearest community was Gällivare, just over 30 roadless miles away. And there was no time to wait for the planned railway to be completed.
Initially everything had to be carried on the partially boarded hiking trail between Gällivare and Porjus that the Swedish Tourist Association had built for tourists a few years earlier.
The hike, with loads that could weigh 150 pounds, took a full day. In this way, five tons of food, tools and materials were transported to the construction site in the first months.
Another transport route, which was a little less arduous, was “only” 50 kilometers long. Here, it was possible to use boats and horses to transport the goods; this alternative took three days. When the marshes froze, rails were instead laid directly on the ground, and trolleys were used that were moved by hand.
In the primitive and mostly male society that populated Porjus, conditions could be difficult, with alcohol, card games and hard work.
The few unmarried women who were here
worked with laundry and cleaning, those who were married were responsible for children and home. Large families and unhygienic housing made the tasks involved heavy and tiring.
The climate north of the Arctic Circle was another challenge. In winter it could be below zero temperatures; during the summer months the mosquitoes were a nuisance, and in the cramped housing, mostly simple huts and barracks, lice thrived.
Half a century later, a visitor summed up the first years of power plant construction in these harsh words:
“In Porjus, you encounter a strange mixture of advanced thinking, a quarter of a century ahead of its time, and a brutal and unsightly exploitation of living labor in the worst traditions of the 19th century.”
But the highly accelerated pace of work paid off. After just under five years, on October 26, 1914, the power plant in Porjus was ready to be put into operation, complete with dams, tunnels, turbines and generators. At the start, the output was 38 MW, by 1980 the figure had increased to 530 MW (which could theoretically supply over half a million homes).
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The plant attracted great international attention, among other things for its northern location and the underground engine room. The First World War’s import ban on coal and kerosene also meant that Sweden had a cheap and domestic source of power to rely on during the war years.
“So this is where it all began,” we think and pound on the sturdy oak doors of Kungaporten, the King’s Gate. Porjus was the pioneer power plant on the Lule River. Today, there are 15 power plants on the river that together produce 25 percent of the country’s hydroelectric power, equivalent to oneninth of Sweden’s entire electricity production. Whether the architect Erik Josephson had any inkling of this when he designed the building, we don’t know. But judging by the other power stations he designed in Trollhättan, Älvkarleby and Motala, electricity was given great importance as a symbol of prosperity and growth during the first decades of the 20th century.
The interlocking plant in Porjus attracted a lot of attention when it opened. It has been called “a
mighty monument” and “the temple in the wilderness.” And the occasional eyebrow is still raised at the sight of the brick-clad building that rises high above the fir trees in Porjus. The contrast to other, more small-scale buildings in the small community could not be greater.
When the doors of Kungaporten finally open to us, Yvette Helin welcomes us. She is responsible for all visitor activities in Porjus and knows all the nooks and crannies of the structure like the back of her hand.
Already in the airy stairwell, inside the main entrance, we are standing reverently on the black and white tiled floor, framed by the heavy cast iron stair railings. On the wall are some examples of the 60 light fixtures, intended for both workshops and boardrooms, which were commissioned by the craftsman Olga Lanner in Stockholm.
For a long time, it was believed many of these lamps had disappeared, but a number of them turned up — carefully packed by a former site manager and placed in a scrub — and then reinstalled.
There is also a nicely painted schematic sketch of the old power plant posted on the wall. From the 1,700-feet-long (525-meter) inlet tunnel that was supposed to prevent the water from freezing, via a tube intake, with a drop of 200 feet, to the
Francis turbines, and from there on through a 4,000-feet-long (1,274-meter) outlet tunnel out into freedom again.
It looks so simple.…
Yvette shows us the way to the hand-cranked elevator that takes us down to the beautiful engine room, blasted into the rock far below us. Here everything is as it has been since the power station’s inauguration. In the ceiling, a deep shaft with an original traverse to lift in and out blasted rock, turbine parts and machines. A black and yellow stone floor. Vaulted ceilings. Highly polished machines and controls that gleam in the lamplight.
The engine room originally had five turbines, which expanded to nine by 1960. The energy produced was distributed between the ore conveyor, the mine and local households. Today, most of the energy is produced in the new power plant that has been built right next door.
