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All You Need To Know About The Semla – Swedens Most Beloved Pastry

By
Jennifer Nyström
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9

 

Every year, Fat Tuesday, or Semmeldagen, as the Swedes like to call it, falls on the seventh week before Easter. In Sweden, it’s considered the national day of Sweden’s most beloved pastry, the semla.

The tradition is centuries old but the day and perhaps most importantly, the pastry, seem to be getting more popular by the year. Although new creative variations of the semla are introduced every season, the classic two-layer bun made of wheat and cardamom, stuffed with almond paste under a cover of thick layered whipped cream is in many ways considered holy to the Swedes. It’s no wonder that an estimated six million semlor are sold in one single day during Fat Tuesday.




The traditional favorite Swedish semla.

Where did the Semla and Fat Tuesday originate from?

Let’s go back to the 14th century. Leading up to Easter, the Swedes would take part in a 40-day fast, which for religious reasons was of great importance to them at the time. This tradition has since died out and fasting is no longer a part of most Swedes Easter celebrations. Although fasting might have disappeared a long time ago in Sweden, the great feast prior to it has, indeed, not. 

The Swedish Church, who at that time had the power to impose laws, wanted to make sure that the long fast wouldn’t result in deaths due to starvation, so in order to survive the fast, a new law was introduced stating that everyone would have to indulge in an obligatory three day feast, where they were encourage to eat as much as they could, prior to the 40-day fast. They aptly named the law, ‘the law of the fast’. 

Each of the three days would have their own theme – Pork Sunday, Bun Monday and Pancake Tuesday, or Stone Cake day, which would later evolve into Fat Tuesday. Pancake Tuesday or Stone Cake day, is where the first versions of the semla was introduced in Sweden. However, it should be noted that the modern-day semla with its little lid perched on top of the cream was not invented until after World War II. Along with the more modernized bun, also came the name that is used today, semla. 

It wasn’t all about eating

The three days leading up to the fast were not only for eating but for all kinds of shenanigans, like playing games or dressing up in costumes. Popular games would be jumping sack, catching rings or the infamous, ‘beat the cat out of the barrel’. In this particularly horrifying game, participants would place a cat in a barrel, and then take turns to beat on the barrel with a stick or a sword till it broke. The participant who dealt the breaking blow, in turn saving the cat, would be named the cat-king.

This game still exists today in the southern parts of Sweden and in Denmark. Thankfully, the game is mostly played without any barreled cats.



 

Children in costumes, playing “beat the cat out of the barrel”, during the law of the fast

Rooted in tradition

It wasn’t only the church who had a lot to say about Swedes eating habits prior to fasting. The famed king, Gustav Vasa, also wanted to chime in when it came to the laws regarding the semla. Prior to Vasa becoming king, Sweden was not only Catholic, but the Semla was only allowed to be consumed one day a year, on Fat Tuesday. After Gustav Vasa took the throne, he bid farewell to the pope and the Catholic church, and decided, to the entire populations’ delight, that the semla could now be consumed between December and February. 

 




14th century, hot wall.

What is a “hot wall”?

The alternative way of eating a semla, a hot wall, originates from the medieval times and is served with a semla in a bowl soaked with hot milk. Till this day, some people still prefer their semla served “hot wall- style”.

 




 

The semla today

This year, semmeldagen falls on March 1th. In Sweden, the pastry is only made for two months out of the year, unless you’re cheating, and during these months an estimated 40 million semlor are sold. For a small population of just 10 million people, that is a obscene amount of semlor.  

Knowing that, it might not be too surprising that King Adolf Fredrik of Sweden (1710-1711), supposedly died after eating too many of them during Fat Tuesday. According to rumors, he ate more than 14 semlor in one sitting and suffered from fatal digestive complications shortly after. Pretty okay way to go out, don’t you think?

The princess semla. A mix of two of Swedens favorite desserts, the princess cake, and the semla.




A race for the most unique semla

It is no longer just a bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream. The semla is made in all different kinds of variations. The competition for who could create the most unique semla started in 2015, and in 2017 the semla wrap broke all records.

2017 favorite new semla, the semla wrap from Tössebageriet in Stockholm.

Depending on which bakery you go to, you can try some of the new takes on the traditional semla such as, Taco Semla, Princess Semla, Wiener Semla, Semla Wrap, Nutella Semla, Doughnut semla and the worlds most luxurious semla. The most common ones are still the traditional one. 




2018´s most talked about semla, the nacho semla.
The delicious Doughnut semla.

Curious about how to make a semla? Look no further! Leading up to Semmeldagen, we will be publishing recipes for three different types of semla: the traditional one, the easy one and the adventurous one.

And for all you crazy semla lovers out there, willing to take your obsession a step further – there’s now a soda and a new liquor with the taste of semla. More information about them can be found here —semla liquor and semla soda.

 



The original version of this article was published on February 2, 2018 and has since been updated.

St Lucia Day: How & Why Swedes Celebrate Lucia

By
Luda Berdnyk
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1

Gathered in a dark room, you’ll suddenly hear singing from afar, “Natten går tunga fjät..” as the room slowly lights up from the candles in Lucia’s light crown and the candles held by her maids. They are all wearing a white gown, with a red satin belt around their waist, closely accompanied by men in white gowns, joining in on the choir, called stjärngossar, star boys.

In Sweden, this is one of the most important holidays during winter, reminding everyone that Christmas is just around the corner. 

Schools will generally close around noon on Lucia so that families can prepare for the holiday— but not before having their own celebration, which typically includes Christmas concerts and Lucia trains. In many cities, the local church will also host Lucia trains, open for the public to attend.

Families traditionally observe St. Lucia’s Day in their household by serving coffee, glögg, and baked goods to the rest of the family as well as any guests that stop by. Some of the delicious goods include saffron buns, lussekatter, and gingerbread cookies, pepparkakor.

As we know about the Swedes, celebrating their traditions is very important. They know how to celebrate, but few actually know why they celebrate. So we decided to dig deeper into the Lucia tradition and the history behind it. 

The Real Saint Lucia 

One of the earliest Christian martyrs, St. Lucia was killed by the Romans in 304 CE because of her religious beliefs. One of the more well-known stories about St. Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted Christians in Rome, who lived in hiding in catacombs under the city. It is said that she would wear candles on her head so that she could keep both of her hands free in order to carry things – such as food. However, it is debated whether the Scandinavian candle crown derives from this or a German tradition where it symbolized a gloria. It is also from the Italian Lucia that the Scandinavian Lucia gets her red satin belt from portraying Saint Lucia’s blood, and therefore representing her sacrifice.

 

Celebrating Lucia in Scandinavia

In Sweden, Lucia is portrayed a bit differently than the Saint Lucia of Italy. It is believed that the Scandinavian Lucia instead is a mix of both a Nordic pagan light of god and Saint Lucia. 

Dating as far back as the early 1300s, most likely longer than that, the winter solstice has been celebrated in Scandinavia. It was considered the longest night of the year, filled with dangers and the supernatural. Because of this, the medieval Scandinavians decided it would be better to stay up all night. This is what Swedes today call —  Lussevaka — although few would probably stay up all night today.

 

But one thing that hasn’t changed from the 1300s is the Swede’s affection for light and hope in the darkness. This is exactly what the holiday, and what Lucia, in Sweden stands represents: light, hope, and kindness in the dark and the cold. A beautiful savior in the harsh winter night. 

Did you know? St. Lucia’s Day is also celebrated in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Bosnia, and even Croatia. 

Do you celebrate Lucia in your household? Let us know in the comments!

The Story of Alfred Nobel and The Dynamite

By
Swedes in the States
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1



Nobeldagen: Commemorating Alfred Nobel’s Legacy and Dynamite Innovation

December 10 marks Nobeldagen in Sweden, a day dedicated to honoring the legacy of Alfred Nobel, the brilliant inventor behind the groundbreaking dynamite. Join us as we explore Nobel’s journey from Stockholm, Sweden, to becoming a renowned inventor and the mastermind behind numerous revolutionary inventions.

Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1833. He was one of eight kids and the son of the inventor Immanuel Nobel, also an inventor and the founder of Sweden’s very first rubber factory. Although a bright man with many successful ventures under his belt, he would never have the same impact on the world as his son would have one day.

At the age of nine, Alfred and his family moved to St. Petersburg, Russia. At first, the family was so poor that Alfred was forced to sell matches on the street. Although the family was struggling during their first years in Russia, it wouldn’t be long before Alfred’s father managed to grow his small workshop into a real business, even acquiring the Tsar of Russia as one of his clients. The company was successful up until the Russian revolution when Alfred, his parents, and brother had to move back to Sweden.

Upon returning to Sweden, Alfred traveled to the United States for an internship with the famous Swedish inventor, John Ericsson, and later on to France as an apprentice for the chemist Théophile-Jules Pelouze. It was during his internship with Pelouze that Alfred’s interest in explosives was ignited, in particular, the chemical nitroglycerin.

