nordstjernan The Swedish Newspaper of America
Published by Swedish News. Volume 143 No. 22, December 30, 2015. Price per copy $2.50
This Week, Page 11
Swedish actors light up the silver screen.
Sweden, Page 2, 3
Hovdala Castle, a castle in Hässleholm Municipality, Skåne, in southern Sweden. Although mentioned for the first time in 1130 its oldest presently visible parts date from the early 16th century, a time when the province was a part of Denmark. More on castles / Page 4
Photo: Björn Lindgren/Bildbyrån
Global climate agreement reached / Sweden joins EU in supporting vulnerable countries / Autism is linked to hormones in huge Swedish study / Book on feminism distributed to every teenager in Sweden / Don’t bundle up your babies too much.
Feature, Page 5
An American exchange student tries to pass herself off as a bonafide Swede.
Feature, Page 6
A Swede among the rednecks reflects on Sweden and being Swedish.
Woman with a Golden Mind
Page 11
Continued on page 10
Dashboard, Page 10, 11
Skansen rings in the new year / Did you receive the 2015 Gift of the Year / Memorable Lucia programs / Swedes are taking Hollywood by storm
Julottan, Page 13 Photo: Thomas Engström
To say that Maud Adams is beautiful is a bit like giving Albert Einstein’s intelligence a favorable review. The self-evidence is embarrassing to note, both because you know it’s true and because you are amazed the human race can produce examples that leave you awestruck, whether you want to admit it or not. In the case of Maud Adams, she has been blessed by intelligence as well as beauty. If I need to tell you that Maud Adams was and is a “Bond girl” (very few Bond girls have remained so and achieved an iconic status in the Bond mythology the way Adams has), you have been living without being alive—artistically, intellectually and sensuously. The Bond movies of the Broccoli family have managed to provide
Photo: Rudy Malmquist
by Ulf Kirchdorfer ulf.kirchdorfer@nordstjernan.com
Getting there—a tradition in its own right!
Swedish born actress Maud Adams at her LA home photographed by Thomas Engström.
‘Julotta’ in Sweden
Julotta is the early morning service Swedes celebrate on Christmas Day. Jul as all of you know means Christmas, otta is indicative of a - much too early - time slightly before dawn. The services are known to be held as early as 4 a.m., though they are often as “late” as 6 or 7 a.m. It has traditionally been the most popular service of the year, certainly at Christmas; people who hardly go to church during the rest of the year go to Julotta. That festive image you’ve grown up seeing of a Swedish country church blanketed with snow and surrounded by horse drawn sleighs making their way with passengers carrying torches is likely a depiction of Julotta, the quintessential Christmas tradition. / Pages 12, 13, 17
Perspectives, Page 11
Living between Russia and the USA...
Page 11