The old turbines are still there. The protective cover on one of these has been opened. Inside there is the tube into which the water rushed to make the generator shaft spin. 20 cubic meters per second. 250 revolutions per minute. Kinetic energy
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is converted into electrical energy. We notice that the tube is riveted by hand.
Two flights up, the control room has been put in order. Until 1975, it was manned around the clock by two mechanics. Today, all power plants in the Lule River are monitored by two central operating centers elsewhere.
Old chandeliers by Olga Lanner hang from the ceiling. The control panel is made of marble from Italy and Kolmården, a couple hours south of Stockholm. Equal parts show and safety - marble does not conduct electricity - determined the choice of material. One of the workstations has a higher chair and a finer telephone - the hierarchies of the power station could be manifested in different ways.
On the wall above one of the control panels hang the hand colored drawings of the switchgear building that were displayed at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Opposite are the two clocks whose dials show the time for the morning and afternoon shifts, respectively.
Yvette guides us on. In the transformer workshop, the overhead cranes are still in the ceiling. The interior of Linas Café, which was the hangout of the big boys, has been built up in one room. In another room there is an exhibition that tells about the people of Porjus and the life they lived. Another exhibit highlights Ida Wilhelmina Kyrö Wälimaa, who documented the creation of the power plant and local society with her camera.
The government constructed monument in Porjus, essentially a cathedral in the wilderness, is filled to the ceiling with industrial history. A history from a time when Sweden, by starting to use water as an energy source on a large scale, was able to take its first steps into the electric age. It may very well be worth a detour on your next trip to Sweden.
“Ställverk” in Swedish can be translated to either switchgear or interlocking plant.
- Power plants in the Big and Little Lule rivers: Akkats, Boden, Harsprånget, Laxede, Letsi, Ligga, Messaure, Parki, Porjus, Porsi, Randi, Ritsem, Seievare, Vietas, Vittjärv
- All power plants in the 290-mile-long (461 km) Lule River, known in Sami as Julevädno, are owned by Vattenfall, with a combined installed capacity of just over 4,200 MW, or 4.2 GW.
- The Big and Little Lule Rivers are joined in Vuollerim, where the operation center is located. The power plant in Porjus was the first to be built in the Lule River, it was put into operation in October 1914 and inaugurated in February the following year.
- There are around 2,100 hydroelectric power plants in Sweden, of which 210 are classified as large-scale. 80 percent of Swedish waterways are developed. Hydropower is emission-free, but it affects the environment and biodiversity. There is currently a shortage of rapids and streams, which threatens many species.
- Cheap energy from hydroelectric power has been a pre-requisite for Swedish welfare. At the same time, this meant the Sami had their pastures and fishing waters destroyed. This is what historian Åsa Össbo at Umeå University writes in her thesis “New water, dark reflections.” It also states that reindeer herding was made invisible and the expansion of hydropower was entirely on the terms of the power companies.
- The path between Gällivare and Porjus was already used in the 18th century. When the railway to Gällivare was completed, the number of tourists who wanted to visit Porjus, Harsprånget and Stora Sjöfallet increased. In 1891, the path was bridged by the STF then used as a transport route during the construction period in Porjus. In memory of those who carried materials to the power plant, the Rallarmarschen is arranged every July
Sweden has 30 national parks and more than 4,000 nature reserves, together covering more than a tenth of the country’s land area. Sweden’s largest park is Padjelanta National Park, above, situated in the very north and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Laponia.
The final wilderness, Lapland
Nearly a quarter of Sweden’s surface, the sprawling region of Swedish Lapland, offers everything that wilderness and winter adventurers dream about. Lappland is also the biggest Swedish province (“landskap”) and borders Jämtland, Ångermanland, Västerbotten, Norrbotten, Norway and Finland.
The majority of Swedish Lapland is nowadays part of Norrbottens Län (Norrbotten County) not to be confused with the traditional province, which covers only the eastern part of Norrbotten County – the inland mostly belongs to Swedish Lappland.
Originally, Lappland extended eastward, but in 1809, the Russian Empire annexed the eastern part of the Swedish realm and created the Grand Duchy of Finland, which split Lappland into one Swedish and one Finnish part, both of which still exist today. Parts of Lappland have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the province contains some of the oldest and most spectacular national parks of northern Europe, like the Sarek National Park, Abisko and Björnlandet. Size-wise, Lappland is almost equal to Portugal with an area of 109,702 sq km (about 42,300 sq miles).
