Visit Stockholm on the Cheap: The Stockholm Card

Stockholm Stadshuset

Stockholm. It is the Venice of the North. The City Hall, Stadshuset, is model after Venice’s famous Campanile square. Swedes do love their country on the water and visiting in the summer is the best way than to take advantage of the weather, midnight sun, and countless lakes and islands.

Because my mom is visiting, we decided to go a tourist binge and see as much as possible in 2,5 days. Since I also see annoying ads for the Stockholm Card, a special card that gives access to SL and 75 museums, I thought ‘let buy it for us’. The catch is, being Stockholm, nothing is cheap. Even tourist friendly cards are not cheap.

First, other helpful posts on visiting Stockholm:
Best Bars and Pubs in Stockholm
One day walk around Stockholm
Visit to the Absolut Ice Bar
Free Museums in Stockholm

The Swedish Crown at Skeppsbron
Tre Kronor Crown

But there is a way to maximize the card to get more than your money’s worth. I bought the 48 hour card but realized that optimal card is 72 hours. The benefit of having the card worth “hours” instead of “days” is that if you start the card at 11AM Tuesday it’s valid until 11AM Thurs (for 48 hours).

Here’s the low down on the best way to use your Stockholm Card, see the most beautiful sites and museums in Stockholm, and not run around silly like a tourist on crack.

Price of the Stockholm Card:
Adult cards
SEK 395 for 24 hours
525 for 48 hours
SEK 625 for 72 hours – BUY THIS CARD!
SEK 895 for 120 hours

Child cards – under 18 years old
SEK 195 for 24 hours
SEK 225 for 48 hours
SEK 245 for 72 hours
SEK 285 for 120 hours

Must see places to visit using the Stockholm Card. The trick with using the card is going to the most expensive museums and sites in order to maximize the value.

Some museums worth visiting
Aquaria Vattenmuseum [Aquaria Water Museum] SEK 80
Drottningholms Slott [Drottningholm Palace] SEK 80
Gröna Lunds Tivoli [Gröna Lund’s Amusement Park] SEK 80-90
Fotografiska Museet SEK 95
Junibacken [Junibacken] SEK 125
Kungsholmen Runt [Kungsholmen Boat Ride] SEK 140
Kungliga Slottet [Royal Palace] SEK 100
Livrustkammaren [Royal Armoury] SEK 70
Nationalmuseum [Nationalmuseum] SEK 100
Nobelmuseet [Nobel Museum] SEK 70
Nordiska museet [Nordiska museet] SEK 80
Skansen [Skansen Open Air Museum] SEK 70-120
Skansen-akvariet [Skansen’s Aquarium] SEK 90
Skattkammaren [Royal Treasury] SEK 100
SkyView – on Top of the Globe SEK 130
Stadshuset [City Hall] SEK 50-80
Storkyrkan [Stockholm Cathedral] SEK 30
Vasamuseet [Vasa Museum] SEK 110

Skeppsbron Island – view from Djurgården on the Hop on Hop off boat
Skeppsbron island in Stockholm

The other benefit of buying a Stockholm Card is access to SL local transportation. This includes unlimited rides on the tunnelbanan (metro), pendaltåg (commuter line trains), and buses. Considering a single pass ride on the tunnelbanan is 30SEK (25SEK when having a 8 pass ticket), the card is great for going back and forth without worry. Even one day passes on the SL is 100SEK; definitely not cheap.

How we maximized the Stockholm Card for 48 hours, the itinerary. Cost for two people – 1050SEK
Monday -
Hop on Hop off Boat from Gamla Stan to Djurgården – 40SEK*2 = 80
Vasa Museet – 110SEK *2 = 220
Nordiska Museet – 80SEK*2 = 160
SL Bus 47 to Kaknästornet – 40SEK*2 = 80
SL Bus and Metro back home – 30SEK*2 = 60

Tuesday –
SL metro to Slussen – 30SEK*2 = 60
Hop on Hop off Boat to Skeppsbron – 40SEK*2 = 80
Modern Museum and Architecture Museum joint entrance – 110SEK*2 = 220
Bus to Odenplan – 30SEK*2 = 60
(break for mom)
Vin & Spritsmuseet – 50SEK
SL metro – 30SEK*2 = 60
Skyview (boyfriend and I) – 130SEK*2 = 260
SL to Djurgården – 30SEK*2 = 60
Skansen – 110SEK*2 = 220 (and a lucky occasion to see Allsång!!!)
Gröna Lund – 80SEK*2 =160 (for 27 kronor on the first game, boyfriend won a 2 kg box of Kex chocolates!!!)
SL back home – 30SEK*2 = 60

Wednesday Morning -
Medieval Museum – Free entrance but you get a poster with the card – 50SEK
SL to Centralstation – 30SEK*2 = 60
Kungsholmen Runt – 140SEK*2 = 280 – highly recommend this one!
SL back home- 30SEK*2 = 60
End of 48 hours!!!