 

Dynamite. Picture borrowed from www.nobelprize.org

The dynamite and nitroglycerin 

While learning about Nitroglycerin, Alfred quickly realized how volatile and dangerous the chemical was. At the time, it was commonly used as an explosive but the chemical was extremely sensitive and the risk of getting hurt or even killed when dealing with Nitroglycerin was high. Alfred had even lost his own brother in a nitroglycerin accident that took place in one of his own factories.

 

In a factory in Hamburg, Alfred began experimenting with nitroglycerin with the intention of finding a way to lower the risks of working with the chemical, without compromising its strength and efficiency. He tried mixing coal and sawdust in an attempt to manage the substance by diluting it. But it was the Diatomite earth that, together with the Nitroglycerin, created a formidable and stable dough, which would become the composition of the very first dynamite.

The invention of dynamite revolutionized the construction and mining industries. Ironically, given the options, the dynamite saved a lot of lives by providing a safer way of working with explosives.

Alfred patented the dynamite in 1867, which would skyrocket him to fame and also make him one of the richest men in Europe.

 

In 1888, a French magazine made the mistake of confusing the death of Alfred’s brother as the death of Alfred, and published an obituary for Alfred saying: “The merchant of death is dead”. This affected Alfred deeply, and he worried about how he would be remembered when he was gone. Being a philosopher and pacifist, “the merchant of death” was the last thing he would want to be remembered as.

When Alfred Nobel died in 1896, many were surprised to find that he had willed the vast majority of his assets, 94% to be exact, to the start of a foundation is his name. The foundations’ most important job was to award people who had significantly contributed to a better world within the fields of physics, chemistry, peace, physiology or medicine, and literature. This was the birth of the Nobel prize, the world’s most prestigious and famous award.

Alfred Nobel managed to patent 355 inventions during his lifetime, some of them being; artificial rubber, a gas meter, an apparatus for measuring water and other liquids, and of course, the dynamite. You can find the full list of his patents on Nobelprize.org website.

In Sweden, we commemorate and celebrate Alfred Nobel every year on the day of his death, the 10th of December. The day is called “Nobeldagen” and is also the day Nobel’s legacy is celebrated by awarding scientists, entrepreneurs, authors, and heroes in his name. A legacy not only Alfred Nobel would be proud of, but one that all Swedes can be proud of.

Did you know?

  1. Alfred Nobel patented 355 inventions during his lifetime
  2. A school in Chicago was named after him in 1911, the Nobel School.
  3. His brothers, Robert and Ludvig, began extracting oil in Baku, Russia. They later went on to start the oil company Branobel, with backing from Alfred Nobel. It quickly became the world’s second-largest oil company after Rockefellers Standard Oil. 12% of Alfred’s estates consisted of shares in the oil company.
  4. Alfred spoke Swedish, Russian, French, German, and English fluently. He also started speaking Italian later on in life.
  5. Alfred Nobel never married but would write poems about his longing to love. His poems were collected and published in 2006 titled “Dikter/Poems by Alfred Nobel”.
  6. The famous Nobel Museum, located in Gamla Stan, Stockholm is worth a visit to learn more about Sweden’s most famous inventor.
  7. When Alfred Nobel died, the Swedish and French governments had a conflict regarding where Nobel’s will would be legally carried out. It was later decided that a man’s home is where he keeps his horses. Since Nobel kept his horses at Björkbo Herrgård in Sweden, his will and estate were taken care of by the Swedish government.
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First of Advent: This is how Swedes celebrate the first day of Christmas

By
Swedes in the States
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1

Today is a special day for those who celebrate Christmas, including the Scandinavians. It’s the first of advent and for many, the day that kicks off Christmas decorating, baking, and most importantly, eating. As with many traditions, the Swedes know how to go all-in when celebrating, but rarely do we know exactly why.

Don’t worry, Swedes in the States are here to cover the basics.

Why do we celebrate the first day of Advent?

According to the Swedish church, advent is the Latin word for arrival and refers to the arrival of Jesus Christ. The four Sundays leading up to Christmas are celebrated in one way or another in most Christian countries. Every Advent celebrates an event during the life of Jesus.

The 1st of Advent specifically celebrates the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, which at the time was occupied and oppressed by the Romans. He is said, according to the bible, to have ridden in on a donkey, speaking of freedom and peace.

How do we celebrate?

So how do the Swedes celebrate the first of advent? As with most traditions and celebrations, they can be very different from family to family, but here are some common practices of the day:

  1. We light a candle

Most Swedes have by this time of the year acquired four candles, usually grouped together in an Acheter cialis en ligne france advent candlestick. The four candles represent the four advents and today the first candle is lit.

2. We start decorating

First of advent is usually the green light Swedes anxiously await for it to be socially acceptable to start Christmas decorating. The advent star, representing the star who led the three wise men to Jesus, is hung in the windows, Christmas trees come up, and the electric advent lights are dusted off and placed in the windows below the star.

3. We start baking

One word. Lussebullar.

Okay, fine, who are we kidding? The list is obviously much longer than that. Lussebullar, pepparkakor, julmust, and glögg (mulled wine). It is now acceptable for your diet to only consist of these items.

4. Some go to church

The first of advent is usually considered the first day of the year for the Swedish church, and most local churches will host events, open to everyone, to celebrate the day. Although Sweden isn’t as traditionally Christian as it once was, many still value the Swedish church and its traditions during Christmas and will frequently visit in the month of December.

This article was originally published on November 27, 2021.

 

 

Meet Oskar Stenmark: The Swedish Jazz Sensation in New York

By
Natalie Söderberg
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0

Oskar Stenmark, a remarkable Jazz artist from Sweden, has found his musical home in the heart of New York City. Descending from a lineage of musicians spanning ten generations in Dalarna, Sweden, Oskar has not only become a celebrated figure within the Swedish community in the States but has also left an indelible mark on the dynamic Jazz scene of New York. From taking charge of off-Broadway stages to sharing them with icons like Lenny Kravitz, Oskar, armed with his trumpet, is unquestionably making waves in the realm of Jazz.

Late this summer, I had the privilege of sitting down with Oskar, exploring his captivating journey from Rättvik, Dalarna, to the vibrant core of music, New York City.

Interview by Natalie Söderberg, founder at Swedes in the States.

You can say that music runs through your veins, but when and how did you discover your own love for music?

I fell in love with music before I was even born. My mother used to sing to me during her pregnancy, and it was music that made her water break on the day I was born. The story is that she was attending an organ recital at church when I got too excited, or scared, and that was how I was introduced to the world. I still react very strongly whenever I hear organ music.

Another highly memorable event that solidified my love for music was during a concert with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. I must have been three years old, and they were playing ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Holst, very powerful and cinematic music. I remember hearing ‘Mars – the bringer of war,’ and I was utterly terrified but also incredibly intrigued. Music has always evoked a range of emotions in me, from happiness to fear, and I believe it has shaped me as a musician and how I approach music in general.

What inspired you to move to New York City?

It was always the love for music and a need to see things for myself; how people navigate art in an intimidating city like NYC, how they connect with other artists, and how they are able to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

How did the move impact your career and life?

It has been a fantastic adventure, from attending the Manhattan School of Music to starting a family and slowly expanding my playing with new bands, touring new parts of the world, and meeting some amazing human beings who are some of the most talented in their fields.

What have been some of the biggest highlights of your career so far?

Releasing an album recorded in the U.S. has been a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to share the music that was made together with my fantastic collaborator, 45 Riots. Other highlights include having a song we recorded with Brass Against in the Matrix Resurrections and opening up for Lenny Kravitz in London. Music can take you to so many places and I never ever dreamed that I would end up doing these things if it wasn’t for music.  

Photo credit: Luke Dyson

What advice would you give an aspiring musician looking to make a move to the U.S.?

Take lessons from some of your favorite musicians before you move, perhaps they teach at a college that could help you stay longer and develop your playing. If not for studies, be open to all kinds of music, and don’t say no to new collaborations – you never know who might attend the show you’re playing.

How does the music scene differ in Sweden from the U.S.?

It is much smaller and without that magic energy that New York City radiates, everyone being together in the same place and doing the same thing. It feels much more like people are trying to help each other in NYC and the “scene” is very welcoming. Your idol might be playing at a restaurant one night and then at Madison Square Garden the next, that is a good way to describe the scene in NYC where musicians move effortlessly between small and larger venues.

What do you love about New York City? 

It is a wonderful place to meet some of the most interesting minds in the world, all in one city. I also get to see NYC from my six-year-old’s perspective and it is truly amazing to see the spirit of community families have here. 

How does family life differ in New York compared to Sweden?

It is much tougher in New York, with less financial stability, and the cost of childcare being very expensive. On a positive note, my son speaks almost three languages already and that is a beautiful thing, being able to connect to people who all have their own stories.

Tell us more about your latest album ‘In front of us’?

I am very excited about this album, marking my first venture as a leader in the U.S. The music is inspired by my ancestors in Rättvik, Dalarna blending melodies dating back 250 years with contemporary New York jazz, crafted in collaboration with Adam Mason, the leader of the musical collective 45 Riots. It is a unique project that celebrates an old music legacy mixed with the vibrant sounds of the Big Apple. We’re in the process of finalizing a release tour in both the U.S. and Sweden, so stay tuned for more updates.

Where can one keep up to date on your shows?

On my website, www.oskarstenmark.com, or by following my Instagram account @oskarstenmark

 What are your hopes and plans for the future?

I look forward to traveling with our new album, meeting new people, and exploring new places. Music has a fantastic ability to take you on a journey, whether you’re listening to it at home or traveling the world and performing it live

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Borgvattnet: The most haunted house in Sweden

By
Swedes in the States
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1

This article is made in collaboration with the project ‘Sweden’s History’. The text has been edited by our editorial team but you can find the original version on Sweden’s History’s Instagram. Be sure to follow them for daily facts and stories about Swedish history.

In the deep forests of Jämtland stands a lonely vicarage. At first glance, this old country house might not look like much to the world but this house has a dark past that pales in comparison to many other places in Sweden.

Borgvattnet Vicarage. Image: https://www.facebook.com/BorgvattnetsPrastgard

The fragile wooden walls and creaking floors have, for over 100 years, been the scene of tragic events and paranormal activity. In fact, Borgvattnet vicarage is considered to be the most haunted place in Sweden and it frequently makes its way onto lists of some of the most haunted places in the world.

More than 250 years ago, the first inhabitants of what would eventually come to be the small town of Borgvattnet moved to the area. As with most new towns at the time, a church was one of the first structures to be built. For any priest who decided to take a job at a church, it was customary to get a small farm or piece of land to live on and cultivate, which is how Borgvattnet’s vicarage was built.

In the year 1876, the first priest of Borgvattnet moved into the vicarage. A total of 15 priests would come to live here before the last one had finally had enough of the ghostly activities and decided to move out, with no other priest willing to take over. What came to be the final straw is still one of the most famous ghost stories from the house.

Although the first reports of hauntings at the vicarage were made by a priest in 1927, it wasn’t until the last priest of Borgvattnet, Erik Lindgren, moved into the vicarage in 1945, that it became publicly known that the grounds were haunted.

During a meeting held by Jämtland County Agricultural Society in December of 1947, a journalist from a local newspaper had caught on to the rumors of the haunted vicarage in town and bluntly asked Erik Lindgren about his experiences. It was safe to say that not only had Erik documented his experiences, but he was also willing to go public with them.

Erik Lindgren, the last priest to live at Borgvattnet vicarage. Image: https://www.facebook.com/BorgvattnetsPrastgard

According to Lindgren, one of the most haunting experiences he had while living there was when was suddenly thrown off his rocking chair one night by an unknown force and he ended up on the floor. According to Lindgren’s notes, he was never able to sit in the chair for too long before being thrown off.

Soon the stories of Borgvattet would become a national sensation. After all the publicity, previous priests and guests who had spent the night in the house started coming forward with their own stories. Since ghosts or paranormal activity are not favorably looked upon in the Christian religion, there would have been plenty of reason for previous priests to not want to open up about their paranormal experiences.

One priest would recall a time when saw a gray-clad lady appear in a corner of the room he was sitting in. She would slowly walk towards him only to suddenly change direction and walk into another room. As he would get up to follow her, he realized the room she had walked into was empty.

Image: https://www.facebook.com/BorgvattnetsPrastgard

A visitor who spent the night in a room now known as ‘the weeping ladies’ room’ would recall waking up in the middle of the night, to the feeling of being watched. As she sits up, she sees three figures sitting on a sofa and staring right back at her. According to the guest, she would pinch her arm to make sure that she was awake. And when nothing seemed to help she would turn to the alarm clock and set it off. Confident that she was awake and not dreaming, she claimed to be certain that the women were sitting across from her all night, watching her.

No one really knows how these hauntings began, but the most accepted story is that one of the first priests to live at Borgvattnet had a sexual relationship with a young local girl. It is not clear whether this was a consensual relationship or if she was raped. When learning that the 19-year-old girl was pregnant, the priest would lock her in an enclosure in the backyard. It was also in the same backyard that the girl would bury her child right after killing it. It’s not clear whether the young girl made it out alive of the enclosure, or if she met the same fate as her child.

There are a few more haunting stories about Borgvattnet to be found online, some more disturbing than others. Regardless of whether you believe in ghosts or not, one thing is for sure: it takes as much courage to spend the night in Sweden’s most haunted location today, as it did a hundred years ago.

This article was originally published on May 10, 2021

What is it like moving from the U.S. to study in Sweden? We asked this Swede in the States

By
Swedes in the States
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0
Felix Miöen Dahlström SIREUS for Swedes in the States

While the narrative of Swedes leaving the comfort of the Nordics to take part in the American college experience is far more prevalent, there is a growing curiosity among Americans who want to study in Scandinavia. 

