Published by Swedish News. Volume 145 No. 6, May 1, 2017. Price per copy $3.50.
Photo: Linnea Rheborg/Bildbyrån
‘We are all Stockholmers’
The Stockholm terror attack
An outpouring of support for the police and first responders followed the Stockholm terror attack. Sweden’s capital may have changed in the chaos, but authorities and media have also praised Stockholmers’ resilience and openness. And though many things may change going forward, things are largely back to normal for now. Story, page 10 Guest columnist Peter Santesson makes the case for a ten-fold of the support for returning refugees / p9
Interview with the author of glabal blockbuster A Man Called Ove: A Man Called Fredrik (pictured right) /p14
Smörgåstårta ... the multi-layered Swedish sandwich tart, really all you need for Valborg! / p23
Sweden’s ‘new’ economy
The job as a computer programmer or systems developer is now Stockholm’s second most common job with close to 30,000 people working in the sector. Not surprisingly, the IT wave in Sweden really started with mobile telephony rather than the other way around. The World Telecommunications Day is May 17 and we take a look at Sweden’s role in creating today’s connected society. Story, page 12
dashboard | may 1, 2017 SCANDINAVIAN QUIZ
Skåne
The southernmost of the 25 Swedish provinces is Skåne, which borders Halland, Småland, Blekinge, the Baltic Sea and the Öresund strait. Until the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, Skåne was part of Denmark. But the region did not form part of Sweden proper until 1720, instead it had the status of conquered “foreign land” until that year. A policy of forced assimilation was employed by the Swedish government until the early 19th century in what was then a linguistically Danish region. Controversy relating to whether Skåne’s dialects should be classified as Swedish remains to this day. The names Scania and Scandinavia are considered to have the same etymology and the southernmost tip of what is today Sweden was called Scania by the Romans. With the exception of the lake-rich and densely forested northern parts, the rolling hills in the northwest and the beechwood clad areas extending from the slopes of the horsts, a sizeable portion of Skåne’s terrain consists of plains. The two major plains, Söderslätt in the southwest and Österlen in the southeast, consist of highly fertile agricultural land. Also situated in Skåne is of course Sweden’s southernmost point: Smygehuk. Name’s Days of the Swedish Calendar Namnsdagar i maj månad.
May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 May 7 May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 12 May 13 May 14 May 1
Valborg Filip/Filippa John/Jane Monika/Mona Gotthard/Erhard Marit/Rita Carina/Carita Åke Reidar/Reidun Esbjörn/Styrbjörn Märta/Märit Charlotta/Lotta Linnea/Linn Halvard/Halvar |
New York Chicago Stockholm Kiruna Lund Los Angeles 2 NORDSTJERNAN
3 To what country does the island Ven, located in Öresund, belong? a) Sweden b) Denmark c) Finland d) Norway
4 In what part of Malmö did soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic grow up? a) Lindängen b) Rosengård c) Sibbarp d) Bellevue 5 What is the actual name of the castle immortalized in Shakespeare’s Hamlet? a) Kronborg b) Kronenberg c) Dania d) Elsinore CULTURE
Namnsdagar
7 What area of Denmark is attached to the rest of Europe? a) Sealand b) Jutland c) Fyn d) Falster
8 Which Swedish king founded Göteborg? a) Gustav II Adolf b) Erik XIV c) Karl IV d) Gustav III 9 Who has been called the founder of Stockholm? a) Magnus Ladulås b) Birger Jarl c) Göran Persson d) Gustav Vasa 10 Near which lake is the Swedish town Östersund located? a) Torsjön b) Bottenviken c) Indalssjön d) Storsjön
Maj
Monika – May 4 Monika or Monica is a female name with many variants: Monca, Monike and Monique for instance. It is an ancient name, possibly of North African or Phoenician origin, its etymology unknown. It may have been derived from the Latin “monere” meaning “to advise.” Saint Augustine’s mother’s name was Monica and she was born in Numidia, North Africa, but she was also a citizen of Carthage, hence the possibility of the name having Phoenician origins. The name has also been associated with the Greek word “monos” meaning “alone.” The first time it appeared in Sweden was 1785. Today it’s a fairly unusual name, although it was common during the 1950s. In 2005 there were 63,048 people with the name. Märta – May 11 Märta or Märtha is a variation of the name Margaretha, and was initially spelled Märeta when it was first used in Sweden during the 14th century. Margareta means “pearl” and is of Persian origin.
Märta was added to the Swedish Almanac 1901 to honor the new Norwegian Crown Princess. Märta was a common name and still is, although much less so among younger generations. In 2005 there were 31,124 people with the name.
founded in new york city in september 1872
Sunrise & Sunset
5.54 am 5.46 am 4.48 am 3.37 am 5.24 am 6.03 am
2 Who did Chalmers University of Technology get its name from? a) the inventor of dynamite b) the Swedish East India Company c) a Scotsman whose donation started the school d) the university’s first student union
6 The Swedish city Umeå has an established nickname, what is it? a) City of bridges b) City of love c) City of birches d) City of roses
Answers: 1:A, 2:C, 3:A, 4:B, 5:A, 6:C, 7:B, 8:A, 9:B, 10:D
1
Which is the landscape Skåne’s biggest lake? a) Ivösjön b) Vättern c) Storsjön d) Skånesjön
7.52 pm 7.49 pm 8.42 pm 9.37 pm 8.45 pm 7.37 pm
Nordstjernan (ISSN 1059-7670), founded in New York City in September 1872, is published by Swedish News, Inc., 570 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022 • Readers services and editorial submissions: P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan, CT 06840 Periodicals Postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. www.nordstjernan.com, Nordstjernan is published semimonthly, except for the months of January, February, July when it is monthly and Augustwith no issue. POST MASTER: Please send address changes to Nordstjernan, P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan, CT 06840 Subscription rates: 1 yr. = $55, Two yr. = $99, outside US 1 yr. = $167.
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this week… Page 10
Our previous issue went to print before the Stockholm attack on April 7.The unfathomable act of a psychopath that took four lives and injured 15 did not shake the Swedish sense of safety and security for long—two days later Stockholmers took to the streets to retake their city in a manifestation of love. We are grateful that none of our nearest and dearest were too affected by the atrocity and feel a profound sympathy for those who were. As people of Swedish descent, we are also proud of Sweden’s ability to deal with the attack and its aftermath; the main suspect was apprehended less than 24 hours after the attack and things were back to normal for the people of the capital on Monday three days later. Swedes are resilient by nature and the attack will by necessity bring about policy changes and a strengthening of Swedish values. The Sweden we know and love will always be there.
Photo: Lionsgate
Thousands of people attended a peaceful gathering in Sergel square in Stockholm two days after the April 7 terror attack. Ulf Barslund Mårtensson
Editor & Publisher
It’s been said about Nordstjernan ...
Over the past century and a half, more newspapers were published in New York than in any other city in the world, in large part because of the huge foreign-born community and the variety of publications that the different ethnic groups spawned. Most had a brief and almost ephemeral life, but Nordstjernan has been remarkable for its long life and high quality. It not only helped Swedish immigrants adjust to life in a new world and a giant city, but it set a standard that other newspapers worked hard to emulate. —Kenneth T. Jackson, Professor of History, Columbia University Editor-in-Chief, The Encyclopedia of New York City
Dashboard, P4-5
Stockholm growth tops the charts in Europe / The arrival of vitsippan, the wood anemone and Valborg / The new Museum of Failure (no, not another Vasa) / Make a bid for Garbo’s New York home at The Campanile / Human microchipping operates printers and purchases espresso drinks. Page 14
A unique policy for a unique 145-year-old
Advertising is an important component in every printed publication; although mostly reader financed for reason even more so for America’s oldest Swedish newspaper. Nordstjernan only accepts advertising from businesses with a distinct connection to Sweden or Scandinavia. And to the skeptic who thinks, “No publication would ever be selective about or even refuse advertisers…” We are, we do and here’s why. Our entire readership has a very strong connection to Scandinavia and Sweden. To traditions, to language, to the country itself through time spent here, through ancestry, relatives, travel or family … every new reader instantly becomes part of a group with many shared interests, values, traditions, very similar to an extended family. Our readers are depending on the newspaper to find food or good values and service related to them and their needs. To us, advertisers are an equal part of the family as part of the supply chain to readers. By offering good choices and valuable opportunities we’ll be trusted and friends will feel comfortable trying other institutions presented on our pages. Our advertisers see Nordstjernan brings them business and then stay with us for a very long time. That’s why we do it. You get the best values through reliable sources They get great customers. We get great advertisers Wait. There’s a catch. Our advertisers have to know you’re there. So please help us keep up our policy and the content we all deserve. All it takes is one sentence when you order or visit one of the establishments you find on our pages: “I’d like you to know we learned about you in Nordstjernan.” Thank you in advance for doing that. Also, if you happen to come across a supplier, a shop, a café or a restaurant that you haven’t seen in our pages but think would be a great resource for others, please drop us a quick email or letter or communicate your find over facebook or other social media. editor@nordstjernan.com
Interview with Fredrik Backman, the creator of the megahit, A Man Called Ove.
Local, P16
Home-schooled children in Minneapolis learn about Swedish culture.
Local, P17
Spring service, waffles, Påskkärringar (witches) and songs in Atlanta, GA. Page 23
Smörgåstårta, the perfect companion for a gathering in the spring, early summer.
