Z = Zorn in Swedish and Zorn in English

Anders Leonard Zorn (18 February 1860 – 22 August 1920),
 was one of Sweden's foremost artists.
He received international success as a painter, a sculptor and an etcher.

He captured everyday life and people in his paintings.
One of the few that caught the woman, her family, her life, in his paintings.

Zorn was a big lover of woman's body.

Those paintings you can look at for yourselves, but I can say, they are really Beautiful.

Here are some paintings from the everyday life, for 100 year ago.

Enjoy, my friends.

With all this beauty I want say:
Thank you for all your comments, it was pure pleasure to meet you all.
And, don´t forget to visit this beautiful country here up in North.
I promise you, you will not be disappointed.
For last time this year:

Welcome to Sweden !!!!!!!!! 

Y = Ytterst tacksam in Swedish and Extremely grateful in English

My A-Z challenge is nearing the end.
This is the penultimate entry in this challenge.
And I'm "tacksam", no, more, I am "ytterst tacksam" ( extremely  grateful )  to do this challenge.

I have read many new blogs, see new people reading my blog, learn new things, things that I  would never have thought of, or even actively search them.
Yet, they have enriched my life.
They have broadened my horizons
I just loved it.
From the bottom of my heart.

Thank you to all of you, who came to my blogg.
I hope, it has enriched yours Life.
It was so fun to do this.
I am already thinking about next year of A-Z challenge.

I wish you all nice time with your blogging.
I am continue this blog too in some way.
Maybe you will came back  here to read some times.
You are soo welcome.

But first and foremost :
Welcome to Sweden !

X = X kromosom in Swedish and X chromosome in English

Today I wish to pay tribute to a woman.
Carriers of XX-chromosomes.

Women of all ages, colours, shapes.

Have you noticed that there are not even 100 years ago, women were given the right to vote ...
That it is not even 100 years ago, when the woman was able to study at Universities on the same conditions as men?


Thankfully, things have changed and still change. It needed  and needs some strong women to make things happen and many understanding men to let things happen.
God bless them all.

And thank you, all ,  who made it possible to be  who I am and where I am.
Thank you for giving me possibility make my own choices.
I am a women, wife, mother, daughter,  friend, co-worker, neighbour.
And I am a feminist, happy to live in country where 50 percent of government representatives are women.


Welcome to Sweden !

W = William in English and Ä, Å, Ö in Swedish

Now I have a proper challenge within my A-Z challenge.

If I complained that there are no Words that start with Q, the letter W is even worse.

No, Nope.

No Swedish words beginning with W, they all begin with a V.

It's sad, I know.

But I must make the best of the situation.

I will do it my way. I like to do things by my way. Smile.

So, here is something about W and then I will present you Three letters,  that are in Swedish alphabet but not in the English...

William, in the English spelling  was the most popular boy's name last year. ( 2015)

William is the English version of the Swedish name Vilhem..

Ok, that was W.

Namntoppen 2015 pojknamn
Yr	Ranking	Namn	Antal namngivna
2015	1	William	977
2015	2	Lucas	802
2015	3	Liam	752
2015	4	Oscar	737
2015	5	Elias	732
2015	6	Hugo	711
2015	7	Oliver	709

Now we will talk about those beautiful letters with dots above them.

The Swedish alphabet consists of 29 letters. The last three are  Å, Ä and Ö.
These are the only ones that differ from the English alphabet.

Å

The Å can be thought of as the ‘au’ sound in ‘Paul’. Indeed, some Swedish Pauls actually spell their names Pål. The sound is long, as in a long ‘Pååål’

.

Ä

This letter can be thought of as the English ‘ai’ in ‘pair’, or ‘hair’. The only thing to remember is that the mouth is actually quite wide, a bit more of a smile than when saying ‘pair’.

Ö
Finally, the Ö is similar to the English sound ‘i’ in the word ‘bird’. Or ‘u’ in the word ‘fur’. Or ‘ea’ in the word ‘heard’. The lips are fairly rounded, but also slightly trumpet-shaped.

Welcome to Sweden !!

V = Viking in Swedisch and Viking in English

We all know, who Vikings were?

Right? You know, those wild men with horns on their head ? (Sorry to say, but they didn't have any horns, it is just very big misunderstanding.)