Together with SIREUS, a partnership between The Swedish American Chambers of Commerce (SACC-USA) and 13 Swedish universities, we decided to interview Felix Miöen Dahlström, a Swede in the States, born in Stockholm but raised in Texas.

When the time came to choose his college, Felix made the deliberate choice to return to Sweden for his studies. He stands as one among many, with Swedish heritage, who opted to leverage their college experience as a means to forge deeper connections with their roots in Sweden.

For those interested in learning more about studying in Sweden, SIREUS will be organizing three events in New York City, Pullman, WA, and Orange County, CA. These events are tailored to assist individuals with a keen interest in pursuing their education in Sweden.

Interview by Johanna Schoug for Swedes in the States.

Growing up in the United States, what motivated you to study in Sweden?

What truly motivated me to study in Sweden was the international aspect. Attending an international business school gave me exposure to many different cultures and allowed me to make friends from all over the world. The integrated study abroad program was also very interesting to me, and I took advantage of it by studying a term in Switzerland at the Zurich School of Management and Law.

Being able to study and learn from Sweden’s leading companies and conduct various case studies for them was an extremely rewarding experience. Swedish companies prioritize sustainability, which is also important to me.

What are your most memorable experiences from your studies?

In my freshman year, I won our Entrepreneurship challenge with five of my fellow students, creating molds of women’s bodies from recycled candles from churches in Jönköping. Our costs were roughly 2 SEK per candle, and we had a profit margin of 98 SEK per candle, all of which were donated to local women’s shelters to help with domestic abuse. This opportunity highlighted the idea that business can do good for others, not just be profitable.

Another memorable experience from Jönköping was the kickoffs. A kickoff is meant to be an intro week where you get to know fellow alumni. During intro week, you are assigned to a team consisting of roughly 19 people and four sponsors, with a total of around 15-18 teams. The whole kickoff is designed like a tournament, with all teams competing for the top score. Points are awarded for school spirit, challenges, and, of course, partying.  These two weeks are all about getting to know your fellow classmates and having the time of your life.

How has your exposure to the Swedish education system and culture prepared you for your future career or academic pursuits?

The Swedish academic system is very different from that of the U.S. You are given flexibility and freedom in a way that the US education system does not really offer. In Sweden, there are no mandatory classes, only seminars. I believe this is because professors have more faith in their students, as people start studying at various ages. For example, I am very good at math, so for most of my economics courses, I studied from home using the class literature instead of attending class because that’s how I learn math – repetition, repetition, repetition. But for marketing, I needed hands-on experience, so I attended all my classes. I think this is a very smart way of teaching because it gives students the freedom to learn in a way that suits them and responsibility for their own education.

The Swedish academic system has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. I could go on for countless hours talking about it, but these are my main takeaways:

– Taking initiative: The Swedish school system is fast and aggressive. All my courses were 9 weeks long, followed by exams, and then we moved on to the next course. This teaches one to take initiative and focus on what’s important. Even in Zurich, I studied 7 courses at the same time and had 10 different exams in one week.

– Being productive: With so many fun things happening in Sweden all the time, it’s very easy to get distracted. But the Swedish school system does not wait for you. This means time management and focusing on the important things are crucial. The work-life balance during your studies is quite incredible if handled correctly.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying in Sweden?

My advice is to do it. It’s the best decision I have ever made. Not only can you attend some of the best universities in Europe and the world, but you will also be exposed to an amazing culture and experiences. I made the most of my three years, traveling all over Europe and truly seeing what the world has to offer. If you have the possibility to, I don’t think you can make a better decision in life than studying in Sweden.

Meet Jonas LG Karlsson: The Swedish Pumpkin Carver in Sleepy Hollow

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Swedes in the States
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Jonas LG Karlsson lives with his wife, Lindsay, in the small town of Sleepy Hollow in New York. Via their youtube and social media channels, ‘It’s a Charming Life’, they share their day-to-day cottagecore life with mindfulness and slow living at the center of their lifestyle. Living in a small cottage next to a cemetery equally adds to the excitement for viewers who are into all things spooky.

Professional Pumpkin Carver during the fall season, artist and illustrator all year round, we were curious how a Swede from Nyköping ended up in Sleepy Hollow, and what the simple life in, perhaps one of the spookiest towns in the United States, looks like.

From Nyköping to Sleepy Hollow, why did you decide to leave Sweden for the United States?

It all started when I met my wife, who is from California. We spent our three first married years living in my hometown in Sweden. After both great times and one and another culture shock, we decided to try out California for a while. While there I got a seasonal job, my first American job ever, as a Pumpkin Carver, which is pretty exotic for a Swede that did not really grow up with Halloween, or pumpkins either for that matter.

After the job was over, we tried to get on our feet but had some tribulations and decided to relocate to the east coast. To not become homeless we volunteered at some historical B&Bs, while we figured out our life. As the next Halloween season came closer, I was in contact with the pumpkin studio that hired me for their shows in California the year before, as they happened to be located in NY. It was pretty good timing to go from one pumpkin to another. You might say that Halloween brought us to Sleepy Hollow. 

How did you and your wife meet?

We meet online through a mutual friend that I had gone to school with 10 years earlier, and that my wife just had met while traveling to Finland. Since we then had more of an ”underground” appearance she thought ”hey, I have a friend that dresses like you.” As we started to talk, we pretty instantly knew we were soulmates and after traveling back and forth to each other for a while, we got engaged and then married. 

What does day-to-day life look like in Sleepy Hollow?

Since my wife grew up almost neighbor with Disneyland, I got introduced to the Disney version of ”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” before I knew there was a real town called Sleepy Hollow. It’s very different experiencing the polished and ”fairytaled” version of a place and then see the real deal. It’s like watching a cartoon before you see the live-action of the same movie.

What I love with Sleepy Hollow is the real history that surrounds it. The European influences, especially the Dutch, as well as Washington Irving’s legacy. (The author of ”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”) People really love the Headless Horseman.

I think that people who don’t really pay any attention to history and literature might see it as any random town, but you attract what you seek, I suppose. Strolling out from any hipster cafe you might suddenly get that sleepy whimsical feeling as if you suddenly got spirited away and landed directly in the old legend. Galloping sounds get closer and closer, but then you take a sip of your latte, and you’re back in the modern world again. 

What exactly does a professional pumpkin carver do? And who is your main clientele?

There are many different sorts of ways to be a professional pumpkin carver. As far as myself, I get hired together with other pumpkin carvers by the studio to illustrate and carve 100 – 120 lbs sized pumpkins for their shows around the country. We don’t travel with the pumpkins. They get shipped overnight from the studio we are located in. Autumn is a busy season and it makes you understand what Santa Claus goes through every December.

As an artist, the pumpkins are just ”another type of canvas” so when the season is over, I continue with my personal artwork, which is cozy spooky influenced, as well with me and my wife’s YouTube channel and lifestyle blog ”It’s a Charming Life”.

How does Sleepy Hollow change during Halloween? 

Sleepy Hollow gets a lot of tourists during the Halloween season. Many cool events take place, such as a performance of ”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by great storytellers, or graveyard lantern tours. Compared to Halloween towns such as Salem, Sleepy Hollow is still considered a small town in my eyes, but it really comes alive during autumn.

What are some of your favorite spots in Sleepy Hollow?

I would say the old Dutch church and burial ground. It’s also very nice to visit Washington Irving’s home called Sunnyside. My favorite dining experience is the local restaurant ”Horsefeathers” where my wife and I most often go for dinner. It has that perfect ”dark academia” vibe with a cozy interior such as old books and decor. 

Lindsay, what have you picked up from being married to a Swede?

The first thing that stuck with me was the fika culture. Also, the slow living lifestyle that we are advocates of through our blog and YouTube channel. I feel that those elements were somehow always there inside me while growing up before I knew its proper name and title. Another thing is fun grammatical expressions, such as when someone asks at least the Swedes I know if they want more coffee they always say ”Nja” followed by ”okej då!” It is like they have to act as if they are doing a big favor to the one who asks, but we all know they always want a ”påtår” or two. 

 

Halloween might have come and gone, but if you are still in a festive mood, or just into the all-around cozy and mystic lifestyle, be sure to follow Jonas and Lindsay:

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ItsACharmingLife

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/itsacharminglife/

Blog: https://itsacharminglife.com/

Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWoodlandLibrary

This articles was originally published on November 1, 2021.

The Most Haunted Places in Scandinavia

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Swedes in the States
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Do you believe in ghosts?

Being some of the oldest monarchies in the world, you would think the Scandinavian countries are the perfect breeding ground for ghosts and the supernatural. Old castles, fortresses and palaces - Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are anything but "lagom" when it comes to their rich, and somewhat spooky, history.

Allow us to offer some inspiration by listing Scandinavias most haunted places. Many of them offer tours and sleepovers for those who dare.




1.Borgvattnet Vicarage, Sweden

There should never be a list of haunted places in Scandinavia that doesn't include Borgvattnet. This old vicarage from 1876, is said to be the most haunted building in the whole country of Sweden. The first documented mentioning of a haunting was in 1927 by Nils Hedlund, a priest lived in the house at the time. Every successor to Nils Hedlund, who moved into the house, documented strange encounters in the house which they were convinced were paranormal.




