Mother's day in Sweden - 27 May 2012

Sweden celebrates Mothers Day today - Sunday the 27 May!
While we here in NZ celebrated Mother's day earlier this month Sweden always celebrates Mother's day on the last Sunday in May - which makes it today! For those you you who have mothers or grandmothers in Sweden - don't forget to call!

2.7 million Swedish mothers will have their day this Sunday. In Sweden we have observed Mother’s Day since 1919. At that time the day had already been celebrated for some years in the US, but celebrations honouring mothers can actually be traced back to ancient Greece.  (http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____334013.aspx)         

In Sweden, Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1919, by initiative of the author Cecilia Bååth-Holmberg. It took several decades for the day to be widely recognized though. Those born in the early nineteen hundreds typically did not celebrate the day, as the common opinion was that it had been invented strictly for commercial purposes. Same thing was said about Father's day, and only since the late 1970s has the practice found common acceptance. Mother´s Day in Sweden is celebrated the last Sunday in May, this year 2012 its the 27th of May. The reason for the late date is said to be because then everybody could go outside and pick flowers. (Source: Wikipedia)

Sweden’s best male stand-up comedian is a Kiwi

Sweden’s best male stand-up comedian is a Kiwi.
Al Pitcher is the 2011 recipient of the Male Comedian of the Year award in Sweden and he has just released his new book “Begravda Elefanter” ('Buried Elephants').


Pitcher says that his view of Sweden from an outsider’s perspective is like being “a kid in a toy shop”.
Swedes and foreigners are flocking to his shows and keeping a close eye on his online activity.

One of his stand-up YouTube clips has even attracted over 100,000 views.

The book was inspired by Pitcher’s award-winning Picture Show.
The book's title, which translates to “Buried Elephants”, comes from a particularly well-received picture of the Swedish ventilation shafts which bear an eerie resemblance to elephant trunks


For more info about Al Pitcher and his book see the following links:
http://www.thelocal.se/40880/20120516/
http://www.thelocal.se/38744/20120126/
http://www.alpitcher.com/

Swedish film "Last Will" showing at penthouse cinema.

As of next Thursday the 31 May, Penthouse Cinema in Wellington will show the Swedish movie Last Will based on Lisa Marklunds book "Last Will" - "Nobels testamente".

From the producers of The Millennium Trilogy comes a series of new Scandinavina crime films based of Lisa Marklunds worldwide best sellers. While covering the annual Nobel Banquet for tabloid Kvallspressen, crime reporter Annika Bengtzon witnesses a spectacular murder right in front of her. Two people are shot, one of them the controversial Laureate in Medicine, Aaron Wiesel.

For more information see:
http://www.penthousecinema.co.nz/movies/6588.php

Lucia Celebration 2012 – Maids, Staffan’s & little Santa’s wanted!

Our annual midwinter celebration, Lucia, is around the corner and it’s time for the boy and girls wanting to join the procession to start practising the songs.


First practise will be this Sunday the 20 May at 4pm at the Consulate General of Sweden, Level 7 Molesworth House 101 Molesworth Street.

Please contact Joanna on joanna@sweden.org.nz , 04-905 7440 if you and/or your child want to join in this year's Lucia.

No need for the under 5’s to come to our first practises, but we do require you to register with Joanna if you have young children wanting to join, as we need them to come along for the dress rehearsals. We also need to know size if you need to borrow outfit from the association.

Walpurgis Night

Walpurgis Night

Valborg is a traditional spring festival on 30 April every year. In Sweden, Walpurgis Night (Swedish: Valborgsmässoafton or simply Valborg) has more or less become a de facto half holiday.

Rooted in the Pagan beliefs that the spring fires ward off evil, chaotic spirits as well as protect livestock from predators, the pagan traditions were "Christianized" at some time in the past to commemorate the death of Saint Walpurg. Today, there is little religious significance associated with Sista April.

The forms of celebration in Sweden vary in different parts of the country and between different cities. One of the main traditions is to light large bonfires. Singing traditional songs of spring is widespread throughout the country and many bonfires are accompanied with student choirs, orchestras and speeches. Source: http://www.examiner.com/sweden-travel-in-national/valborg-a-swedish-celebration-like-no-other
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night
http://blogs.sweden.se/photo/2011/05/02/valborg-welcoming-spring-with-a-bonfire-at-skansen/