Vikings, were warriors and pirates, mainly from the Nordic countries. They had a hand in boat looting and war expeditions in Europe and western Asia from 793 until the 1100's. Also known as the late Iron Age last period, and they were called Vikings. The Vikings took on extensive trade as well.

But I want talk about something more. I will talk about rune stones.

What are rune stones?

Rune stones are raised for people who have died, and although they may sometimes stand next to a graveyard, they are not gravestones. More accurately, is to call them memorials. There is no explanation as to why it was so common to carve and raise these rune stones during the Viking period  in memory of a dead in Sweden.

Almost all of the rune stones from the Viking Age, have texts with the same basic content. What did the Vikings wrote on rune stones?

There is always a certain order in the text.

For example, say "Torsten and Frögunn". Then comes "erected the stone," "let the chopping appliance after", "let carving runes after" or something similar. After that the name of the dead, for example, "John" or "Zoom". Finally we get to know how the dead were relatives of those who had the stone. The most common is that it says "his father", "his brother", "her son", "his mother," "his sister" and so on. Sometimes also ends the text with a prayer. A common runic text is then, as it is on a rune stone in Knivsta south of Uppsala: "Halfdan had this stone for Joger, his brother, and Gudfrid for his son. God help his soul."

Some rune stones have longer texts. They tell about the diseased "journeys" to Greece or England for example. Sometimes it says that those for who was the stone erected had also built a bridge or a road.

We have ca 40 rune stones here in Uppsala.

Welcome to Sweden!

U = Uppsala in Swedish and Uppsala in English

However I try to think of other words that start with U .. I always come back to Uppsala.
Ok, I will write about Uppsala. The city where I live, and the city I love to live in.

When talking about  Uppsala , one often hears:
Students town with its famous "Nations" for students which are  so typical of Uppsala. The city has only 160,000 inhabitants, but a fourth part are students. And it shows! Young people everywhere having fun.




Bicycles everywhere. Uppsala is one of the cities where you can grab a bicycle without a problem from one side to other, even outside. Thousands of bikes. Student was and is an poor person, smile, and bicycle, you do not feed.





You can find information about Uppsala everywhere. But I want to tell you about a special thing for Uppsala. One thing that started here, in Uppsala.


Academic quarter.
Academic quarter is used by  Uppsala University  fifteen minutes between the schedule or program scheduled time for a lecture or lesson early and the actual minutes when it really starts. A lecture that is exposed to, for example, at 10 .00,  starting at 10.15 am.





The quarter began actually in those days when students usually  had  no their own pocketwatch so they  relied instead on the church clocks to strike every hour. In the old university cities of Uppsala lived almost all students  of the Cathedral's vicinity. And when they heard that the clock struck eight strokes, for example, it was time to go home and still be able to make it in time to the lecture Uppsala abolished academic quarter officially in 1982 , however, it was decided at that moment that all teaching sessions would start at a quarter past the hour unless special circumstances existed.
This method is still in use.
So, next lecture start 10.15.

Welcome to Sweden !!

T = Teamkänsla in Swedish and Teamfeeling in Ensglish

When people from other countries come and live in Sweden,t hey  often comments on those same things.
One of them is that: the Swedes are team player.
This is something that you learn from birth.
"Wait  for your turn, it's not important to be the best, but you have DO as best you can.
It is enough,"
In sports, it is often the child's level ... to have fun.
You do not need to be the best, but do your utmost, that your team is the best.

(If you're wondering if this is fake ..no it's not.  YES, this is our former prime minister who "was casted" on this sketch.)

The Swedish workplace culture is based on a balance of team-playing and individual responsibility. As in much of Swedish society, strict hierarchy is largely absent, with everyone’s role in the group seen as important. Managers often invite feedback from employees. Consensus is central to decision-making, and you may find yourself booked into more meetings than you’re used to. Swedes like to discuss scenarios from many angles and come to a group-wide agreement before taking a new course of action.
This type of structure is based on everyone showing mutual respect and taking responsibility for their tasks. This includes always being on time...

It is considered important to have a balance between your work and personal life. This is driven by the Swedish philosophy that happy, healthy employees are the most productive and efficient – the idea that you’ll do a better job and feel more motivated if you are valued as a person.

Swedes are listening people. "Lyhördhet" is a wonderful word and there is no substitute in English language. To have the ability to listen, analyse and show empathy, I think is appreciated by other cultures.
"The chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
This is  doctrine of the Swedes working life.