During the Middle Ages, Lappland was considered a no man’s land, but the area was in fact populated by nomadic Sami people. However, soon Swedes, Finns and Norwegians settled there, especially along the coasts and large rivers. Swedish kings tried to colonize and Christianize the area using settlers from what is now Finland and southern Sweden. Natural resources like hydroelectricity, timber and minerals from Lappland later played a key role during Sweden’s industrialization.
Today, despite large-scale assimilation into the dominant Swedish culture, Finnish and Sami minorities continue to maintain their cultures and identities. The biggest city in Lappland is Kiruna; it’s also the northernmost city in all of Sweden, with 22,464 inhabitants (2024). The arctic city has been covered in international media in recent years since the whole town is being relocated to avoid falling into the mine it’s built on - known as “the giant move,” the ambitious 20-year project involves moving the city two miles to the east of its present location. The actual move of culturally important buildings started in 2017 and the final phase is expected during 2025-2026.
Photo:
Hans-Olof
The Sámi
Thousands of years before the borders of the modern Scandinavian countries were established or even imagined, there were indigenous people living in the far north who shared a common language and history. They lived in a realm they call Sápmi, a term that by some accounts means expanse (“vidd” in Swedish) and refers both to the land and the people. Today, the Sami number about 70,000 to 80,000 and live mainly in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Relatively recently, in 1993, the first Swedish Sami parliament was elected.
There are two main groups of Sámi – the nomadic people and the sea people. The nomadic Sámi have traditionally moved throughout the region with their reindeer herds. They follow the reindeer across wide expanses of land; the reindeer have been essential to their survival, providing them with food, clothing, shelter and tools. Their culture is one of hardship, driven by the extreme survival skills needed to get through long grueling winters on the Arctic plains, where the temperature can dip below –50°F. They have a traditional gender-based culture in which the women make clothing, tools and souvenirs from the reindeer, while the men are the herders.
Historically, the nomadic Sámi herded their animals using dogs and sleighs. Relatively few Sami are still herding reindeer and the most modern among them employ helicopters, trucks and snowmobiles. Many have moved to different parts of the countries, or lead “ordinary” modern lives. The women have university degrees and work in cities because the traditional trade is not sufficient to employ an entire family. As they abandon the traditional way of life, the Sámi culture is also running the risk of disappearing.
Like Sámi, the trappers and Arctic explorers before them, visitors to Europe’s frosty north are discovering the joy and challenge of traveling across snow and ice on sleds pulled by sturdy dogs. Much of the region’s adventure travel is organized by outsiders, but some Sámi have found tourism is a means to hold on to their way of life when traditional ways are no longer sufficient. Although tourism may offer a means of survival for the Sámi, the Inuit living in Greenland and Canada’s far north, as well as other indigenous people in the Arctic, it poses a risk to both the environment and local culture. The Arctic region, which spreads over eight different countries and across all time zones, is particularly vulnerable to the environmental consequences of tourism because of its short growing season, which means any wounds take a long time to heal. On the tundra, snowmobile tracks could take 50 years to erase if the snow layer protecting the ground isn’t thick enough, according to WWF’s Arctic Program.
Lappland - den största regionen | the largest region
Lapland has 89,000 inhabitants and its space covers 109,702 km² (Sweden has a total area of 410,000 km²). Less than one percent of the population thus lives on a quarter of the country’s surface area. In 1948, Kiruna, the region’s largest city became the world’s largest city by area when the city’s borders were redrawn. At the time, it was 14,000 square kilometers (just under 5,500 miles). But the urban area was only a small part of it. Since then, the borders have been moved again. While Kiruna is a relatively small city with a population today of around 23,000, the municipality now covers an area of 19,447 square kilometers (7,500 square miles), making it the second largest municipality in the world after Chongqing in central China (which is 4 times larger by area!). The town will be moved two kilometers to the east because of the mines. Kiruna, the municipality, stretches from Norway in the west to Finland in the east. At Treriksröset, Norway, Sweden and Finland meet (at that point). Jokkmokk is a small town with a tourist market, Sarek the national park and the Sami- and mountain museum. Åsele and Malå are other places in Lapland. Abisko near Norway and north of the Arctic Circle is part of the national park including Kungsleden (a hiking trail). It is more than 440 km (275 miles). Jukkasjärvi is world famous for its ice hotel with beds and drinking glasses of ice. Torneträsk is the sixth largest lake in Sweden.
Sápmi, land of the Sami people, has 20,000 – 40,000 inhabitants. Many Sami are nomads and tend to Sweden’s over 250,000 reindeer. A rajd can consist of thousands of reindeer on the go. Renskav is a traditional dish of reindeer meat sliced thinly and served in a variety of ways. Esrange is a space center near Kiruna. Lapporten is a spectacular u-shaped opening to a valley. The Kebnekaise is the highest mountain in Sweden (2096 m).
The regional name Lapland can be used in contexts that do not directly concern the Sami or Sami issues. At the same time, “Lapp” should not be used to name the originally nomadic groups that lived in the north; we recommend Sami instead. Lapp probably comes from the Finnish lappalainen “person from Lapland,” and is now perceived by many as derogatory.
Lappland
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Lapporten (“The Lapponian Gate”) or Tjuonavagge is a u-shaped valley located just outside Abisko National Park in Lapland.
Läs texten. Sätt in ord från den för att lösa korsordet / Read the text. Use words from it to solve the crossword puzzle
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Du hittar en lista över nya ord i spalten till höger och den fullständiga texten på engelska på sidan 21 | You find a list of new words in the column to the right and the complete text in English on page 21.
Lappland | Lapland – största regionen | the largest region Lappland har 89 000 invånare och ytan är 109702 km² (Sverige har en total yta på 410.000 km²). Mindre än en procent av befolkningen bor alltså på en fjärdedel av landets yta. 1948 blev Kiruna, regionens största stad, världens största stad till ytan när man ritade om stadens gränser. Den var då 14 000 kvadratkilometer. Men tätorten var bara en liten del av ytan. Och sedan dess har gränserna flyttats igen. Medan Kiruna är en relativt liten stad med en befolkning på idag cirka 23 000, omfattar kommunen nu ett område på 19 447 kvadratkilometer, vilket gör den till den näst största kommunen i världen efter Chongqing i centrala Kina (som är 4 gånger större till ytan!). Staden ska flyttas två kilometer österut för gruvornas skull. Kiruna kommun sträcker sig från Norge i väster till Finland i öster. Vid Treriksröset möts Norge, Sverige och Finland. Jokkmokk är en plats med en stor turistmarknad, nationalparken Sarek och same- och fjällmuseet. Åsele och Malå är andra orter i Lappland. Abisko nära Norge och norr om Polcirkeln är del av en nationalpark med Kungsleden för vandring. Den är mer än 440 km (275 miles). Jukkasjärvi är världsberömt för sitt ishotell med sängar och drinkglas av is. Torneträsk är den sjätte största sjön i Sverige. Sápmi, samernas land, har 20000 – 40000 invånare. Många är nomader som sköter de mer än 250000 renar som finns i Sverige. En rajd kan bestå av tusentals renar på väg. Renskav är en traditionell maträtt med tunt skivat renkött som kan serveras på olika sätt, med olika tillbehör. Esrange är ett rymdcenter nära Kiruna. Lapporten är en spektakulär u-formad dal. Kebnekaise är det högsta berget i Sverige (2096 m). Landskapsnamnet Lappland kan användas i sammanhang som inte direkt berör samer eller samiska frågor. Samtidigt bör inte “lapp” användas för att ge namn till de ursprungligen nomadiska grupper som levde i norr; vi rekommenderar istället same. Lapp kommer sannolikt av det finska lappalainen ‘person från Lappland’, och uppfattas numera av många som nedsättande.