Local, P18
Bethany international student makes plans to return to Sweden after a semester in Kalmar. The Exchange Rate:
$1.00 = SEK 9.01 (4.17.2017)
MAY 1, 2017 3
dashboard | may 1, 2017
Stockholm growth tops the charts
The fourth quarter economic report for 2106 shows Sweden’s capital city is growing faster than the rest of Europe, according to Karin Wanngård, mayor of Stockholm. The increasing number of residents, jobs, new companies, housing projects and aggregated gross pay data all show positive growth figures compared to the same quarter in 2015. “To summarize, we saw strong growth in the hospitality industry, and investments in Stockholm’s fast growing tech companies more than doubled compared to the previous year. The fact that housing construction is now on the rise is a good sign that Stockholm’s stable growth will continue in 2017,” says Olle Zetterberg, CEO Stockholm Business Region.
The arrival of the vitsippa signals spring. The first wood anemone was reported early in mid-March this year — now they’re blooming all over southern Sweden. Folklore advises you to eat the first wood anemone you see in the spring. If you do, you won’t get sick for the rest of the year. In parts of Sweden, eating the first wood anemone was a safe way to avoid “the chills” — which used to be a common disease in Sweden. The chills (“frossan”) is an old name for malaria.
The stories, the traditions, the people behind the news. founded in new york city in september 1872 executive editor & publisher:
Ulf Barslund Mårtensson (editor@nordstjernan.com) editor:
Amanda Olson Robison (editor@nordstjernan.com) managing editor & production: Everett Martin graphic design: Nadia Wojcik (design@nordstjernan.com) contributors:
Chipp Reid - Lisa Mikulski - Ted Olsson - Leif Rosqvist Ulf Kirchdorfer - Valorie Arrowsmith - Olle Wijkström Bo Zaunders - Göran Rygert - James Kaplan - Gunilla Blixt publications director:
Mette Barslund Mårtensson (mette@nordstjernan.com; 800.827.9333, ext 12)
nordstjernan p.o. box 1710 new canaan ct 06840 contact us at 1.800.827.9333 ext 10 for reader services, email: subs@nordstjernan.com; ext 12 for advertising, email: ads@nordstjernan.com www.nordstjernan.com Covering three worlds: Sweden, America and Swedish America. Order your own copy, $55.00 for a year (18 issues) Choose ‘subscribe’ at www.nordstjernan.com or call 1.800.827.9333, ext 10 4 NORDSTJERNAN
April 30 is Valborgmässoafton, Walpurgis Night, known as Valborg, a festive event celebrated in Sweden since the Middle Ages. It’s the eve of the feast day of St. Walpurga, which falls on May 1 (Första Maj), a public holiday that’s become a day to recognize laborers and special causes. May First is the only nonreligious holiday in Sweden other than Sweden’s National Day on June 6.
Herr & Fru | Mr. & Mrs.
Him: Hello! I’d like to ask about your media habits, would that be ok? Him: As long as it’s free
Do you have a morning paper? Yes. Do you buy a paper in the evening. Well, yes.
Do you have any other subscription? Eh ...
Well, that might be my socks?
dashboard | may 1, 2017
A museum of failed products
A new museum in Sweden will exhibit some of the biggest flop products of all time. Some of the most successful companies have a long list of failed products, including the Betamax player, Harley Davidson perfume and a “female” pen. “Some fail because the products should never have existed, it was wrong from the start. Others fail when the product is designed, or in marketing,” says Samuel West, an innovation researcher who is contributing his collection of 50 failed innovations to the museum. The Museum of Failure opens on June 7 in Helsingborg and will tour throughout Sweden at a later date. For more info, see www.museumoffailure.se
(Left) Some of you may remember Apple Newton, which had a brief and slow life between 1993 and 1998. The poor handwriting software and high cost contributed to its demise. / (Right) In the 1980s, Colgate produced a line of frozen dinners, encouraging people to eat a branded dinner before brushing their teeth with Colgate toothpaste. West describes the flop: “Brand extension failure.”
“Learning is the only way to turn failure into success.”
Oskar Stenmark is the seventh generation to play his family’s riksspeleman tunes of central Sweden, today sharing them through the music of his musical trio, Piatruba, which blends the beloved folk music with jazzy, world music improvisations that move the music from the past into the future. Piatruba is playing in New York this spring—above photographed by Bo Zaunders at a recent concert in the hall of Morgan Library and Museum, NYC—then retracing his grandmother’s U.S. tour in the Midwest in June. www.oskarstenmark.com
TECHNOLOGY
Epicenter, a Swedish startup hub, is implanting its workers with microchips. About 150 of its 2000 Epicenter workers have a chip — technology just like that of a pet’s virtual collar or delivery tracking devices; this is the first time it’s used on humans on a broad scale. A chip is the size of a grain of rice and is injected into the fleshy area of the hand near the thumb. It functions like a swipe card — to open doors, operate printers or purchase espresso drinks with the wave of the hand. “It’s very convenient. It basically replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys,” says Patrick Mesterton, co-founder and CEO of Epicenter.
PEOPLE
Garbo’s home on the market
Swedish-born film legend Greta Garbo lived in New York since the 1950s. Her wardrobe and art collection have been sold for high sums at auctions in recent years, and now her family is selling her 52nd Street apartment, where she lived until 1990. Garbo moved there in 1953 when she was 48 years old. The entire apartment is decorated in soft tones of pink and green, most of it is preserved like Garbo kept it when she lived there. Many of her personal belongings, and even a rug designed by the star, can be part of the purchase price, which has been set to $5.95 million (Halstead Properties).
Human Microchipping
Swede sings in Florida concert On April 1, The Swedish and Norwegian communities gathered at the Scandinavian Church Center in Davie, Florida for an amazing concert with Cecilia Vennersten, known for her song “Det vackraste,” together with Dennis Storhøi and Bjørn Halstensen. The gathering started with appetizers prior to the concert. A large crowd enjoyed well-known music from their home countries. Vennersten is from Gothenburg and was discovered during her appearance in the Swedish TV show “Sikta mot stjärnorna” in 1994. She had her song debut in the National Song Contest “Melodifestivalen” in 1995, where she came in second place with the song “Det vackraste.” Her debut album went platinum in both Norway and Sweden. “Det vackraste” also won a Grammy for best song in 1995, and has become an immortal classic in both Norway and Sweden. Vennersten has performed at numerous concerts, events and Christmas tours in both countries. She has released three albums, and rumor has it that new material is on the way. MAY 1, 2017 5
local events
CALIFORNIA Los Angeles 04.25, 8-11:30 PM Newport Beach Film Festival: The annual film festival showcases over 300 films from April 20-27, 2017, but the International Spotlight is on Sweden, paying homage to and celebrating the extensive Swedish history and culture that inspires many aspects of art. “Sami Blood” (2016), directed by Amanda Kernell, will be screened at The Triangle in Costa Mesa at 8 p.m. and is followed by a gala celebration of Swedish film, food and culture. 714.656.6483 / www. newportbeachfilmfest.com
DELAWARE Wilmington 04.30, 12-5 PM Springfest: Experience the rich historical heritage of the Lenni Lenape, Swedes, Finns, Dutch and English with dance performances, tours of the Kalmar Nyckel, vendors and music, children’s crafts and games, crafts and exhibitors, and demonstrations, an archaeology dig, scavenger hunt and crafts, Swedish cooking and handicraft demos, vendors and more. Old Swedes Historic Site and Fort Christina, the Kalmar Nyckel and Copeland Maritime Center, 302.652.5629 / www.oldswedes.org/events
San Diego 04.29, 4-6 PM Valborg in San Diego: Come and celebrate at Mission Point. The Swedish choir will perform at 5:30 p.m. Consulate of Sweden, 619.209.6170 / sandiego@ consulateofsweden.org.
GEORGIA Atlanta 04.24, 12-7 PM Swedish-American Golf Tournament: The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia hosts their Annual Golf Tournament at Laurel Springs Golf Club, with an 18-hole round of golf, 9 holes of scramble and 9 holes of best ball, and special contests. It’s a great day of golf, business networking and fun, with food and drinks during an award reception. 770.670.2480 / info@sacc-georgia.org / www.sacc-georgia.org
05.07, 7-10 PM Swedish Movie Night in San Diego: See “Miraklet i Viskan” at the Hall of Nations in Balboa Park. English subtitles. Free admission. Consulate of Sweden, 619.209.6170 / sandiego@ consulateofsweden.org. San Francisco 05.10, 4:45-7:45 PM Literary Evening with Lo Dagerman: Lo will talk about Stig Dagerman, who wrote “Shadows We Carry: Stig & The Mystery of The Monster Mother.” Vendela Vida will interview Lo after her presentation. In English. Reception and book signing, books for sale $20. Swedish American Hall, 415-788 2631 / sf@ consulateofsweden.org CONNECTICUT South Meriden 04.30, 1-4 PM Valborgsmassoafton: Come for Kåldolmar Dinner in honor of Valborg! $15. Vasa Park, 860.563.0040 / steinmillerl@gmail.com
04.29, 3-9 PM Valborgsmässoafton: Celebrate Valborgsmässoafton, swim, bring your canoe, play kubb, listen to Atlanta’s brand new Swedish choir “Sounds of Sweden.” Hotdogs will be served but bring a small side dish to share and a beverage. $7/ person. Lutherwood on Lake Allatoona near Acworth, 770.949.6667 / rygert@ bellsouth.net / www.vasaorderatlanta.org ILLINOIS Bishop Hill 04.28, 6 PM Valborg and Wiener Roast: The traditional Swedish bonfire welcomes spring’s return, with yard games and activities for the whole family. Hot dogs for roasting, buns, coffee, iced tea, and hot chocolate will be provided. Free; visitors are encouraged to bring a dish to share. Vasa National Archives, 309.927.3898 / www. bishophill.com
Learn how to prepare the ulitmate “fika” with Sju sorters kakor, “Seven Types of Cookies” at the American Swedish Institute in Minnesota on May 17. Chicago Ongoing through June “22 Sustainable Houses from Bollnäs to Kiruna” is a series of photographs by architects whose work reflects their wish to preserve natural resources and contribute to long-term ecological balance in their housing concepts designed for the northern climate of Sweden. “Chicago Streetwalk” is an exhibit of local photos by Mats Alfredsson, who views street photography as a means of discovering and documenting individuals and places that usually are not noticed. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / museum@samac.org
LOS ANGELES
Published by
FAMILJEGUDSTJÄNST
SVENSKA KYRKAN, LOS ANGELES 1035 South Beacon Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 Tel. 310-832-6800 • Epost: losangeles@svenskakyrkan.se Hemsida: www.svenskakyrkan.se/losangeles På facebook heter vi “Svenska kyrkan i Los Angeles” 6 NORDSTJERNAN
Swedish News.
