Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

A POR TR AIT OF SWEDEN  29

singing at parties and the ever-
increasing repertoire of
drinking songs, but also in the
popularity of singing together.
There are few 50th birthday
parties where each plate
doesn’t come with a songbook
or where friends don’t perform
songs they have written
themselves. Everyone is
expected to know works by
troubadour Carl Bellman and
ballads by Evert Taube (see p66).
Folk music is played at
clubs and there are festivals A traditional red cottage, an iconic sight in Sweden
dedicated to folk instruments
such as the accordion and mountains while elves dance a holiday house in the country-
hurdy-gurdy. Pageants and in the meadows and marsh- side or out on an island such a
history plays have also seen a lands. Some beings have major ambition.
huge upturn in popularity. adopted modern guises. The When spring comes, people
Tomte, who traditionally is a head out to tend their cottage
stern, grey little man guarding gardens, and as the autumn
Close to Nature farmers’ barns and livestock, nights draw in they are still at
The Swedes’ love of nature is has been transformed into a their cottages, curled up by
deeply rooted. Many feel, kindly distributor of Christmas the fire. Almost half the
subconsciously, an almost gifts. In the countryside, population have access to a
spiritual affinity with the forest, however, a plate of Christmas summer cottage and 20 per
mountains or the sea. Legends porridge is left for him on the cent own one of their own.
and folklore are often linked to doorstep, just to be safe.
nature and many mythical There is a strong awareness
beings are part of country lore. of the changing seasons, linked Culinary Traditions
Trolls dwell in the forest, as does to how deeply Swedes long for People are rediscovering old
the Skogsrå or Huldra (siren), a the bright summer. Spring is a Swedish dishes and there has
beautiful young woman who slow affair, building up with the been something of a revival in
lures men deeper and deeper blossoming of one flower at a husmanskost (“home-cooking”).
into the woods and then, once time, each one eagerly awaited. Few, however, have
they are lost, she turns around People know when time to prepare
and all there is to be seen is a each bloom is due, these at home
hollow tree. Women who stroll hence expressions on a daily basis,
too far might hear a lovely like “between bird so childhood
tune drifting among the trees – cherry and lilac” (ie favourites such
that is Näcken, a handsome “at the end of May”). Strawberry as kalops (a slow-
naked man, playing his fiddle On a more practical cream cake cooked meat stew),
in the middle of gushing note, it is easy to be köttbullar (meatballs)
streams and, needless to say, physically close to nature and freshly cleaned and fried
it is best to stay away from him. thanks to the Right of Public herring fillets are now often
Giants and dwarfs roam the Access. This grants everyone enjoyed in restaurants.
access to all land, apart from Swedes drink lots of coffee,
the immediate surroundings and at work the fika paus
of a house or farm (see p312). (coffee break) is strictly
Many make the most of this observed. In fact, fika is some-
resource, walking, camping, thing everyone does, as proven
or going mushroom- or by the large number of cafés
berry-picking. even in small towns. To
accompany coffee there is a
great variety of bullar (buns),
A Country Cottage
cakes, gateaux and biscuits.
The little red cottage is the Home-made sponge cake
symbol of paradise. Maybe it layered with lots of whipped
is the Swedes’ farming roots cream and strawberries is a
Painting depicting mythical beings combined with the brief summer favourite, especially
in the forest summer which makes having for birthdays.

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