Text in English on page 21
Ordförråd / Vocabulary:
invånare: inhabitants yta: area
störst: biggest, largest stad: town, city värld: world
gruva: mine
flyttas: will be moved
österut: eastwards
för … skull: because of sträcker sig från: stretches from vid: at möta: meet
plats: place, small town marknad: market
fjäll: mountain
museet (museum): the museum ort: place, small town nära. near Norge: Norway
Polcirkeln: Arctic Circle vandring: trekking världsberömd: world famous is: ice säng: bed
sjätte största sjön: sixth largest lake ren: reindeer
rajd: moving herd of reindeer beswtå av: consist of tusentals: thousands of på väg: on the move renskav: thin slices of reindeer meat maträtt: dish (food) u-formad dal: u-shaped valley (or opening in this case) högst: highest viktig: important berg: mount, mountain
Discover Swedish is not your typical language course. These practices and lessons are for regular readers, maybe even beginners, trying to get a casual grip on the Swedish language. By participating in Discover Swedish you may learn a bit about Sverige (Sweden), svenska (the language) och svenskarna (the people of Sweden).
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE Lappland (Key, page 21)
Lappland | Lapland—den största regionen
| the largest region. Och den nordligaste delen av Sverige | And, the northernmost part of Sweden
Swedish Fruit Soup (Fruktsoppa) is a nourishing and comforting combination of simmered mixed dried fruit, warm spices such as cinnamon and a splash of fruit juice. It is often served cold, especially in the summer months, but it can also be served warm or at room temperature. Swedish Fruit Soup makes for a delicious and unique first course, dessert or breakfast dish, especially with a dollop of whipped cream or yogurt on top. Fortunately, fruktsoppa comes together in a snap and can be made entirely ahead of time.
Fruit based soups are very popular in the Scandinavian region. While this one calls for dried fruit, other fruit soups are made with fresh fruits such as rhubarb, apples or blueberries. Blueberry Soup (Blåbärsoppa) is very popular in Sweden, see my recipe for a fresh fruit variation.
- This recipe for Swedish fruit soup calls for a mix of dried fruits and golden raisins which makes it an excellent dish for winter when fresh fruit can be a bit harder to come by.
- Fruktsoppa is better when it is made ahead of time so it has time to chill and allow the flavors to blend.
- While fruit soup is indeed sweet and satisfying, it is also wholesome and nourishing as it is chock full of fiber and nutrients thanks to all the dried fruit.
Be sure to keep the soup at a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes once you add the sugar and tapioca. This ensures that the sugar has a chance to dissolve and that the tapioca is fully cooked.
Ingredients
1 pound dried mixed fruit, either your own combination or a bag (a 2-pound pack of Fancy Mixed Fruit from Mariani is around $20 online)
1 cup golden raisins
2 quarts cold water + 2 cups water divided pinch of salt
2 cinnamon sticks
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup minute tapioca
1 cup white grape juice (white or dark is fine)
Instructions
- Cut the dried fruit into bite-size pieces.
- Bring the dried fruit, raisins, 2 quarts water, salt and cinnamon sticks to a boil on high heat. - Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered, until the mixture is thick and the fruit is tender, about 45 minutes.
- Add the sugar, 2 cups water and tapioca. Bring the mixture to a boil again and let it cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the soup thickens.
- Remove from the heat and add the grape juice.
- Chill and serve.
Swedish Fruit Soup can be made ahead of time and stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days prior to serving.
For more inspired Scandinavian cooking, check Kristi’s True North Kitchen blog which offers a sampling of recipes with a true Nordic feel. See www.true-north-kitchen.com
Ingredients
3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/3 cup granulated sugar pinch of salt
2 cups plus 3 tablespoons water divided 2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine the blueberries, sugar, salt and 2 cups of water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and reduce to a simmer. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the remaining 3 tablespoons of cold water. Stir the mixture into the soup and simmer until thickened, about 3 more minutes. Serve the soup warm or chilled.
Storage instructions
In the refrigerator: Store the finished blueberry soup in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 4 days. Either warm it before serving or serve chilled.
In the freezer: This soup freezes well! Transfer the completely cooled soup to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months.
* The super berries according to Livsmedelsverket are hawthorn berries, chokeberries, blueberries, strawberries, red and black currants, raspberries, lingonberries and gooseberries.
The classic mainstay
This recipe for Swedish Blueberry Soup (Blåbärssoppa) is an easy-to-make classic you don’t want to miss. Bursting with nutrition and blueberry flavor, this mildly sweet Scandinavian dish can be served either hot or cold and enjoyed any time of day ... even breakfast, a snack or dessert.