In 1941, a young woman who was at Borgvattnet to visit woke up in the middle of the night only to find three women staring at her. One of the priests inhabiting the house also said that he was never able to sit too long in his rocking chair until he was thrown off it.

On the Borgvattnets Facebook page, you can find stories from visitors talking about their experiences in the house. Some say the coffee was great, some weren't as delighted about feeling someone touch their hair or pull their feet.

Read more about Borgvattnet here.

2. Dragsholm Castle, Drammen, Denmark

Beautiful castle. Not as pleasant of a history.

The castle is said to be the home of many ghosts but most famously perhaps James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. James was a Scottish nobleman and also the former husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. When Mary was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth, James fled and was ultimately captured and imprisoned at Dragsholm Castle. If you visit the castle, you can still see the pillar which he was chained to for the last ten years of his life. He died in 1578, and all requests to retrieve his dead body by his family were denied.

Perhaps that's why he till this day is said to riding around the castle with a horse and carriage.




There is also said to be a young girl haunting the halls of Dragsholm Castle. At the beginning of the 1900s, during a renovation of the castle, a skeleton belonging to a girl was found in the wall. The young girl is thought to be the beautiful Celestine Mariann de Bayonne Gyldenstierne, who disappeared from the castle in the year 1550. Roughly around the same time as the skeleton is said to be from.

Celestine was said to be deeply in love with the stable boy at the castle, which her father, a prominent nobleman, did not approve of. Instead, he had promised her hand in marriage to another man. Celestine happened to become pregnant with the stable boy's child before she ever met the suitor her father had chosen for her.

Her father was furious and decided to send her away to give birth to the child somewhere else. But right before she was about to depart, she was drugged and forced into a small space only to be walled in. The court of the castle was able to hear her cry and scream while trying to get out, but no one could help her.

Today, she is known as the castles White Lady. Celestines found skeleton is now on display in the castle.

3. Akershus Fortress, Oslo, Norway

Akershus Fortress is said to be the most haunted place in Norway. And by multiple ghosts, most famously the dog ghost that is said to be causing quite a commotion at the fortress since 1299. According to the stories, the dog was purposely trapped alive inside one of the stone walls by the people building it. At the time it was said to bring good luck. Unfortunately, it seems to have down the opposite, and to this day people report seeing the dog, and there have been multiple cases reported where the people die shortly after seeing it.




The fortress is also said to be haunted by one of Queen Margaret I's maids. The queen would usually spend a lot of time at the fortress and during one particularly gruesome and cold winter, the maid starved to death.

Guests and visitors have claimed to have seen a faceless woman step out of the shadows in the castle.

4. Lier Mental Hospital, Drammen, Norway

Like taken straight out of a horror movie. The Lier Mental Hospital was built in 1926 and has catered to turn of the century patients to WW1 and WW2 veterans. The hospital had a capacity of 600 patients and is said to have frequently used treatments such as lobotomy and electroshocks to "treat" their patients. On top of that, multiple experiments were carried out on the patients using drugs like LSD. It is widely known that patients suffered a great deal at the Lier Mental Asylum, and in 1986 the majority of the buildings on the campus were shut down, with a few remaining, still in use.




The buildings that were shut down are still remaining but are restricted to the public. Despite that, the hospital has become a popular destination for ghost hunters and tourists.

5. Scheffler Palace, Stockholm, Sweden

The most famous haunted place in the capital of Sweden.

The first owner of the palace was the Dutch pirate Hans Petter Scheffler, who also happens to be buried on the premises. Thanks to him, treasures are said to be buried here, along with a few dead bodies buried in the walls.

A later owner of the house, Jacop von Balthazar Knigge, was said to have made a deal with the devil in order to gain more fame and fortune. It is said that one day in 1796, a carriage pulled by black horses showed up by the castle, picked Jacop Knigge up, and left. He was never seen after that. It is said that both Jacob and Hans Petter are among the ghosts haunting the house.




A priest once made an attempt to enter the house and bless it in an effort to get rid of the ghosts. The priest was thrown out through the window and broke his leg. We suppose there is no saving a pirate, even after death.

This article was originally published on July 26, 2020.

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Swedes in the States is a community created by Swedes living in the States for Swedes living in the States, and everyone else who is interested in Scandinavian culture, businesses and projects. All our editors and contributors are strongly connected to Scandinavia while living their dream in the United States. The parallels between our countries are astonishing and exciting, and you are invited to read all about it is politics, fashion, design or food. Välkommen!
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