CLIMB EV'RY MOUNTAIN

Happy campers. Tromsø in the faded background.
IMAGE: PERSPEKTIVET MUSEUM

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORWAY AND SWEDEN

In our neck of the woods, the only difference is on which side of these boundary markers you stand. National border mark number 272, demarcating Norway and Sweden, built in 1763.
IMAGE: By Bjørn Christian Tørrissen [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

PLAY IT AGAIN, GRIEG

From left: Nina Grieg, Edvard Grieg, Johan Halvorsen, Frederik Delius og Christian Sinding, enjoying a game of cards. Christmas 1887, Leipzig. 
IMAGE: The Edvard Grieg Archives, BERGEN PUBLIC LIBRARY, VIA FLICKR

THE BUN BAKE OFF

Made the first batch two weeks ago using this recipe, and for the second batch I'm attempting the one crowned the best recipe for Lussebullar by the ICA Buffé test kitchen. They tested a whopping 20 recipes so I have high expectations for the winner! Now, if I could just get this baby to sleep so I have time to follow the directions meticulously...
IMAGE: YOUNG WOMAN BAKING, 1939, UPPLANDSMUSEET LÄNSMUSEET 

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

2,5 weeks until the 1st of advent and I'm ordering gifts, preparing menus, and making lists. The soon-to-be 5 year old has proudly announced that he'll be in the Lucia processional at kindergarten. Today I will attempt the first batch of saffron buns. I'm testing at least two different recipes this year to see if we can find the ultimate bun and be well stocked by the time Lucia comes around to wake us up.
IMAGE: SWEDISH ORIGIN, PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN, VIA BRITT-MARIE SOHLSTRÖM ON FLICKR

THE ARRIVAL OF WINTER

The old Scandinavian calendars runstav or primstav were shaped like modern rulers, with symbols or runes marking important days. One side of the calendar represented the summer months, and the other side winter. The last end of summer marked the end of the harvest, and the beginning of slaughter season.

The day of demarcation between the two sides was October the 14th (or 28 days after the fall equinox). The day is called vinternettene, and marks the date of one of the ancient major quarterly sacrificial rites, höstblot.

A blot was usually performed in a building dedicated to sacrificial and ritual purposes, a hov, and involved a sacrifice of food and animals. Blood from the animal was sprinkled on participants, walls and inventory of the hov. A feast followed the sacrifice.

And today we received the first snow, how appropriate.

ALLHELGONA

Today is Allhelgonaafton in Sweden, the national holiday conveniently combining the celebration of All Saints' Day (a.k.a. All Hallows' Eve or Halloween), and All Souls' Day the first weekend in November.

It's been in vogue since the 8th century or so, meant to infuse the celtic tradition of descendant worship with a Christian purpose. Over centuries, its religious content has been modified back and forth in the flux of Catholic and Protestant influences. Sometime around the 1940's, Italian immigrants lit candles on graves on All Saints and Christmas, and the custom caught on again in Sweden. Most families celebrate with a visit to family graves or memorial sites, followed by fancy family dinners. This modest holiday is therefore the most lucrative for Swedish grocery stores, even surpassing Christmas in terms of net sales!
IMAGE: LILJEHOLMENS STEARINFABRIK, USED WITH PERMISSION

VOTES FOR WOMEN

Anna Rogstad was the first female member of the Norwegian parliament Stortinget, in 1911. A remarkable feat since votes for women were introduced 1913, two years later, in Norway. The right to vote was extended to women in Finland 1906, Denmark 1916 and Sweden 1921. Contrast that to Samoa in 1990, Lichtenstein 1994, Qatar 2000, Unites Arab Emirates 2006, and what's worse: some nations are not even on the list.

Don't ignore the importance of your vote, wherever you live in the world, and recognize that a price was paid for it by someone else. As the world awaits the US election, let's remember those that made possible a female voice in the ballots. If you don't know their names, spend some quality time with Google.
IMAGE: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NORWAY

BEHIND THE SCENES

I find glass ornaments and baubles fascinating and German ones are spectacular. Though I doubt the wonderment would last past the first couple of hundred baubles.


IMAGES: BUNDESARCHIV VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS