Glad midsommar - Midsummer greetings!

This weekend our family and friends in Sweden are celebrating midsummer. Even if we don't have midsummer here right now, you might want to put some flowers under your pillow this Saturday...

"Because Midsummer was thought to be one of the times of the year when magic was strongest, it was considered a good night to perform rituals to look into the future. Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse."


For more midsummer rituals and traditions please take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer#Sweden

Svenskkul news...

Today Svenskkul celebrated the Swedish Royal wedding between Crown Princess Viktoria and Daniel Westling.
Attached is a picture of our "wedding photos" and the lovely princess cakes that the children made!

There will be no Svenskkul next Sunday (even though it's the last Sunday of the month) as we had our get together this weekend instead.

Svenskkul's next "Sunday get together" is on the 25 July at Te Papa.
New and old families welcome!

Please see http://svenskkul.blogspot.com/ for more information, closer to the date.

Watch the Royal wedding online, tonight, new link!

We have been supplied a new link to view the Royal wedding online, for us viewers outside the Nordic region.
The countdown is about to start. When Sweden wakes up today it is the big day for our Royal couple. SVT has made an exception and is broadcasting SVT online to the whole world, which means it is possible for us to view the wedding on SVT online at:
http://svtplay.se/v/2046599/det_kungliga_brollopet/det_kungliga_brollopet_-_for_viewers_outside_the_nordic_region?sb,p104698,1,f,-1

previous supplied link (which may also work outside the Nordic region and also shows all the pre wedding programs):
http://svt.se/detkungligabrollopet.
Enjoy!

Royal Swedish wedding, this weekend, on 19 June, 2010

The royal wedding between Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling on 19 June, 2010, is a unique event. It is the first wedding of a female successor to the throne in the list of Swedish monarchs.

It is also a historic event in the history of the Swedish monarchy. When The Crown Princess becomes Queen she will be Sweden's fourth female regent after Queen Margareta (reigned 1389-1396), Queen Kristina (reigned 1632-1654) and Queen Ulrika Eleonora the Younger (reigned 1718-1720).

For more information please visit the official Royal wedding website (where you can also send your congratulations to the couple.

You can also follow the wedding on: http://svt.se/detkungligabrollopet

How to vote in the Swedish election - for Swedes living overseas.

This information is in Swedish, for all Swedes living overseas, how to vote in the upcoming Swedish election:

Anmäl din adress till Skatteverket om du utvandrat. För att få information om valet och material för brevröstning måste du ha en adress i Skatteverkets folkbokföring den 2 juli. Anmälan om adress är samtidigt en anmälan till röstlängden för 10 år framåt.

Om din adressanmälan kommer senare men före den 20 augusti medför den att du tas upp i röstlängden och du får ett röstkort skickat till dig den 23 augusti.

For more information follow this link:
Föreningen Svenskar i Världen - Hur röstar jag som utlandssvensk?

Lucia Celebration - This Sunday 13 June

Don't forget it is our Lucia Celebration this Sunday. This is by far our most popular event. Glögg, Saffronbuns,ginger snaps, bisquits,hotdogs and much more........ and yes the magician will be back - same procedure as last year.

When: Sunday 13th June 2010
Where: Johnsonville Community Hall, 3 Frankmoore Avenue, Johnssonville
Time: 5 pm (Possession will start at 5pm sharp. Don't be fasionable late for this event - you will miss out!)

Your payment must reach us no later than Thursday the 10th of June to be regarded as pre-paid. Please the use form in our latest newsletter.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the day (not guaranteed, as numbers are limited) at the cost of $ 15 per adult and $ 5 per child.
(Please note that door sale $15 will apply to members as well)

As always, need your help with baking - so please contact Pia Clarke on 234 85 10 as soon as possible and let her know what you can bake and bring...

Reminder - Swedish church service, this Saturday 12th June

A Swedish church service will be held at St Pauls Lutheran Church in Newtown, 12 King Street (behind Pizza Hut) this coming Saturday, the 12th of June at 5 pm - held by Vicar Per Anders Sandgren from the Swedish Church in Melbourne.
The small service will be followed by a light meal at a nearby restaurant - pay your own way.

Per Anders has visited us a few times before and it's always a pleasure to met him. He will also join us for our Lucia Celebration this Sunday. Per Anders want to remind you all that if you want to have a private session with him or maybe even a baptism he would like to hear from you
+61 (0)418 510 640 or email:mailto:peranders.sandgren@svenskakyrkan.se

Hope to see as many as possible there on Saturday. If you want to join us for a meal afterwards, please contact Tinni@sweden.org.nz, or phone (04) 4999895.

Sweden’s national day, 6th June, and NZ Queens Birthday, 7th June

This weekend, we should all celebrate - it's Sweden's National day on Sunday and NZ Queens Birthday on Monday!

I think this calls for Princess tårta (Princess Cake)! Please take a look at our recpie blog for the recpie. You can find Odense “Marsipan” at most supermarkets at the baking section.

The National Day of Sweden (Sveriges nationaldag) is a national holiday observed in Sweden on June 6 every year. The day was made into a national day by Riksdagen, the Swedish parliament, in 1983. Previously it was commemorated as svenska flaggans dag, Swedish flag day. (for more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Sweden)

On Monday the 7th, Here in New Zealand we celebrate Queens Bithday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen)

Have a nice weekend !