Fresh blueberries are great for soup, but I love using frozen blueberries in this recipe. They are easy to keep on hand which makes this a soup you can make at a moment’s notice. Simple white sugar acts Ato substitute honey or maple syrup for the sugar. (Because honey and syrup tend to taste sweeter than sugar, I would start with one-quarter cup of either one and add more to taste.)
Cornstarch thickens the soup so it has a pleasant, soup-like consistency. While cornstarch is technically gluten free, it is sometimes processed in a facility that also processes gluten products and may therefore not be safe for those who are sensitive to gluten. You can substitute potato starch or arrowroot for the cornstarch if you like. Both are gluten free.
The pinch of salt really rounds out the flavors and acts as a counterpoint to the sugar in the soup and lemon juice is an acid and provides just the right zing to finish this dish and heighten the flavors.
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While many health enthusiasts tout the powers of popular berries like the trendy goji, Swedes looking for a health boost need go no further than the great Swedish outdoors. Nine “super berries” grow in the Swedish countryside where in some cases everyone has the right to pick as many as they’d like, thanks to the “Allemansrätten,” or the “right to roam.” Livsmedelsverket (The Swedish Food Administration) has analyzed and measured the levels of vitamin C, folate, vitamin K and carotenoids, to determine the super berries* ... and the most readily available is: the blueberry. As most of you know blueberry soup is a given on every large Swedish cross country skiing event — from the 90k Vasaloppet race to the many local shorter distance races.
Kristi Bissell
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Most dangerous job in Sweden? Reindeer herders have the most dangerous line of work in Sweden, according to an earlier study that analyzed the causes of deaths among all jobs in the country. The number of deaths among them was more than twice that of farmers and more than three times the total of construction workers during 1961-2000. There are an estimated 300,000 reindeer in Sweden that occupy around 10 percent of the Swedish Sami population. The hides are used for clothing, handicrafts and fashion, and the meat for food. Reindeer herding is, together with the Sami languages, considered to be the core of the Sami culture.
Until the Lights Come Back On Lilly Setterdahl’s newest novel is a roller coaster of events after a cyber attack has cut off all electric power in Sweden in the month of October. The book follows one family but shows how a catastrophe that’s all too conceivable in a post-pandemic world will truly affect everyone.
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Tent with an attitude. Lavvus, similar to the Native American teepees, have been the dwelling of reindeer herders for centuries. Much like in the teepees of North America, a fire can be built inside a lavvu because it has an opening at the top that allows smoke to escape. But there are several differences between teepees and lavvus: teepees are laid out in a half-circle, lavvus have multiple corners; the hem of a teepee is six inches off the ground, the lavvu hem is flat to the ground; teepees are more permanent, complex structures that require holes to secure the poles and several people to erect, while lavvus can be erected and disassembled by one person in minutes. Feel like making your next outdoor experience special? There’s a lavvu manufacturer on this side of the Atlantic, Northern Lavvu, www.lavvu.com
Squeaky delicacy. Kahvijuusto, coffee cheese, also known in the United States as Finnish squeaky cheese (not to be confused with cheese curds that Midwesterners also call squeaky cheese but are made from sour milk) is a fresh cheese traditionally made from beestings, rich milk from a cow that has recently calved. The Sami use reindeer milk and traditionally add small pieces to coffee or eat on the side with cloudberry jam. If you eat the coffee cheese as it is, either hot or cold, it squeaks as you chew it. With few exceptions, any commercially available versions are typically made from cow’s milk, and they lack some of the color and flavor of the sami version.
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Photo: Hans-Olof Utsi/imagebank.sweden
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Swedish News
Swedish NATO soldiers in Latvia
600 Swedish soldiers arrived in Latvia on January 18, in Sweden’s first ground operation as a NATO ally. The Swedish battalion will now guard the border with Russia for the next six months. “It is a historic day for Sweden as a country, but for Latvia and NATO it is not. We are the 14th country to join this multinational brigade in Latvia that has existed since 2004,” according to a spokesman for the Swedish army. The last time the Swedish military operated in Europe was in Kosovo in the 1990s. Outside of Europe, the military has been to Mali and Afghanistan.
New businesses are declining
The recession is hitting new businesses hard. Last year 57,400 companies were started in Sweden – the lowest number since the financial crisis in 2009. Compared to the record year of 2021, new businesses have plummeted by 27 percent, according to statistics from the Swedish Companies Registration Office compiled by the company Visma Spcs. New businesses have decreased for three years in a row. Last year, this was the case in all 21 counties. The biggest declines are in Uppsala and Västernorrland counties, with declines of 18 and 17 percent respectively.
Record high debts for Swedes
Swedes’ debts to the Enforcement Authority (“Kronofogden”) continue to increase rapidly. In 2024, the mountain of debt grew SEK 19 billion to a record high of SEK 138 billion. This is 16 percent higher than a year ago, an increase of SEK 52 million per day. At the turn of the year, almost 437,000 people had payment complaints with the Swedish Enforcement Authority, an increase of 5 percent. Among the most common debts are maintenance support and tax debts, but also unpaid student loans. Parking fines and invoices from online purchases are also common debts.
NATO to increase presence in the Baltic
NATO will increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea after the damage to several submarine cables. The Swedish Coast Guard has also announced that it has increased monitoring of ship traffic, including by air. The police suspect that it was the anchor belonging to the oil tanker Eagle S that caused the damage to Estlink 2 and additional communication cables in the water between Finland and Estonia.
Fewer receive housing allowance
In the last five years, the number of households receiving housing allowance in Sweden has fallen by 21 percent, according to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. One of the reasons for the decrease is believed to be that the salary ceiling for receiving housing allowance has remained unchanged since 2021 despite several years of strong inflation and wage increases.
Swedes teach Americans to mingle
The Swedish startup Mingla will get tens of thousands of visitors to the giant Super Bowl event in the U.S. to network with each other and with sponsors. “The Super Bowl was not one of our go-to markets when we started nine months ago, but you have to take the ball and run with it when it becomes available,” says CEO Elise Lilliehöök in an interview with Swedish Dagens Industri. The final week of the American National Football League takes place in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome on February 9. Which teams will meet is not yet clear, but the tens of thousands of people who visit the fairgrounds in the days before the game will be able to network using the Swedish networking app Mingla. Mingla was founded in early 2024 by tech entrepreneur Elise Lilliehöök together with entrepreneurs and angel investors Ash Pournouri and Andreas Grape. It is reportedly through Pournouri’s contacts in the
music and event industries, among other things, that Mingla has gained a foothold in the Super Bowl. (Pournori was for many years a manager for Avicii.) At the fairgrounds outside Caesars Superdome, visitors will be able to connect to the platform via a QR code. “There is no upper limit to how many people can be active, but for the sake of dynamics, at least 100–150 people need to be active at the same time.” Mingla is construed as a game where you get points by making contact with others, completing tasks or, for example, seeking out sponsors. Lilliehöök also mused about the app’s name and its Swedish origin in interviews … “We thought about whether it could continue to be called Mingla internationally but have noticed that people like it. It’s similar to the use of ‘fika,’ but that said, contrary to fika, mingling is not what Swedes are known for.”
For more info, see www.mingla.io
Swedish donations to Trump inauguration
Ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, Swedish companies Spotify and Ericsson donated millions of kronor to the committee responsible for the program. “This is how you get close to the incoming administration, the ministers and the president, that’s when the talk starts. That’s where you want to be,” says Jacob Wallenberg, chairman of Investor and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and vice chairman of the board of Ericsson. Wallenberg emphasized when interviewed on Swedish TV how in the U.S. it is important to be close to politics, but this is a fact people in Sweden don’t really understand or accept. “American business works that way.” Ericsson
donated approximately $550,000 (SEK 5.5 million) to the committee ahead of the inauguration of the new president. Spotify reportedly donated $150,000. Alongside the contribution, the streaming platform also held a brunch on the eve of the ceremony, according to Bloomberg, for political pundits such as Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, country singer Riley Green, and others. In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, Spotify said, “Spotify has long hosted events in Washington, DC, and other capitals worldwide, bringing together political leaders, media figures, and industry peers from across the political spectrum. These engagements are business as usual.”
Mingling is not what Swedes are known for but a new app from Swedish start up Mingla defies expectations.