Welcome to Sweden !

S = Smörgåstårta in swedish and The Sndwiche cake in English

One of the traditional Swedish Foods smörgåstarta (smur-gos-tor-ta), which literally translates to "sandwich cake".
I promiss you, it will love at first bite, and you will not get enough!
Smörgåstårta is the perfect thing for parties and buffets with lots of guests: birthday parties, anniversaries,  community gatherings and even weddings and wakes, when you bring people together and want to treat them with something extra.
Leftovers?

No problem.
There will not be leftovers, I promise you,
(smile), but IF, just put a foil over it and keep it in refrigeratory.

You can use ham, cheeses, vegetables, witch you slice nicely.
It is only your fantasy that can put stop from your creativity...
The filling can be made with shrimp, ham,.. or just vegetables.
But there are some rules: Don`t mix meat and seafood. You do either meat or seafood cake.


I put some pics here  and video, so you can see how easy this is.
Try it !


   

Welcome to Sweden ! 

R = Röd in Swedish and Red in English

This letter stand for röd, like red.
But today I want talk about "Faluröd".

Did you wonder, why the typical Swedish House is almost always red? And how is it possible, that there are so many houses in this country, which are 100  and more years old and still on very good wood condition?
The answer is "Faluröd".
It is the name of the  colour, in which those houses are painted.

Paint originated historically from various cooper mines in Sweden. Most well known is the mine at Falun in Dalarna. The traditional colour remains popular today due to its effectiveness in preserving wood.


'
Since the ice binds starch, the paint is permeable to water. That saps the widespread homecooking of the paint decreased. Falu red became synonymous with deep red paint in general.

The paint consists of water, rye flour, linseed oil, and tailings from the cooper mines of Falun which contain silicates of iron oxides, cooper, and zinc compounds.
You can make your own paint or buy it in shop made at same old way.
As Falu red ages, the bind deteriorates.
Leaving the colour granules loose, but restoration is easy since simply brushing the surface is all that is required before repainting.

This is as much as possible to get close to nature. What we get from nature, that we use.
It is also one of the reason why this colour is still so popular here in Sweden.

Welcome to Sweden!

Q = Q-märkningin Swedisch and Q-Label in English

Q-märkning

It is very difficult to find a word beginning with the letter Q.

The Swedish words, nowadays, never start on Q. But there are still some old  forms of new spellings.

A building that has a historical value or as part of a historically valuable urban area can be declared heritage building. County administrative boards and the National Heritage Board is dealing with these issues. A building or environment can also get protection in municipal zoning according POB-law. This is denoted by q (Q) in the plan.

Welcome to Sweden !

P = Prinsessa Victoria in Swedish and Princess Victoria in English

Victoria was born a princess in 1977, but was for a constitutional amendment Swedish Crown Princess 1 January 1980.
The Crown Princess is the public person in Sweden who enjoys the greatest trust of the Swedish people and the person who obtained the greatest confidence since records began.
Why is it so ?
Because she is associated with characteristics that are so important for the Swedish :
"She is humble, and not trying to prove to be better than everyone else."

Married to the simple man from a small village in Dalarna., the mother of two children and currently on maternity leave with her second child.
Even as a teenager, she has never created negative headlines.

We can think what we want, right or not, about to inherit titles.
I don't think it is ok.

But..we have Kingdom in  Sweden and if I think about it, I think Victoria is a very good representative of Sweden abroad.
She is so typical Swedish .
Oh, yes, her children will go in the nursery school, municipal, with other children from the area, just as she has done.


Welcome to Sweden !!

O = Orup in Swedish and Orup in English

What I should write about the leter O ?
Help!!
I just cant come up with something ....
Hmmm...
Ok, we will talk today about pop Music in Sweden, and ORUP.
(Hans Thomas "Orup" Eriksson, born November 29, 1958 in Huddinge,  is a Swedish pop singer, guitarist and songwriter.

We tend to sometimes talk about "the Swedish pop wonder",  by which it is meant to Sweden since the 1970s has a very large export of pop music to be a country with such a small population. This includes, in addition to Swedish groups and artists, including songwriters and producers like Max Martin and now late Denniz Pop, who has written songs for world artists like the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.



Today we can listen to Orup.
Orup is BIG  i Sweden, but I don't know if he is known abroad.



Welcome to Sweden !!

