The Swedish Name Day
What is the Swedish Name Day? If you have ever seen a Swedish calendar, you will also have seen that each day has names next to it. Usually one or two. What is this all about? This is the tradition of name days. In Swedish, we call it ‘namnsdag’. Where does the tradition come from? […]
Happy 10th anniversary!
10 years ago, I started teaching my very first student. This was before Skype had gone mainstream and was only in its infancy. I was studying for my PhD, and I took on another couple of students – the idea of teaching Swedish was so much more appealing than working extra in a pub. Since […]
10 Swedish sayings in English
Sayings can become very amusing when they are translated literally, and Swedish ones are no exception. A few years ago, the Twitter hash tag #swedishsayings did exactly this and gained a lot of popularity and laughters, even among people who knew no Swedish at all. The Local published a list of 10 odd sayings a while […]
My grandmother was in Pippi Longstocking
Here is a real treat, an episode from the Pippi Longstocking tv series from 1969! Also, allow me to introduce my very own late mormor (grandmother), first appearing at 14:45 in a green dress, and then later being pulled to the ground by Pippi herself. Jag saknar dig mormor. I miss you grandma. Click here […]
Swedish vs. British weddings
Swedish vs. British Weddings One of my students, who has been to numerous Swedish weddings, has written this brilliant (and, of course, subjective) reflection on Swedish vs British weddings, which she has kindly agreed for me to share. Pictures by my sister Eva Beronius. The Ceremony British weddings A church ceremony typically lasts up to an […]
Interview with Kristin from Bilingual By Music
Kristin Hellberg is one of the founders of Bilingual By Music. They have recently released their first bilingual album “Kids songs – Childrens favourites Swedish-English” which can be bought from the Bilingual By Music website. Kristin grew up in Norrköping, Sweden. At 19 she moved to London to study Musical Theatre at the Arts Educational […]
Strange traditions in Sweden: the burning Gävle Goat
What is the Gävle Goat? The Gävle Goat is a traditional Christmas display erected annually at Slottstorget (Castle Square) in central Gävle. The goat has a history of being burnt down roughly every other year. From 1988 onward, English bookmakers made it possible to bet on the goat’s destiny. The goat has also featured in […]