Volume 145 No.
4, April 1, 2017.
Price per copy
easter in sw eden
Söndag 7 maj kl 11.00
Senaste nytt om alla våra aktiviteter hittar du på vår Facebook- och hemsida!
MINNESOTA Minneapolis 04.26, 11 AM - 1 PM Nordic Table Workshop: Learn how to use gravlax in a fun, creative way. Cure the salmon and talk about its transformation into gravlax, and learn a canape recipe with a dill dressing. American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 / info@asimn.org
By 1200 AD, our Christian practicesNordic ancestors were blending in Scandinavia that were slowly being accepted with their ancient thus beginnin pagan rituals, g the evolutio n of celebrat enjoyed today, ions still most notably more than any at other tradition Easter. Perhaps still blends the in religious meaning Sweden, Easter and rebirth with the more secular of resurrection the new life that celebrations of all comes with spring. Story, page 12
Tisdag 2 maj kl 18.30: Filmafton
Tisdag 16 maj kl 18.30: Veckomässa i Taizéton
MICHIGAN Farmington Hills 04.29, 4 PM Valborgsmässoafton: Food, festivities and a giant fire welcome spring with some singing and fun. The Swedish Club, 248.478.2563 / www.swedishclub.net
05.13, 8 PM Eurovision Viewing Party: This year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be streamed live from Kyiv, Ukraine. Join the fun at the viewing party at
Stockholm Wal kabout
Tisdag 9 maj kl 18.30: Bibelkväll
INDIANA Munster 04.29, 12-4 PM Nordic Faire 2017: Fun for the whole family with food, music, dancing, culture, games and gifts. Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nordicfaire@gmail.com / www. nordikfolk.com
05.07, 5-8 PM Chicago Swedish Mixed Chorus Concert: The Chicago Swedish Male Chorus is now a mixed choral group that will present a concert of songs in English and Swedish. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / museum@samac.org / www. swedishamericanmuseum.org
Stockholm was built on 14 islands on Sweden east coast where ’s Sea. More than Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic 50 bridges connect islands and the various city the archipelago, where in some feats of engineer cases locks passage possible were built to ing make . Contributor up in Stockho Leif Rosqvis t grew lm he walks about and often takes us with him as the city, this that follows time along a route the water’s edge (sluss) system. of the historic /Page 14 lock
Utdelning av Barnens bibel, kyrklunch och söndagsskola
Mary’s Attic in Andersonville. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www. swedishamericanmuseum.org
$3.50.
Published
by Swedish
Price per copy “Lumpen” is 15, 2017. 145 No. 5, Aprilback—a, so far, limited consciption mandatory returns in Sweden / p3
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local events
New York “Breakthrough: Swedish Art Jewelry Today” The U.S debut exhibit for five important Swedish contemporary jewelers opens with a reception at 5-8 p.m. on May 3, 2017 at the Gallery of Reinstein|Ross, a unique New York City venue whose mission is to bring international exposure to emerging and established artists. These five Swedish jewelers are redefining the field and bringing global attention to their work: Ingrid Bärndal, Agnieszka Knap, Åsa Lockner, Hedvig Westermark and Jelizaveta Suska. Each of these artists’ work is grounded in traditional metalsmithing, inspired by historical jewelry, yet they work in a wide range of materials, techniques and ideas. While linked to the rich heritage of traditional Swedish jewelry, the majority of their work is far from the silver jewelry that is perceived as being typically Swedish. Their jewelry is beautiful, unconventional and always wearable. All the artists have work in the permanent collection of The National Museum in Stockholm. Bärndal uses traditional goldsmithing techniques on polypropylene, a type of polymer; Knap uses an art jewelry technique closely related to enameling; Lockner works with traditional materials and shapes but stretches their boundaries with precious and non-precious stones; Westermark is a goldsmith who works with found objects; and Suska uses classic metalsmithing techniques on polymer with crushed marble to create an illusion of solid stone. The exhibition is curated with Swedish collector and scholar Inger Wästberg, who authored “Contemporary Swedish Art Jewelry.” She is a member of The Global Leadership Council at the Museum of Arts and Design and has worked in New York to promote Swedish art and design. “Breakthrough: Swedish Art Jewelry Today” is on exhibit at the Gallery at Reinstein|Ross through June 25. 212.226.4513 / bella@ reinsteinross.com / www.reinsteinross.com/gallery 04.30, 1-3 PM Luffarslöjd for Youth: Creative kids ages 7+ can bend, cut and wrap colorful metal wire to make your own unique design. American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 / www.asimn.org 05.06, 10 AM-2 PM Adult Slöjd Workshop: Make a birch bark bead necklace while learning about birch trees in Minnesota, and how bark can be sustainably harvested and hand processed into usable materials. Registration is required a week in advance. American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 / info@asimn.org / www.asimn.org 05.17, 6-8:30 PM Three Days in Stockholm: Get an overview of the best places to go in Stockholm if you’re only there for three short but glorious days, as told from an insider’s perspective. Bring your travel guides and a list of 5 or 10 things you are curious about visiting while is this fabulous city. American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 / info@asimn.org / www.asimn.org 05.17, 6:30-8:30 PM Nordic Table: Sju sorters kakor. “Seven Types of Cookies” is a staple in the Scandinavian baked goods tradition, a fixture at holidays and for fika any day of the week. Experience this authentically Swedish baking tradition while learning several baking tips for your home kitchen. Instructor Eva Sabet has taught culinary classes in Sweden; in the U.S. she bakes
for farmers markets, at ASI food events and classes, and is a co-owner of Swedish Crown Bakery in Anoka. Eva weaves her own stories into helpful and interesting historical context. Students will sample each baked good, served with coffee, of course. At Paulson Hall in the American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 / info@ asimn.org / www.asimn.org 05.19-05.20, 9-10 AM Kids at the Castle: Make a Friday or Saturday morning playdate and join us as we adventure into tales about Wild Weather. Enjoy song, adventure and crafts, too, during this special time before the Museum opens to the public. Suggested for ages 2-5, adults must accompany children. American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 / info@asimn.org / www.asimn.org NEW YORK 04.27, 6:30-9:30 PM Sofia Talvik, Americana-Neo-Folk concert: Swede Sofia Talvik lends an Americana to her original music, blending sparkle and melancholy, creating a special niche of folk music that has been described as neo-folk, a sound compared with Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / Kyle@amscan.org / www.scandinaviahouse.org 04.28, 6-10 PM Valborg Gasque: Valborg is one of
Uppsala’s greatest traditions and Uppsala’s gasques (student dinner parties) are among the best in Sweden. You now have the unique opportunity to experience it in New York City! Watch the sun set over the waterfront and the Statue of Liberty with friends and the Uppsala University US Alumni Chapter. RSVP for cocktail hour, appetizers and a three-course dinner with open bar and Swedish Aquavit. Battery Gardens, 1 South Street, NY. usalumni@ uadm.uu.se/ http://www.uu.se/en/ alumni/events/ 05.04-05.29, 12-6 PM Folk art exhibit: Swedish artist and journalist Cecilia Nelson shows her solo exhibition “The Guardians of The Temple.” Using recycled materials in oversized sculptures Nelson engages in a carnivalesque dialogue inspired by various forms of folk art. Svenska Kyrkan/Church of Sweden, 212.832.8443 / newyork@ svenskakyrkan.se / www.svenskakyrkan. se/newyork 05.04, 6-8 PM Swedish author visit: Swedish lawyer and author Malin Persson Giolito discusses her English-language debut, “Quicksand” (March 2017), an incisive courtroom thriller and drama that raises questions about the nature of love, the disastrous side effects of guilt and the function of justice. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / info@ amscan.org / www.scandinaviahouse.org
Vi har öppet måndag till fredag kl 8:30 till 15:00. Den mobila passtationen kommer till Fort Lauderdale den 2-4 maj 2017. Kontakta konsulatet för mer information.
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05.10, 6-9 PM New Nordic Cinema: See Long Story Short (Lang historie kort) is the story of Ellen and her friends, all in their late 30s/ early 40s, in a summary of three years of love-related highs and lows for the group of friends told through eight chapters, each of them set at a party: on New Year’s Eve, a housewarming, Midsummer’s Eve, a wedding, a surprise party, a naming ceremony, an anniversary and a birthday. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / info@ amscan.org / www.scandinaviahouse.org 05.13, 11 AM-12PM Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers: Some of New York’s most famous storytellers from the Storytelling Center bring to life exciting fairy and folk tales and fantastic adventures from Scandinavia and the far north. Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / info@amscan.org / www. scandinaviahouse.org MAY 1, 2017 7
local events OHIO Asheville 04.29-04.30, 10 AM-5 PM The 14th annual Viking Fest: Experience the life and culture of 10th century Vikings with costumes, crafts and music, vendors and reenactors, and feast on Viking pork, turkey legs, potato soup and sausage. Village Park (30 minutes south of Columbus), 740-983-4428 / www. ashvillevikingfest.com
Vasa Order of America DL 12 celebrates
Sweden Day All are welcome Saturday June 3 starting at noon
Presentations on genealogy,
Swedish food culture and women’s roles in Viking times. Lunch, Swedish music and dancing, including beginners’ instructions. Information & tickets: Phone: 415.577.4075 www.vasagoldengate.org
Swedish American Hall 2174 Market Street San Francisco, CA
Hillsboro 04.30, 6 PM Valborgsmässoafton Celebration (Walpurgis Night): Come join the fun! Snacks, sima and punch, varm korv (hot dogs), and sweets, plus a beautiful bonfire at 33411 SW Laurel Rd. New Sweden Cultural Heritage Society, www. newsweden.org
Ida Elina kantele concert: Leading kantele (a string instrument native to Finland) player Ida Elina performs ancient folk tunes to pop favorites for an exciting concert at Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / laila@scanheritage.org / www.scanheritage.org
PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia 05.20, 1 PM Whether you are new to Scandinavian spirits or you’re an aficionado, come for an exclusive guided tour of the Skål! Scandinavian Spirits exhibition at the American Swedish Historical Museum. Each tour explores the history of Scandinavian spirits and the role those beverages play in the heritage of Scandinavia America. Learn how to properly Skål (cheers!) at the end of the tour with an Aquavit tasting. Must be over 21 and pre-registration is required. The next tour and tasting night is June 18. American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia, 215.389.1776 / info@americanswedish.org / www. americanswedish.org
04.26, 4-7 PM Design Week Portland Open House: See the Finnish art and design exhibits with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Free with reservation at designweekportland. com. Nordic Northwest. 503.977.0275. laila@scanheritage.org. www. designweekportland.com
Washington Seattle 4.29, 6:30 pm. Valborgsmässoafton Spring Concert: The Swedish Singers of Seattle welcome spring on Valborgsmässoafton (Walpurgis Night) with the four pillars of the Valborg’s Eve: song, drink, food and bonfires, and features the Swedish Singers of Seattle.
OREGON Portland 05.21, 4:30-6 PM Portland Scandinavian Chorus: With music of all five Nordic countries, this concert jointly benefits the Scandinavian Chorus (and their summer tour) and Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / www. portlandscandinavianchorus.com 04.25, 6:30-9 PM
Learn how to properly suggest a toast ... say “skål” at the American Swedish Historical Museum, Pennsylvania in May. Bar opens at 5:30 p.m., and a light supper follows the performance. RSVP to the Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Avenue N, (206) 283-1090 / www.swedishclubnw. org / www.swedishsingersofseattle.org/ performances 05.05-07, 10 AM-7 PM 2017 Nordic Culinary Conference: Internationally renowned chefs discuss and demonstrate Nordic cuisine and cooking philosophy for local audiences. Nordic Heritage Museum, 206.789.5707 / www.nordicmuseum.org WISCONSIN Milwaukee 05.13, 1:30-4 PM Swedish Folk Dancing: The history and stories it tells with demonstrations by Linde Swedish and Kipakat Finnish Dancers. Dance along! Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin, Inc., 262.781.6113 / swedishamericanhistoricalwisc@gmail. com / www.sahswi.org
National archives and library for Swedish-American historical research Publishers of Swedish American Genealogist 639 38th Street Rock Island, IL | 61201-2296 309-794-7204
www.augustana.edu/ swenson 8 NORDSTJERNAN
May 18-20, 2017 Thursday, May 18 5pm-8pm Pea soup & Pancake Supper Friday, May 19 5.30pm7.30pm Swedish smorgasbord dinner Saturday, May 20 7am-10am Swedish Pancake Breakfast Dala Horse Trot - 10K & 2 mile run 7am-9am, City Hall Swedish Festival Grand Parade 10:30am-12pm, Draper Street
www.kingsburgchamber.com (559) 897-1111
viewpoints
Time to tenfold the support to the returnees? The Swedish government’s reestablishment support for returning refugees is currently at SEK 30,000 per adult, SEK 15,000 per child and a maximum of SEK 75,000 per household. Perhaps one could entertain the thought that 10 times the size of the support makes this a viable option for more? There are plenty of very large numbers nowadays. A context where you find fascinating, large numbers is the Migration Board’s annual report, published in late February. Peter Santesson. The tables depict an operation with abrupt changes. The enormous flow of asylum applications came to a stop in 2016 after the policy shift, but the repercussions move slowly through the system. At the beginning of the year there were over 180,000 people enrolled in the receiving system. This “Asylumköping” has passed Linköping in population and would be our fifth largest municipality in Sweden. The Migration Board’s costs, not least to meet the accommodation and living expenses for all these people, are of course very large. When the work is summed up for 2016, it is SEK 59 billion ($6.5 billion) at the bottom line. The
figure is difficult to take in. That’s more than the entire defense allocation for 2017. Far more than the entire budget for the police and the judiciary. More than the entire government funding for physical infrastructure. The effect per person enrolled at the receiving system corresponds to more than SEK 320,000 ($35,000). No, the reader’s inherent auditor need not be upset. Just consider it a sketchy rough calculation performed on a paper napkin. But it is still interesting, because it gives an indication of the magnitude of the costs involved in handling a person in the asylum system for just over a year. Compared to these levels, it’s disconcerting to face the only modest figures that the annual report seems to contain: the financial contributions for rejected asylum seekers with deportation decision or for those that withdraw the application and voluntarily choose to return. Here a so-called re-establishment support can be awarded. The support is SEK 30,000 per adult, SEK 15,000 per child and a maximum of SEK 75,000 per household. Perhaps one could entertain the thought that 10 times the size of the support makes this a viable option for more? Reestablishment aid could almost be considered a form of compensation for the earlier treatment. Not only smugglers but also the Swedish public have attracted large crowds to ruin in a perilous journey here by creating rather false hopes about the “generosity” awaiting upon arrival. Deceived people should get a fair chance to be held harmless and able to return to their starting point if they think it is the best option. The idea is indeed drastic and hardly unobjectionable — but which proposed measures today would not be? Not least, it would probably be quite necessary to set a time limit on such a big support, only those who came during the great wave of refugees would be eligible. Otherwise, the aid itself might provide an attractive incentive. High benefits are always controversial. But given the sad situation of those concerned and the enormous social costs that are already on the table, I think this might be an idea worth trying.
Life made Sweder: NORDSTJERNAN Call 1.800.827.9333 ext. 10 for your own subscription.
Peter Santesson Peter Santesson, PhD, is head of Public Opinion Analysis, Demoskop, political scientist, author and former publishing director at Timbro. This is an opinion piece first published in Dagens Samhälle in March 2017. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s.
Augusta’s Daughter Ever wonder what made so many emigrate from Sweden in the nineteenth century? Judit Martin’s novel, “Augusta’s Daughter,” about 19th century Swedish peasant life made such an impression on us, we decided to offer it to the Nordstjernan readership. call 1.800.827.9333 for your own copy ($24.90 incl. S&H to cont. U.S.). Mail to: Nordstjernan, P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan CT 06840
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SSC Code: MAY 1, 2017 9
news in brief
Today we are all Stockholmers
Thousands of people gathered in a manifestation of love at Sergel Square in Stockholm on Sunday, April 9, close to where the terrorist attack occurred on Friday, April 7. The stairs of the square were filled with flowers, lit candles and stuffed animals, and Sergel Square itself was filled with thousands of people who gathered together to show their love. Organizer Damon Rasti took to Facebook on Friday and urged people to “take back the streets and the city.” He said people’s commitment had been enormous. “You can feel people’s need to come together and hold hands and talk to each other. Even if you do not know each other, you feel the same grief and the same fears and the same confusion. This feels like a small light in the darkness after all,” he said. At 2:53 p.m., the time of Friday’s attack, people hooked arms with each other during a minute of silence to honor victims of the attack and their families. The emotional moment in Stockholm was followed by Miriam Bryant’s singing of the Irish folksong The Parting Glass, “Ett sista glas,” in Swedish. The MC Rickard Sjöberg noted that “today we are all Stockholmers.” Karin Wanngård, team leader for the Social Democrats in Stockholm thanked everyone who helped during and after the attack. “Terror must never win. We should instead remember the openness that has characterized our city,” she said. an act of terrorism Three victims were killed immediately when a stolen beer truck drove through the pedestrian section of Drottninggatan shortly before 3 p.m. 10 NORDSTJERNAN
local time, just before 9 a.m. EST on Friday, April 7. The truck, which had been hijacked earlier in the day, later smashed into the Åhléns department store before reaching Klarabergsgatan where it started to burn. Reporters on the scene said there were dead and injured people on the ground. There were also later denied reports of shooting around Hötorget and Åhléns City. Late in the evening local time Swedish hospital administrators confirmed one of the attacker’s victims had died at the hospital and 15 were hurt, including two children. Six patients were released from the hospital early Saturday while nine seriously injured remain. As the investigation of the terrorist attack unfolded, Swedish police revealed new details within hours: The main suspect in the deadly Stockholm truck rampage is a rejected asylum-seeker and an Islamic State sympathizer, according to investigators. A second suspect in the case was also arrested Sunday morning after several people had been apprehended by police during the night. The main terror suspect and driver of the truck, Rakhmat Akilov, 39, from Uzbekistan, became wanted by the police in February this year. He was denied a residence permit in Sweden and had four weeks to leave the country voluntarily — then he disappeared. Swedish security police, Säpo, were already aware of Akilov’s links to the terrorist group IS. He applied for a residence permit in Sweden in November 2014 and the negative decision was taken on June 15, 2016.
