nordstjernan The Swedish Newspaper of America
Published by Swedish News. Volume 144 No. 01, January 15, 2016. Price per copy $2.50
Another Swedish crime drama where Alexandra Rapaport, above, stars in a Swedish Sopranos meets Breaking Bad drama series.
Photo: Frankie Fouganthin/Wikimedia
This Week, Page 9
Sweden, Page 2, 3
Photography: Henrik Olund
Spectacular aurora borealis skies over Sweden / Bishop proposes removal of Christian symbols / Wolf hunt in Sweden / KTH may have solved problems with traffic congestions / Beavers decide Stockholm is the place to be.
In Brief, Page 3
No more free travel between Danmark and Sweden after January 4.
The sisters of Vikingsborg convent of the Birgittines in Darien, Conn., photographed by Henrik Olund in 2006. The sisters have changed since, Feature, Page 10 although Mother Eunice, third from left, is still mother superior. The order’s modern day revivor is now up for canonization / Page 4 A new Viking expedition comes to the U.S.
Living Swedish Traditions Have you already tossed out your Christmas tree? By the time this article reaches you, I assume that you have. So, perhaps the real question is when did you throw it out? And did you throw out anything else? I was reminded of the transitoriness of the holidays when I visited a store the day after Christmas and saw it already decorated for Valentines Day. Of course, my questions are really about the holiday spirit, whether you’re Christian or not, since this period from Thanksgiving through the New Years has become an even more significant commercial period. Sometimes the emphasis on gifts can even overwhelm the good tidings of “Peace on earth. Good will toward men.” Historically in Sweden and the Nordic countries the winter solstice was celebrated.
Continued on page 11
Page 8 It turns out the proprietors at Ängavallen are not the only ones in Sweden that love pigs ... (Above, ecologic farmer Mathias Nordström)
Dashboard, Page 8-9
Facebook saves the bacon / The world’s oldest tree—in Sweden / No more Swedish electronic dance music for Marco Rubio.
Karin Gaensler and Ninna. Photo by Erik Gaensler
Open borders no more ...
In an effort to reduce the flow of refugees into Sweden, border control tightened at the turn of the year. Many say it is too little too late, that the record-breaking flow of refugees into Sweden’s economy and culture has wreaked havoc there, in the EU and around the globe. While housing, educating and employing the thousands of asylum seekers already in Sweden, can imposing stricter border control work? Is it enough? Is it too much? These people fleeing atrocities and madness, most of them refugee families seeking peace, freedom and honorable lives, want and deserve that which we all do. The problems of the few have become the problems of many – problems the global community may have to solve together. / Pages 2, 3, 8, 12
Page 3
Solving today’s inner city traffic congestions.
Photo: Bo Zaunders
Ted Olsson, San Francisco ted@nordstjernan.com