N = Nyckelharpa in Swedish and Keyed fiddle in English

A nyckelharpa ("keyed fiddle", or literally "key harp ), is a traditional Swedish musical instrument. It is a string instrument or chordophone. Its keys are attached to tangents which, when a key is depressed, serve as frets to change the pitch of the string.


The instrument almost died out during first part of 1900, but today there are about 10,000 nyckelharpa players in Sweden .

Nyckelharpa is a given instrument in each folkmusic group.


A beautiful instrument with a beautiful sound.

Welcome to Sweden!

M = Midsommar in Swedish and Midsummer in English

Apart from Christmas, midsommar is the most important holiday in the Swedish calendar. And for some, the very most important. The midsommar  lunch party formula involves flowers in your hair, dancing around a pole, singing songs while drinking schnapps and downing a whole load of pickled herring, sill served with delightful new potatoes, chives and sour cream.

Welcome to Sweden!

L = Lagom

 

"Lagom" - is a word that describes the elementary in the Swedish national psyche of consensus and equality. It is a common saying in Sweden that describes a "normal" or "moderate balanced" state.

The Swede is often considered to be modest and avoid extremes. The concept of “lagom” has an undertone of "not too much or too little" as well as "lagom."

It is no easy task to describe the concept, because most descriptions have either a positive or negative connotations, while the " lagom" has no tone at all.

It is an entirely neutral word and it`s connotation is determined by the user.

The popular etymological translation is" around the team", meaning enough food and drink for everybody at the table.  It is said go back to Viking times, when they used big item to drink from.
Or was it a big horn ?
Smile.


Welcome to Sweden !

K = Kör in Swedish and Choir in English

" Sjung i kör och håll dig frisk" , is a old proverb here in Sweden which means:
"Sing in a choir and stay healthy."

Sweden is a country of singing people. Around 10% of citizens are singing in choir.
There are choirs in every school, every high school, university. Every town, village. Often, more than one.
In my town, with 200 000 citizens , we have 154 choirs. All amateurs.

The most popular choir from my town  is Orphei Drängar (OD).
(only men in this amateur choir.)

This happens in the body when you sing:

1. Levels of the hormone oxytocin increases, which means that you become more harmonious and experience the peace and quiet.
2. Your blood pressure drops.
3. Your immune system is strengthened.
4. Your Testosterone levels increase, which has a constructive effect on the tissues of the body.
5. The amount of fibrinogen, the protein that makes blood clotting, reduces.
6. Your psyche is affected so that you feel strong, happy and full of energy.

Source: The book "Music, Health and Wellbeing" written by the German scholar Gunter Kreutz, Christina Grapes studies "Does Singing Promote Well-Being" and "Magmunnarna - backing vocals for IBS patients."

Welcome to Sweden.

J = Jansson frestelse in Swedish and Jansson`s teptation in English

Jansson`s tempration is an old and good Swedish dish available to all kind of smorgasbord and eaten both at Christmas, Middle summer , but even during the year.Just because it is so good.

And I men GOOOOOOOD.

Smile.

If you have hard time to find pickled sprats at your shop, make a trip to visit that huge Swedish furniture store you might have close by.

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• Potatoes, peeled -- 2 pounds
• Butter -- 4 tablespoons
• Onions, thinly sliced -- 2
• Swedish preserved sprats, rinsed (see variations) -- 1 (3.5-ounce) tin
• Heavy cream -- 3 cups
• Salt and white pepper -- to season
• Bread crumbs -- 1/2 cup

Method

1. Oven to 375°F. Slice the potatoes into 1/4-inch rounds, then cut the rounds into 1/4-inch strips.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a saute pan or skillet over medium flame. Add the onions and saute onions until wilted and translucent but not browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Butter a deep casserole dish on the butter and sides. Layer one third of the potatoes evenly over the bottom of the casserole, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper. Next spread one half of the onions over the potatoes, and half the sprats over the onions, lightly seasoning each layer with salt and pepper. Spread another third of the potatoes in the dish, followed by the remaining onions and the rest of the sprats and finishing with the rest of the potatoes, seasoning each layer.
4. Bring the cream to a simmer in a saucepan, then pour it evenly into the casserole dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top of the potatoes. Dot the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over the breadcrumbs.
5. Place the casserole on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour, or until the potatoes are cooked through and the dish is browned and bubbling.

Welcome to Sweden !