Top: Flowers are put on a police van when thousands of people attended a manifestation of love on the Sergel square two days after the terror attack, April 9. Above, Albin, 2 years old, gives a flower, and hugs a policeman.
news in brief
A masked man hijacks a beer truck during a delivery and runs over the driver, who escapes without serious damages.
Photography: Niklas Larsson/Bildbyrån
Akilov was apprehended in the early hours of Saturday in Märsta, 30 minutes north of Stockholm. Swedish police were able to trace the suspect and alleged driver of the truck from the collision with Åhléns to the Arlanda Express and then south to Märsta. Authorities are still investigating other possible accomplices behind the attack. Security has been stepped up and tighter border controls are in place. sweden shows strength Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfvén immediately said “Sweden is under attack. Everything points to this being a terrorist attack.” During a later press conference the Prime Minister stressed “[We are] an entire country gathered in grief, anger and determination. I would today like to address those of you who mourn someone you have lost or are worried about someone who is hurt ... you should know — all of Sweden is with you.” Löfvén confirmed that police were investigating the attack as a terrorist crime, and that whether it is performed by an organization or a sole perpetrator, the goal of terrorism is to undermine democracy. “But such acts will not succeed in Sweden,” said the Prime Minister. Sweden has shown its strength and he praised the police, health care services and the people of Stockholm who opened up both their homes and workplaces. “You are the pride of Sweden,” he said. The subway system was closed and the central station emptied but all public transportation was up and running again in the early morning Saturday. We spoke with our friend and former Nordstjernan colleague Nadine Kugel, who was locked in for two hours on the third floor of a house along Drottninggatan. The office where Nadine works was being evacuated while we were in contact with her two hours after the attack. Nadine tells us, “I was sitting by a window to the street when I heard a big bang and screams from the ground. As I looked outside I could see someone bleeding heavily and another person not far away. My first thought was that something had happened at the construction site nearby but people were panicking in the street … running, screaming and looking further down Drottninggatan. That’s when I realized that the cement barriers to the pedestrian part of Drottninggatan had been damaged and pushed aside.” According to reports from Sweden, Akilov admitted to driving the truck during interrogations by the police, expressed his content with the result and allegedly demanded a sunni defense attorney to represent him during trials.
The truck slams into the roadblocks that mark the entrance of the pedestrian area and runs over several people at high speed on Drottninggatan.
As the truck reaches the department store Åhléns City it veers sharply to the right and drives into the store where it starts to burn. 18,000 extradition cases Swedish Police are currently handling around 18,000 open extradition cases submitted by the Swedish Migration Board. Of these, around 12,500 people have disappeared according to the police’s own data. Three thousand of them are in the Stockholm region. But Rakhmat Akilov was not a case like others. Säpo became interested in him already 2016, before the police took up their search for him. “He has appeared in some intelligence reports, but the information could not be confirmed,” the chief of Säpo, Anders Thornborg told the press. The authorities have been criticized for not having more stringent plans in place when asylum seekers are rejected. “The situation should bee reviewed and a regulatory framework established that provides the necessary conditions for the country’s authorities to fulfill this mission. It should not be that difficult,” claimed the criminologist and author Leif G.W. Persson in interviews. Last fall, Minister of the Interior Anders Ygeman and Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson suggested a set of new tools for police to quickly get rejected asylum seekers to leave the country. Among other things, it would give the police the opportunity to carry out raids on workplaces to examine who works there, something that currently requires a suspected crime. The government’s aim is for the tools to go into effect on January 1, 2018. “We have worked to increase the return and get a better return process, and it was 55 percent more who returned in 2016 compared with 2015. But more measures remain to improve the return,” Ygeman now says.
The April 9 terror attack in Stockholm.
Handout images of the suspect distributed by police.
Gruesome image from the vantage point of an earlier colleague working on Drottninggatan, Stockholm.
MAY 1, 2017 11
feature
Sweden’s ‘new’ economy
Built on not-so-new technology: The telephone There have been manually controlled radio-based telephone systems in place for a very long time. All of them were replaced in the 1980s by the automatic NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone), a precursor to the present European GSM system (Global System for Mobile communications), which is present in every European mobile phone in use today. NMT was developed by a small group of enthusiasts with then government owned Telia and the telecom company Ericsson in Sweden. Here’s the story of the Swedish miracle as told by Dr. Bengt-Arne Vedin of Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology who wrote this in 2000, 17 years ago.
The Swedish economy, in shambles less than 10 years ago, has bounced back and powerfully so. New technology startups and entrepreneurs are born every day. Yet the key to it all are technologies that were introduced in Sweden 20 years ago and now involve the merging of the technologies of the internet and thirdgeneration mobile telephony. The development of cellular technology and the implementations of the internet on wireless technology came natural to Sweden — a country historically adept to — and required the use of the telephone. Sweden has always been attuned to telephony. Stockholm already had the highest per-capita density of telephone lines in the world 100 years ago. That’s true of the entire country now as well. Seth Myrby and Östen Mäkitalo of then-Televerket Radio (the old name for the radio division of the government-owned phone company, now called Telia) certainly didn’t know what they were doing — that is, what they were doing for the future of Sweden — with their development of the cellular phone. Initial research for a system for wireless telephony was already underway in the mid-1950s; Myrby 12 NORDSTJERNAN
and Mäkitalo had a fully developed wireless solution — a cellular system — by the end of the 1970s. As a small country, going the usual route of collaborating with the other Scandinavian telecommunications operators came rather naturally for Sweden. Thus the Nordic Mobile Telephone System, or NMT, early on became the standard, at least for some northernmost European countries, and was launched in 1981.
The first handsets made by Ericsson Radio weren’t handsets at all but small boxes that weighed several pounds. Clumsy as they were, the idea of mobile telephony swiftly became a success. Why? Standardization is one important answer. Another is the fact that Sweden, Norway and Finland are vast, sparsely populated countries that truly benefit from mobile phones. “Free agents” were another reason — artisans and small business people could now do without sharing an office or hiring help, which cost dearly; instead, they really had the first “office in their pockets.” Once started, the development took off quickly. In the mid-80s the NMT system was adopted by several more European countries as well as in Australia. The importance of standardization was clear. Eventually the analog NMT was replaced by a digital system, and this time standardization became European in scope. The GSM system was fully developed and started replacing the NMT in 1992. Meanwhile, in the U.S. where local telecom operators make independent decisions, nobody picked up on the European trend. And in a country lacking the central decision-making and standardization of Sweden, GSM was not adopted at an early stage.
next step: production of actual devices
the more you have, the more you get
The next challenge, however, was to convince major telecom producers like Ericsson that it would be a good idea to start making antennas, systems and mobile telephones for the NMT. Interest was lukewarm at best, except for Ericsson Radio, a company that had been shaped from many smaller firms specializing in radio communications of various types. And because the national telecom operators were important customers on their home turf, Ericsson couldn’t entirely neglect them.
The enormous growth of Silicon Valley and the internet have focused attention on an important economic concept: The runaway developed as “increasing marginal returns,” or more colloquially as self-reinforcing, positive spirals. In other words: “The more you have, the more you get.” This is precisely what has happened in Sweden as cellular companies sprang up around Ericsson and the telecom operators, particularly Telia. Allgon, for example, is a producer of antennas; Spectronic a producer of handsets; and the list goes on.
Swedish developers had their focus on wireless already by the start of the new millennium ... No wonder that companies such as Sendit, Skype, Spotify or gaming producers such as Minecraft originated here.
Drawing from 1926 by Karl Arnold in Simplicissimus (Berlin), a weekly magazine, showing people using mobile telephones
Internet-related businesses may be growing by some 50 percent a year, but the business of wireless is growing even faster, by almost 79 percent annually. This growth is reflected in several booming industries and technology parks in Sweden, around the new university college shared between Karlskrona and Ronneby in southeastern Sweden, at Linköping University, and foremost in what is called “Wireless Valley” in the northern Stockholm suburb of Kista. This is the home of Ericsson Radio as well as a new campus of Sweden’s most prestigious technological university, the Royal Institute of Technology. Kista is also where you will find the joint-venture company between Ericsson and Microsoft, the joint venture between Ericsson and Hewlett-Packard, the new lab for Motorola and yet another Microsoft undertaking, apart from its recent acquisition of Sendit.
The latter caused quite some excitement. Why did Microsoft buy a corporation from a boy in his early 20s for a fabulous sum? The answer is simple: His company was thriving on a powerful idea. And Microsoft, like so many others, has realized that if internet business is growing by 50 percent and wireless by 70 percent, why not combine the two? That is what is happening right now in Kista, outside Stockholm. And since the more you have, the more you get, it makes sense to add to the success formula, the forceful nucleus of being the pioneers.
Telia Company, originally a gove r n m e n t t e l ephone monopoly under the name Televerket was privatized in 2000, and in 2002 merged with Finnish Sonera. Ericsson, founded in 1876 by Lars Magnus Ericsson, now employs around 110,000 people and operates in 180 countries. The company holds close to 40,000 patents, including many in wireless technology. Ericsson was first with the world’s fully automatic mobile telephone system in 1956 but was regarded as slow to realize the potential of the internet in the 1990s and falling behind in the area of IP technology. The growth of GSM, which became a de facto world standard, combined with Ericsson’s other mobile standards meant that by the start of 1997, Ericsson had an estimated 40 percent share of the world’s mobile market, with around 54 million subscribers.
By 2000 the wireless economy was already booming in Europe. On October 1, 2001 Sony and Ericsson merged their mobile phone departments to develop, manufacture and market mobile phones. Sony Ericsson had been created, a success story that would be about a decade long. When the company was at its peak it produced an incredible 103 million phones with an annual profit of nearly $1.5 billion. Among the products were iconic models of the Walkman and Cybershot series. Apple’s launch of the iPhone in 2007, however, became the beginning of the end for Sony Ericsson. The company had a loss between 2008 and 2012, prompting Sony to buy out Ericsson’s stake in the company and form Sony Mobile Communications, which is sometimes considered a Japanese-Swedish subsidiary of Sony with 2,000 employees remaining in Lund, Sweden. When Ericsson no longer owned half of Sony Ericsson (2012) the company’s focus changed. Ericsson Cables and the modem business were dismantled during 2013-2014. The production of telecom cable folded and a division that had focused on power cables was sold to NKT Cables. Instead Ericsson chose to once again focus on telecommunications systems by acquiring Nortel’s multi-shift operations. The company also acquired GDNT, Telcordia, BelAir Networks and Concept Wave. But, it’s not been an easy road. There were reports in spring 2016 that the company had plans to cease production in Sweden, rumors that created a heated debate about the future of a piece of Swedish manufacturing history. The CEO was relieved of his duties in the summer of 2016 and a new CEO was not in place until October. While the company has suffered losses in revenue in recent years and there was talk about a sale, Ericsson has a very strong position in mobile broadband, and though it may take some time for revenues to pick up, it should be well poised for a strong position in the future 5G systems markets.
bengt-Arne Vedin
Dr. Vedin received his doctoral degree (PhD) based on a thesis (comprising four books) on innovation in large corporations; one of his books is devoted to innovation in computers and elec-
tronics. After practicing the innovation business, mostly in information technology, he has since 1977 been engaged in innovation research. He has been a guest researcher and guest professor at the OECD, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in Washington, DC, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University. Dr. Vedin has published more than 50 books. He is secretary general of the Ruben Raising Foundation for Research on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, performed the National Innovation Study for the Swedish Government, received the ITA Award for contributions to the audiovisual industry in 1977. He has served on over 15 corporate boards of directors, an EU Industry Advisory Panel for the Esprit program and is a member of the Teldok Editorial Board since its inception in 1979.
MAY 1, 2017 13
feature
A Man Called
Fredrik On March 26, 2017 a large group of fans was planning to gather for a Skype conversation organized by Tosa’s All-City Read. But it turned out to be the day the interviewee wasn’t at home in Stockholm, Sweden, but in Hollywood, California, getting ready for the Academy Awards. Fredrik Backman, author of A Man Called Ove, which inspired the Oscar nominated movie, couldn’t do the Skype interview, but he agreed to answer TACR’s questions later. Here is the interview. In A Man Called Ove, how did you develop the various characters and their individual personalities? FB: It’s a long process to develop a character, and the only thing I try to do to guide that process is to go by the feeling of that, as long as it feels like a “character,” I’m not really finished. I have to live with that character in my head long enough for him or her to start feeling like a real person to me. I need to have real feelings. I think that’s the only way for a story to have a chance to feel like it’s worth something to the reader. It might take bits and pieces of 20 or 30 real people to make one good character. It’s like oranges: It takes more than you’d expect to make one glass of juice. And you
A Man Called Ove, the story about an ill-tempered, isolated retiree who spends his days enforcing block association rules has become a global success and phenomenon, as popular in the author’s native Sweden as in the USA or South Korea. In the United States, “Ove” got off to a slow start. It landed on the best-seller list only a full 18 months after it was first published and remained there for 42 weeks. Demand has been steady and Atria Books has reprinted the novel over 40 times and at present has more than a million copies in print. The movie was the highest-grossing foreignlanguage film of 2016. Meet the author, 35-year-old Fredrik Backman.
know what? Sometimes writers just make stuff up. We’re very unreliable like that. Is there a specific reason you chose the name Ove? FB: Well, the reason I chose “Ove” is because it’s an incredibly common name for a man of Ove’s generation in Sweden. Much like “John” would be in America. I thought it was a funny title, because of it being SO common that people would think, “Why would you call a book that?” And that of course worked in Sweden, but then it got translated and sold to countries like South Korea and Italy where “Ove” is the strangest name people have ever heard ... so I guess that joke got lost a little while it travelled. But hey, you win some, you lose some. There were only a few clues that the story took place in Sweden — it could have happened just about anywhere. Was it your intention to make it “universal”? FB: No, I don’t think like that. I’m pretty sure that would backfire somehow. But I guess my writing style is to not tell you too much about what things look like. I try not to over-explain the environment and the characters in a story; there are, for example, very few physical descriptions of Ove, most of what I’m letting you know about him is about the way he acts and thinks and feels. It’s very little about what he looks like. I think I trust you to have a way better casting process in your imagination than I do, so I let you choose the actors and the setting for most of what I write. Did you know early on in your plans that (like the Grinch) Ove’s heart was too big? FB: Yes. That was pretty essential to the story. And also, just like Parvaneh, I found it quite funny. Is the community where Ove and Sonja lived a typical suburban Swedish neighborhood? Is a power-crazy homeowners’ association president a common occurrence? FB: I don’t know about “common,” but my experience from these kinds of interviews abroad is that people like Ove exist just about everywhere in the world. A little while ago a woman from Germany wrote me to tell me that her husband has a similar role in the community where they live, and he now refers to all his neighbors as “the inhabitants.” He’ll come home and say, “The goddamn inhabitants, you know what one of them has done in his front
14 NORDSTJERNAN
yard?” I feel that’s one or two steps away from using a word like “inmate.” I really wish I would have known that story before I wrote the book, because I would have stolen it. You give credit to a translator for the English version of the book, but given your fluency in English, how much do you get involved in the translation? FB: Very little, actually. It takes a lot more than language skills to be a good translator, it’s really a craft that I think goes unnoticed and unappreciated by most of us, including myself, I’m afraid. The translator needs to know the little everyday things about a language that I would never pick up, the hidden meanings of a word joke or the correct phrase in a context that might have been one thing 20 years ago but is hopelessly out of date today. It’s also a lot about rhythm, I might write things with a certain tempo in Swedish that wouldn’t really work in a different language. So ... no. I believe in finding a very good translator and then getting out of the way and letting that person do their job. But with all that said, I hope the reason my books have found an audience abroad is that they are not constructed out of big words and complicated language, but out of stories. Because stories are universal, they will not get lost in translation. Can you tell us about your most recent book Beartown and the TV series that will be based on it? Any chance we’ll get to see it in the States? FB: It’s a story about a small town that is heavily invested, both economically and emotionally, in their local ice hockey team. At a crucial point in time a star player commits a horrific crime, and everyone involved has to pick a side, choose between letting him be punished for it or try to let him off the hook because he’s so important to the team’s success. It’s a story about sports, so of course it’s based on my love for ... well ... just about every sport in the world. (I call it “having a healthy interest” and my wife calls it “having a mental problem.”) But it’s also about the darker aspects of sports, the promoting of some individuals as “elite” and raising them above everyone and everything. Basically it revolves around the simple question: What are we prepared to let a super athlete get away with, if it’s our team he plays for? I’ve been told it’s more serious than my previous novels, and maybe it is, but I hope I’ve built a strong enough relationship with my readers now that we are ready for that.
You have three books at the top of several bestseller lists — congratulations! How long does it take you to write a book, and how do you get your inspiration? FB: Depends on the book, of course. I would say the full process takes about a year, because the biggest portion of the work is not writing, it’s thinking. And thinking can’t really be rushed. I have a lot more time to write now than I did when I wrote my first novel, because back then I had a full-time job and could only write during nights and weekends. But I’ve found that a novel still takes about the same amount of days and months to finish now, because a thought and an idea need a natural time span to grow, I guess. Inspiration? I get that from everywhere. That’s the only way I know how to write. I steal from wherever I can get it. Do you start with characters or plot? FB: Characters for me. Always characters. Several publishers turned down the opportunity to publish your book(s), but you continued to try. What kept you going? FB: I spent a lot of time writing the book. I figured I could spend at least the same amount of time trying to get it published. It also probably helps that I’m “pretty full of myself,” according to my closest friends. I wouldn’t say all writers need hubris, but it certainly helps get you through some of the rejections in the beginning. Because there will be rejections, for almost all of us, and you have to battle through that. That’s part of the journey. Were you pleased with how the movie turned out? Were you consulted in any way as they were making the movie? FB: The movie people were very nice, but everyone including my wife agreed early on that maybe it would be best if I just came to the meetings and focused primarily on listening and eating all the donuts instead of trying to tell competent people how to do their jobs. My wife will tell you that I know absolutely nothing about making a movie; my favorite movie genres according to her are “superheroes with depressing backstories” and “Kevin Costner plays baseball.” So the only thing she said when we got approached about
the movie rights was, “If you want them to do it you have to LET them do it, Fredrik. You can’t tell them to make a movie and then be all cranky when they don’t do it exactly the way you want!” I guess my wife is a lot like Bill Parcells in that way, the old NFL coach who said, “If you want me to cook the meal you have to let me shop for the ingredients.” But she was right, of course, she usually is.
To be quite honest I think sometimes authors get this idea that we can, well, do everything. But making a movie is an art, and also a team effort. So I sat down with the director Hannes Holm and the lead actor Rolf Lassgård, and they asked me a lot of questions about the story and how I saw certain things, but I didn’t interfere with their vision of it. The only thing I told them was that it was important they understood
that to me this is a love story. And I really feel like they did. So I felt secure in letting go. And it’s been quite an adventure, really, it was like watching Ove moving away from home. He lives his own life now. Edited by Amanda Olson Robison http://www.tosasallcityread.com
MAY 1, 2017 15
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Swedish Day Camp Home-schooled children in Minneapolis learn about Sweden’s culture
Students work on reading lessons at the Swedish day camp for home-schooled families. Active learning strategies and a framework of multiple intelligences were used in lesson planning so participants worked as partners, in small groups, and moved around the site.
SWEDE AMONG THE REDNECKS A humorous collection of essays about growing up, reaching adulthood and maturity on two continents and in two separate cultures. Loved by Rednecks, Bluenecks, Swedes and Americans: “… something any Swedish American will enjoy” … “A humorous look at Swedes and Swedishness” … “[written with] the gift of clarity, humor, pathos, and joy” A book from Nordstjernan, also available on Amazon.
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A few years ago, Tesha Pettit used to live in East Central Minnesota’s Isanti County, called “America’s Dalarna” due to all the Swedish immigrants who settled there in the mid 1800s to 1920s. Pettit brought her daughter to the annual Swedish day camp program there, even after the family had moved to Minneapolis. Now she is home-schooling her children, and is active in a couple independent schooling cohorts in the Twin Cities. She longed for that Swedish language opportunity when the Isanti County program went on hiatus and wondered if she could organize a day camp experience for her new home-school colleagues and their children. In early April, 16 children ages 3 to 12, gathered at the Danish American Center (DAC) in Minneapolis for language classes, crafts, outdoor games, songs and cultural learning. Parents with pre-schoolers remained onsite
and learned along with their children. Teachers were Sigrid and KarlAnders, who had previously worked together through the Concordia Language Village Swedish program. They divided the group according to pre-school and school-age learners, and taught according to development levels. Some whole group activities included song games traditional for midsommar, kubb, and some songs and games to help everyone get acquainted. At the end of the program, all the participants made their way through a “reflection” receiving line. The children each spoke about something they learned, shook hands with the adults, and got their certificate of attendance. The DAC served as an inviting location for this opportunity, with comfortable indoor spaces and plenty of outdoor areas for games and the final receiving line. The building is also the home office for the Swedish Council of America (SCA), so when Karl-Anders arrived to work at the Swedish day camp, he merely had to walk a few steps from his parttime job at the SCA. Text and photos by V. S. Arrowsmith (Above) At the end of the Swedish day camp, all the participants made their way through a “reflection” receiving line. / (Left) Children help eachother read in preparation for learning a story in Swedish.
Waffles, witches and song In March 2017, Atlanta’s new Swedish Choir “Sounds of Sweden” met to rehearse for the first time. Two weeks later, after the choir members had the opportunity to suggest a name for the choir and then vote for the best name, the winning name was announced. The idea of creating a Swedish mixed choir in Atlanta came up in the fall of 2016. For many years we have had a great Lucia choir here, consisting of ladies from SWEA/Atlanta and the Vasa Drängar men’s choir. From a poll among the Lucia choir singers it was evident that there was a great interest in singing more than just once a year. So, as a result the “Sounds of Sweden” was born — starting with almost 20 singers.
Celebrating spring
Our first performance happened at a “Vårgudstjänst på svenska” (Spring Service in Swedish) on March 25 in Atlanta. Swedish vicar Michael Franzén of the Church of Sweden Abroad came from Florida with his wife, deacon Susanne Franzen, and together they led the Swedish service. About 40 people attended this event that included a lot of music, including the Sounds of Sweden’s world première. This new and euphonious choir sang “Vintern rasa ut,” “Nu grönskar det” and “Glad såsom fågeln,” followed by powerful applause. Afterward the choir was asked: “When can we buy your CD?” The answer was: ”Well, can you wait a few months or so?” ... with emphasis on “or so.” After the service SWEA (who arranged this event with Nordic Lodge) served delicious Swedish waffles, which was not a coincidence: March
Atlanta’s new choir, Sounds of Sweden.
25 is Våffeldagen (the Waffle Day) on the Swedish calendar. It got its name from “Vårfrudagen” (Our Lady’s Day, March 25), which just happens to sound a bit like “Våffeldagen.” The United States has a national Waffle Day, too, but it is on August 24, the day the U.S. patented a waffle iron. The day after the Swedish service the Nordic Lodge served its Second Annual Easter Dinner, with påskkär-
From left: Mia Peters, Michael Franzén, Susanne Franzén, Göran Rygert. Mia and Göran are the founders of the choir and Göran is its conductor.
ringar (Easter witches) and a great Easter smörgåsbord. Fifty hungry Vasa members and guests enjoyed salmon, shrimp, herring, deviled eggs and much, much more, followed by coffee and handmade cakes. The chief chef was Kerstin Gasko and she had quite a few assistants. The whole event was supervised by four påskkärringar who arrived from Sweden. After dinner, they disappeared.
They probably took the first possible broom connection back to Blåkulla. Strangely enough these four påskkärringar very much resembled four of the Nordic Lodge members, Gail Perron, Monica Eklund, Anita Menegay and Kerstin Gasko. It was a fun and enjoyable evening! Göran Rygert
The four witches: Gail Perron, Monica Eklund, Anita Menegay and Kerstin Gasko. MAY 1, 2017 17
feature
Mexico, Kansas, Kalmar ... Manuel Collado of Vera Cruz, Mexico, always knew he would study abroad, but never considered Sweden until he became a student at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. Collado, who will graduate from Bethany in May with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting, spent the fall semester at Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden. He began looking into study abroad opportunities during his sophomore year and learned about Bethany’s exchange program with Linnaeus. “I had considered other countries like Spain but really wanted to experience a different culture from my own,” Collado said. “I planned on going abroad during college but never looked at Sweden as an option. I ended up loving it.” He enjoyed his time in Sweden so much that Collado is hoping to return there sometime next fall. He is very attracted to the Swedish culture and is looking for another chance to live there, he said. He hopes to pursue a post-graduate degree or find a job working in finance. He said being a Spanish-speaker will help him find work opportunities in his field. As a student at Linnaeus, he said the biggest difference between college in Kansas and Sweden is that class attendance in Sweden was not required. Although having more free time came with more responsibility, Collado said he enjoyed having
the opportunity to travel around the country and to attend the many festivals and events that took place while he was there. “I think the hardest part for me was getting used to the eight hour time difference,” Collado said. “I really enjoyed the culture and the mindset of the Swedish people. It is a very healthy lifestyle. People are very active, ride bikes everywhere and eat healthier. I really enjoyed that.” Collado played golf for Bethany College his first two years but after an injury was unable to continue. Traveling gave him an opportunity to observe what life is like for others. He was impressed with what working life was like in Sweden. “There seemed to be a very pleasant work environment,” he said. “Because of breaks and time off, employees seemed less stressed and happy with their jobs. There seemed to be a high-quality work life regardless of a person’s job level. That is what got me thinking about looking for a job in Sweden.” He was also able to meet people from all over Europe during his travels in Sweden and found most people to be very open-minded and accepting. “The experience of living in another country opens your mind and you realize you and your country are not the center of the universe,” he said. Collado believes his study abroad experience taught him to be more open to possibilities and
Marion Palm selected for ANA Award
Poet and singer Marion Palm has been invited to attend the Alumni of Notable Achievement induction dinner at the University of Minnesota. The dinner on June 29 is at the McNamara Alumni Center, an architecturally striking building on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. John Coleman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, stated “CLA is proud of your examplary career as an author, educator and poet.” Marion Palm is a first generation Nordic American who studied Swedish at the university and majored in anthropology. Her most recent book tells about her Swedish mother and the importance of the connection to her roots through the Vasa Order of America.
Manuel Collado will return to Sweden after graduation at Bethany College.
to see that people are more alike than different. “I learned that borders are just lines drawn on a map,” Collado said. “Studying abroad gives you a different perspective on your past beliefs.” After commencement ceremonies in May, Collado will return to Mexico but is making plans to get back to Sweden in August. Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning and service. Bethany College is on the web at www.bethanylb.edu.
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news in brief
Swedish News App for family planning
Swedish nuclear physicist Elina Berglund created an app, the first in the world, that works as a contraceptive. “There is now an approved alternative to conventional pregnancy prevention methods, and it’s possible to replace medication with technology,” says Berglund. The app, called Natural Cycles, was approved by the German inspection and certification organization Tüv Süd, and officially offers a clinically tested alternative to birth control methods by calculating fertility with an algorithm based on a woman’s daily body temperature, taken orally and recorded every morning. A study of over 150,000 users in 161 countries has proven Natural Cycles is as effective as a method of birth control as being on the pill. The plans of a big scale launch in the U.S. are pending approval from the FDA.
More women in tech
Tjejer Kodar (Girls Coding) is helping women break into the trade of web coding. In 2015 co-founders Hanna Petterson and Sandra Hindskog of Stockholm launched a casual social media campaign to get other women to join them on a trip to Barcelona to learn to code. Interest was enormous, so they launched a kick-starter campaign, and its 100 spots for a boot-
camp in Barcelona sold out in two minutes. Tjejer Kodar is now expanding beyond Sweden and offering English-language courses. “We see an increasing interest toward software engineering and coding skills among women, and we have thousands signed up on the waiting list for our trips,” says Petterson. “We are going to involve a thousand people during 2017.”
The HMS Orion
Saab builds Navy vessels
Sweden has contracted Saab’s Kockums business unit to build a new signal intelligence (SIGINT) vessel, according to the Swedish Defense Material Administration on April 11. The nearly $80.4 million project for the Swedish Navy will replace the HMS Orion, which is currently used to intercept radio transmitted signals. The new ship will primarily be used for monitoring and analyzing communications traffic in the Baltic region. Saab, which had upgraded the Orion at its Kockums
shipyard in Karlskrona, will take full responsibility for the design, construction, and delivery of the new vessel. The steel ship, ready in 2020, will be 71 meters long and displace approximately 2,300 tons.
Migrant children coma-like
Several hundred children and adolescents in Sweden have “uppgivenhetssyndrom” (resignation syndrome), meaning they have become bedridden or unresponsive after some kind of trauma — all of them after learning their families will be expelled from the country. In every case, the children are seeking asylum after a traumatic migration, mostly from former Soviet and Yugoslav states. The only known cure for this comalike state is for their families to receive residency permits to stay in Sweden. But it’s not an immediate turnaround — there are no long-term follow-up studies, but it can take days, weeks, even months before the child begins to regain consciousness.
Fight against fake news
Sweden and the U.S join seven EU and NATO nations in establishing a central body to combat unconventional methods of warfare such as disinformation and fake news. The European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats will serve as a platform for EU and NATO to pool resources and share expertise. The countries — also including Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland — signed a memorandum on April 11 to set up the center in Helsinki with the support of the Finnish government.
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news in brief
New York based designer at Svenskt Tenn This summer interior design store Svenskt Tenn on Strandvägen in Stockholm adds a bit of New York Swedish inspired design: The interior design company has started selling jewelry from New York based Monika Knutsson’s Gilded Lace Collection. Svenskt Tenn retails a curated collection of vintage lace jewelry dipped in 24k gold, sterling silver or oxidized black silver to Swedish clients. Dangling long lace earrings and cuff bracelets with the original lace still inside the jewelry is now available at the Strandvägen store in central Stockholm. “I am thrilled to be represented by Svenskt Tenn in Stockholm!” said Knutsson. “There is a natural connection between the modern lace jewelry that I design and the designs that I see at Svenskt Tenn. The jewelry includes flower landscapes similar to that of Joseph Frank’s fabric designs. Much of the lace comes from the same time period as when Frank was making his original designs.” Monika Knutsson wants to bring back life to forgotten lace. It is a way to honor the person who originally wore or made the lace. “Each jewelry piece I make comes with a story—where the lace came from and what it was used for. The idea is to create an heirloom piece for generations to come.” Monika finds the lace at flea markets and estate sales in Paris, New York, Berlin, London and Stockholm. She designs the shapes of the jewelry pieces and seals the lace with a thin lacquer. The lace is then dipped in 24k gold, rose gold, white gold, or sterling silver at a small plant in Brooklyn. Each piece is one of a kind and made by hand. Monika, originally from Jönköping started the jewelry company, Monika Knutsson, in 2010 after
“Each jewelry I make comes with a story—where the lace came from and what it was used for.” Monika Knutsson at one of her many exhibits in the New York area. Photo: Hanna Aqvilin
moving back to the United States from Paris where she worked as a fashion designer for Isabel Marant for several years. Marant was doing a lot of lace pieces, so that’s how my love for lace began. I started collecting vintage lace at the flea markets in my free time.”
Bracelet by Monika Knutsson, one of many pieces to be sampled at Svenskt Tenn, Strandvägen, Stockholm.
For more info, see www.svenskttenn.se and www.monikaknutsson.com
not my time to die Titanic and the Swedes on Board by Lilly Setterdahl The 123 Swedes on board made up the third largest ethnic group on the Titanic after the American and the British. The book profiles each of the Swedish passengers; including the 34 survivors... Perfect bound, large size paperback, 296 pages. Richly illustrated.
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sports
Pawel Cibicki scored on a bicycle kick to give Malmö a 2-0 lead April 16 against Halmstad. Photo: Peter Arvidsson/Bildbyrån
Malmö cashes in on depth
It is an embarrassment of riches for Malmö FF. The defending Allsvenskan champions, already the richest club in Swedish soccer history, is off to a raucous start, holding the top spot of Swedish football’s top flight after just three matches. Match Day 3 showed just why Malmö is the odds-on favorite to not only defend its 2016 title but to once more make noise in the UEFA Champions League. Malmö took on Halmstad April 16 at Orjans vall and coasted to a 3-0 win, thanks in large part to Swedish Under-21 international Pawel Cibicki. The son of Polish immigrants who grew up in Malmö, Cibicki was surplus to the club’s needs and spent the season on loan with Jönköping Södra, where he scored 10 goals, including two against his own club. Malmö recalled the 23-year-old at the end of the season and expected Cibicki to add depth to an offensive unit that already includes Swedish internationals Markus Rosenberg and Oscar Lewicki and Norwegian stars Jo Inge Berget and Magnus Wolf Ekrem. Against Halmstad, Cibicki stepped into the role Berget usually plays, acting as the top of the diamond of the Malmö midfield formation. Berget continues to nurse a hamstring injury while Danish international 22 NORDSTJERNAN
Anders Christiansen, Lewicki and budding star Alexander Jeremejeff continue to recover from a variety of ailments. The rash of injuries has given Cibicki the chance to be regular, and he is making the most of it. Cibicki set up the first goal as he picked out Christiansen with a precision pass in the 35th minute that the Dane easily slotted into the net. The goal came just moments after Cibicki nearly handed Rosenberg a tally with a perfect feed at the top of the penalty area. The goal also came two minutes after Halmstad midfielder Aboubakar Keita received a straight red card for a nasty challenge on Lewicki. Cibicki doubled the lead when he struck off a pass from Rosenberg in the 38th minute. Rosenberg dropped in a cross that nearly flew past when Cibicki launched himself into a bicycle kick, striking the ball just inside the top right corner of the Halmstad net. Goal no. 3 was almost dull as Cibicki again took a pass from Rosenberg and again placed the ball in the top right corner of the net. The performance was indicative of just how stacked Malmö is coming into the 2017 season. The reigning Swedish champions essentially have an interchangeable squad in which quality does not drop
off when one of its front-line players is unavailable. Malmö has arguably the most depth of any team in Sweden and gave an example of just how strong its bench is in its opening against IFK Göteborg. Playing in front of more than 32,000 fans at Gamla Ullevi on April 1, Malmö head coach Magus Pehrsson fielded a squad that featured four players that were on the substitutes list against Halmstad. IFK, meanwhile, trotted its full squad but could only manage a 1-1 draw. Malmö played Sundsvall in its home opener April 7 and came away with a 2-0 win, again without its full suad. For Cibicki, the brace against Halmstad gave him three goals on the season as he scored MFF’s lone goal against Göteborg. He said he has no plans of stopping. “I have three now, and now have to get four, then five, then six,” he told Swedish sports network C-More. Malmö now sits atop the standings with seven points, level with Örebro but well ahead in goal difference. Chipp Reid
Smörgåstårta The multi-layered sandwich tart
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The popular Swedish smörgåstårta is a fantastic addition to any smörgåsbord, especially at this time of year. It takes a while to prepare, but since it’s served cold, the host has plenty of time to socialize ... really the perfect serving for the Valborg or early May celebration. The first reference to smörgåstårta can be found in Danish playwright Ludvig Holmberg’s (1684-1754) comedies. It didn’t become popular in Sweden until the 1940s, however, but is today served frequently. Yield: 10-15 people Prep Time: About 60 minutes Chill Time: About 2 hours Ingredients 2 loaves of two kinds of bread, preferably one light and one dark. (French bread and something whole wheat) 1/2 cup roe (caviar) 3-4 tbsp chopped dill 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped 1 cup soft cheese, cream cheese or similar 1/2 cup smoked ham, chopped 3/4 cup liverwurst/paté (soft spread) 4 tbsp cucumber pickles, chopped Butter 1 cup of mayonnaise For decoration Lemon slices Shrimp Dill Tomatoes Cucumber Cheese Ham Salmon Directions Mix 1: roe (caviar) and dill, hard boiled eggs Mix 2: soft cheese, smoked ham Mix 3: liverwurst/paté, cucumber pickles
Blend each of the mixes in separate bowls. Cut the bread in 1/2-inch slices and cut off the crust (the crust destroys the smörgåstårta). You need two slices of light and two slices of dark bread. Spread a thin layer of butter on both sides of the bread except the bottom and the top sides. Start with a light piece of bread and spread an evenly layer of Mix 1 on it. Put a dark piece on it and cover it with Mix 2, then a light piece of bread and cover it with Mix 3. Then put a dark piece of bread on that. Cover the cake with plastic foil and press it together a little. Put it in the fridge for a couple hours, but preferably the day before you’ll serve it. (You can also store it in the freezer for a couple weeks before you take it out to decorate and serve it.) Take out the cake and spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on it. Decorate it with the following: Lemon slices, shrimp, dill, tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, ham or salmon. You can also cut the corners to shape it to look more like a tort. Serve the smörgåstårta with tossed salad. Smörgåstårta is perfect for Midsummer, at birthday parties, garden parties or as lunch, brunch or night snack. Tip: If garnishing with shrimp, get the small, peeled Greenland shrimp sold at many Ikea stores.
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