Total cost of the museums, transportations, and boat rides: 2120SEK
Savings from buying the 48 hour Stockholm Card: 1070SEK
Final savings per person: 535SEK !!!

If you are around for a 3rd day, buy the 72 hour card. This is what I suggest on adding to your itinerary in Stockholm for the extra 24 hours.
Kungsholmen Runt boat ride along Kungsholmen, Långholmen – 140SEK
Fotografiska Museet – Annie Lebovitz special exhibition until Sept 2010 – 95SEK
Drottningholms Slott [Drottningholm Palace] – entrance is to the Chinese Pavilion and Theater SEK 80
Kungliga Slottet [Royal Palace] SEK 100

I would move the Photographic Museum to Day 1 as only three things are done. That way, you have plenty of time to take the boat tour, visit the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, and go to Drottningholm (takes 40 minutes by SL).

The famous Vasa Ship – the only ship intact from the 1600s in the world
Vasa Ship

By buying a tourist card, you can visit great spots in the city without having to stress yourself out. All the days that my mom and I went out, we started at noon and continued on till evening. If we were better about time, we would start at 10AM and finish around 7PM.

Gröna Lund could take a lot longer as it’s an amusement part; tickets to the rides and the games are not included in the pass. That’s why we only played one game.

Visitors and tourists to Stockholm, I hope this helps you on your journey to navigate the city. It’s small but overwhelming with things to do. The Stockholm Card, though pricy, is one of the best ways to do this on the dime and still see the castles and museums everyone loves.

July 23, 2010 | 3 Comments »

The New Questions on Swedish Dating

It’s that time again! The dying questions for swedish men is chock full of goodness of information.  Before we start on our new questions about swedish dating, here’s a summary of what we know about swedish men and women.

Swedish men:
Are very good listeners
Are quiet and shy
Help doing house work
Cook dinner, breakfast or a little smörgås
Give the look
Are respectful
Like foreign girls (who doesn’t like anything exotic?)

Swedish women:
Want romance too
Love confident men
Are beautiful
Like foreign men
Are sensitive at heart

And now the A-Z of questions we still discuss and ponder about.  A big thanks to all the readers who continuously comment and share their love stories.

  • If I like you (i’m a girl), can I text/call you first?
  • Can you summarize Swedish dating culture in one/two words?
  • Is Swedish boy interested in me if we chat online for several months and have wonderfully intense conversations?
  • Do you think some Swedish men can fall in love with a woman that is curvy or a few extra pouds or is this a sign of laziness with their culture?
  • Do Swedish men prefer texting/emailing to phone calling?
  • What is the best place in Stockholm to find a Swedish guy?
  • Do Swedish women give the look too?
  • What in general seems to be the Swedish man’s standing point on women who have children from a previous relationship?
  • Do Swedish men give compliments randomly to women? If not, are they trying to hit on the girls?
  • What are signs of flirtatious behavior?
  • Why do men need to be on the verge of blacking out to hit on women?
  • Does the ‘player’ culture exist?
  • How the hell do you ask out a swede?? or make “a move” on him?
  • Do they like blonds or brunettes?
  • Is it true Swedes are very rude?
  • Is it true that Swedes hate monogamy?
  • Do they fall in love really hard?

It’s not easy dating Swedish women.  And the swedish male proves to be both confusing and amusing.  Just remember, they’re still people too, and sometimes a man is just a man.

June 26, 2010 | 281 Comments »

Little Midsommar Frogs

Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.

Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.

The sun is shining brightly, the girls are meeting midsommar men, and the fishes are splashing around on our dining plates.
Swedish Maypole

Welcome to the Swedish Midsummer!

Time to eat delicious strawberries, lax, sill, potatoes with dill, and of course aquavit. No midsommarfirande (midsummer festival) is complete without singing and dancing. Small frogs dancing around a maypole or seven pretty girls in a circle with flowers are essentials to the summer debauchery.

Seven girls in a circle:
Sju vackra flickor i en ring
sju vackra flickor i en ring,
vackraste flickor häromkring
ibland de flickor alla.

Flickorna vända sig omkring
flickorna vända sig omkring,
sökande efter vännen sin
ibland de gossar alla.

Vara vem det vara vill
vara vem det vara vill.
Den, som jag räcker handen till,
han har mitt unga hjärta.

Nu kan jag vara riktigt gla’.
Nu kan jag vara riktigt gla’.
Nu har jag fått den jag vill ha
ibland de gossar alla,
ibland de gossar alla.

This midsummer, I hope all of you are out of the city and in the forest or at Swedish countryside homes drinking brennvin and enjoying a true national Swedish holiday.

For all of you single bees, there are plenty of flowers to pollinate. Håkan Petersson from Folkungagillet, Linköping’s dance association said:

“Traditionally, Midsummer was a time where men and women could come together and flirt in ways that are much more subtle than today,” he says. “Many of these songs and dances reflect the flirtatiousness and are filled with innuendo.”

Maybe you can find a Swede in Sweden amongst the strawberry fields.

June 25, 2010 | 3 Comments »

Swedish Royal Wedding Weekend

I was a bad American-Swedo. I skipped out on the Swedish Royal Wedding and Love Stockholm in favor of Germany. It wasn’t my idea, the Swede wanted a weekend away from the festivities.

Instead, my friend Andrew attended the Kortege and snapped some spectacular photos. He also is a blogger and photographer at Ett Foto. Unfortunately, he was not invited to the delicious banquet dinner to eat Norwegian lobster, cod, chilled green pea soup, whitefish roe, char, poached quail egg, asparagus and beetroot from Gotland, veal sirloin from Stenhammar, strawberry mousse with rhubarb and vanilla ice cream in white chocolate. Mumms! Except the green pea soup.

It’s beautiful to see Crown Princess Victoria’s wedding go through without a hitch. Her younger sister, Princess Madeleine, spent the past two months in scandal when her douchebag ex-fiance cheated on her; ending the engagement and canceling their royal wedding.

Royal Swedish Airforce

Swedish Flags flying high

Royal Submarine at the wedding ceremony

Crown Princess Victoria and husband, but not frog, Prince Daniel

The 250kg wedding cake made of strawberries, champagne mousse, pulled sugar, and soft almond meringue.
swedish wedding cake
The speech by Prince Daniel. It was really beautiful and lovely. Brings chivalry backs to Sweden and sets the bar high for all the Swedish men.

The transcript to Prince Daniel’s speech. He did speak in both English and Swedish.

För nio år sedan hade jag förmånen att lära känna en ung kvinna med en härlig humor, en stark pliktkänsla och dessutom väldigt, väldigt klok.

Vi blev vänner. Ju mer jag lärde känna henne desto mer oemotståndlig blev hon.

De här åren med dig Victoria har flugit förbi, har varit de bästa i mitt liv.

There have been times when Victorias official duties have separated us. Often taken her to faraway countries and continents. I will never forget some years ago when she left for one of her many trips, this time to China.

We were going to be apart for a whole month. The night before she left she got home late after an official engagement, and she had many preparations to make before the long month of duties ahead. Instead of getting some valuable sleep she stayed up the whole night writing.

In the morning after she had gone I found a box. And in that box I found 30 beautiful letters addressed to me. One for every day she would be away.

This romantic gesture is typical of you Victoria. It says everything about the loving person you are.

Once upon a time the young man was… perhaps not a frog, in the beginning of the fairytale… as in the story first told by the Grimm brothers. But he was certainly not a prince.

The first kiss did not change that. His transformation was not possible without the support of the wise king and queen, who had ruled the kingdom for many years, and who were full of wisdom, experience and had good heart.

They knew what was best and guided the couple with a gentle hand, generously sharing all their experience.

Jag känner en stor tacksamhet mot eders majestäter kungen och drottningen, för ert helhjärtade stöd, och för det sätt som ni har välkomnat mig in i er familj. Mina tankar går givetvis också till min egen familj. Till min mor och min far, och min syster och hennes döttrar.

Mor och far, under hela min uppväxt har ni givit mig er villkorslösa kärlek. Ni har hjälpt mig med er klokhet, och ni har hjälpt mig att bygga en stark självkänsla och trygghet genom sunda värderingar som har väglett mig genom livet.

I dag, när vi färdades genom Stockholms gator, då möttes vi av en otrolig glädje och värme. Ett minne vi kommer att bära med oss djupt inne i våra hjärtan, för alltid.

Under de år som Victoria och jag har haft tillsammans har jag känt ett stort stöd från människor som jag har mött. Det har varit väldigt viktigt för mig.

Tack.

Jag känner en djup respekt inför de uppgifter som ligger framför mig. Det kommer utan tvekan att bli en stor utmaning. Jag ska göra mitt yttersta för att leva upp till de förväntningar som kommer att ställas på mig. Jag kommer göra mitt yttersta för att stödja min hustru, Sveriges kronprinsessa, i hennes viktiga gärning.

Älskade Victoria. Jag är så stolt över det vi har tillsammans. Jag är så lyckligt att nu få vara din man. Jag ska göra allt jag någonsin kan för att du ska förbli så lycklig som du är i dag.

Victoria, störst av allt är kärleken. Jag älskar dig så.

BTW, happy summer solstice! 18h 38m 25s of daylight. Sunset at 22.09 tonight. If any single Swedish boys are mingling on Midsommer, be sure to say hi.

June 21, 2010 | 13 Comments »

10 Commandments of being a Pick Up Artist

After taking the blue pill and heading down the rabbit hole of the pick up artist industry, I learned a lot of the industry teachings is about instilling common sense and confidence in men.

This is third part to my series about the Stockholm Sweden Day Game Workshop I attended under the dating coach Jeremy Soul and under the Love Systems Corporation.
Part I: Umm, you wanna be a Pick Up Artist?
Part II: Playing THE Game by Challenging Darwin’s Game

On a side note, Love Systems is the company that evolved from Mystery Method, as made famous by Neil Strauss’ book, The Game. Love Systems is today riding high on crack because of its ability of taking the pick up artist industry (PUA) and turning it into a scientific method.

The training
Four hours in the classroom and four hours in the field. For those counting beans, the whole workshop is $1495 for the day. Yes, US Dollars. C’mom boys, give me your Benjamins and i will teach you the way into a woman’s universe. While it is pricey for a cheap bastard like me, I highly recommend it if your love life is in a rut and needs to be kicked started again.

And what did we learn? I created my list that is inspired by Jeremy Soul. ALL these commandments are important for even the Swedish man to find a girl; after all, we do spend plenty of time complaining that Swedish men are bad at picking up Swedish girls.

Sapphire’s 10 Commandments of Meeting Women:

  1. 1. Accept Rejection -  It happens to all of us: we are rejected by some pretty guy or girl.  Don’t be disheartened; throw out the negative thoughts and move on.  And while you may have sulked and cried about it in the past, don’t do that now.  It’s wasted tears and energy.
  2. 2. Don’t Expect to Get Every Girl – Going hand in hand with Commandment 1, not every girl is attracted to you and vice versa.  Sometimes you will see a beautiful girl and then start talking to her and realize, “blaggg, this one is emotionally vacant for me.”  That’s cool, just go talk to another girl.
  3. 3. Be Confident – Working through the rejection part is the first step of being confident.  Love your work, your hobbies, your friends, your family and you will be confident. Exuding confidence is akin to pheromones; women go crazy when they see men who are sure of themselves.
  4. 4. Have a Personality -  Have you spoke to someone who had the personality of a cardboard box?  It was so painful that you wanted to recycle them or crumple them up right away.  Be creative and excited about your life.  If you don’t know how to have fun with your life, why should any girl care about you?  And be sure to demonstrate that you have a personality, ie. “I love running everyday” or “Hiking on the glaciers was the best sport I ever did” Whatever it is, show the girl that you have a personality.
  5. 5. Don’t Be Drunk – Biggest turnoff ever. EVER.  Drunk guys do not produce good pick up lines.
  6. 6. Have a Good Wingman - Wingmen are the guys that you go with when meeting women, especially in the evening.  Having a wingman will allow you to have a higher status and meet girls in groups.  And a good wingman is a guy who can back you up, know when to step down, entertain the other girls, and overall, make you look good.
  7. 7. Try, Try, Try Again – Don’t give on picking up women, it is tantamount to romantic suicide.  Be confident that you have the ability to speak to women and that you are decent guy just trying to make his way.
  8. 8. Travel -  Traveling away from your comfort zone will force you to interact and meet new people.  You will also have fun stories to share and broaden your knowledge of the word.
  9. 9. Poor Posture will Kill You, Literally – Stop slouching and stand up straight.  Remember when your mom bugged you to not hunch over?  Keep you back straight, shoulders back, and stomach tucked in (not sucked in).  Poor body language sends a subconscious message that you have low self esteem.  If you are approaching Swedish girls especially, they love confident looking men.  A slouchy guy who doesn’t stand properly is not that.
  10. 10. Pick Up Lines Must Not Be Lame – The “Hey baby, how’s it going?” line is so lame is makes me laugh and cry every time I hear it used.  Or the “What’s your name sweetheart?  Can I get your number?” Nooo, why the fuck should I give you my number, I have no idea who you are creepy bastard.
February 11, 2010 | 10 Comments »

A Swedish Engagement on Blue Monday

It happened! The little Swedish boy proposed. O M G! OMG OMG OMG

The back story…

Today is our two year anniversary of first meeting. Since we started dating right after we met, well we are using the 18th as our anniversary. And as a friend pointed out, today is Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. Take that Blue Monday!

We decided on Sunday to take a nice walk around Södermalm in the afternoon. We went home shortly after sunset, drank Pol Roger champagne, did home pedicures. I had this really cool scraper to clean my feet, an osthyvel for the foot!
Södermalm Frozen
Anyway, we had dinner at the Italian restaurant nearby, came home and chatted. Then I decided to head to bed (because I love the comforter) and we played silly question games like, “If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be?” Hehe, I know. Totally lame.

I was almost falling asleep after drinking lots of champagne and dreaming of dancing oranges (don’t ask why).

Then a shy boy asked:

So i’ve been thinking all day, and just couldn’t figure out a good time. but since it’s our two year anniversary…will you marry me?

He even had that cute swedish boy look.

It was at home at midnight. He didn’t get down on one knee or whisk me off to Finland on a boat. But it was perfect, and Swedish: a quiet, intimate, loving way to say the best “I love you”

Stay tuned for a monsoon wedding and preparations.

PS: There is no ring yet. We’ll get there soon!

January 18, 2010 | 36 Comments »

Group Sex and Swedish Women

I was eating a delicious lamb roast when we got into the discussion of Swedish women.  Because of course Swedish girls are like little lambs:  soft, sweet, and delicate.

There were a couple friends who happened to be single males, and well, sans blond Swedish girls.  Of course, one single Asian girl (on her quest to find a Swedish man in Sweden) had to ask the single boys why they were not sambos yet.  The answer:  Swedish women are formal in nature and too feminist.  The guys said there was no spark.  No silly fun  with the women they dated.  They missed feeling the little bubbles of energy between a couple.  And some girls were so independent the men felt emasculated.

But a third guy, a potty mouthed hilarious Indian, chimed in that Swedish women really want a manly man.   The whole ultra feminist attitude is just a song and dance cover that they enjoy the delicateness of being a girl and want to be taken care of.  His solution?  Hold your ground and don’t become like the Swedish man just because you are dating a Swedish girl.  Be the man, continue your cultural ways, and love her to bits.

Of course this brings me to the title of the post, group sex.   Because I bet that’s why you’re reading this post.  First, a bit about funny Swedish laws.  A Swedish school teacher was convicted of buying sexual services (remember selling prostitution is legal, buying is not) but he cannot be fired from his job.  He also seems to be a mastermind organizing group sex between professionals and girls, where some girls were paid.  Of course, to him, no biggies.

And since “criminality outside of the workplace usually isn’t sufficient cause for firing,” says  Sofie Rehnström (legal expert with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO)), group sex is an all go even if you pay for it.   Hey, we’re in Sweden, violating the law is like getting a spanking.  Except spanking is illegal.

Going back to our dinner discussion, we learned that group sex at some of the Swedish universities exist.  As recently as 2004 at least.  How it works you ask?  There’s a sign up sheet on the bulletin board with a date and time (location is the same) and you just sign up.  And then show up and have fun.   I’m not sure where this puts sexual nature on the map in Sweden, but surely somewhere.

While some Swedish students are pursuing group sex in college, others are trying to figure out how to effectively date a Swedish girl.  Then they figure the group sex thing is easier then courting the Swedish bombshells.

It’s kinda like getting stuck in the revolving door.

December 17, 2009 | 8 Comments »

May I Borrow your Toilet?

Saturday nights in Sweden are normally filled with booze, stupid behavior, and downright ridiculously funny antics.

Like the guy who leaves the nightclub so drunk that he pees next to a police car (true story). Or a bouncer who punches a potential customer because he’s pissed off. Or the fact that a friend drinks so much alcohol, he’s not quite sure how he got home at 7am wearing someone’s cowboy hat.

Every once in a while though, the debauchery comes to you, first class, to your front door. Saturday night, Porbjorn and I were hanging out at home since I wasn’t feeling too well. Around 11pm someone starting banging on the door. Seriously BANG BANG BANG, desperation or pissed-offness is on the other side.

Porbjorn went to answer the door while I stayed in the living room. I could hear two people: one youngish sounding male and one female voice, one that an old fat lady would have.

Then in a funny semi-deepish voice “hej, jag vet att detta kommer låta lite märkligt, men skulle jag kunna få låna din toalett? Jag är väldigt, väldigt kissnödig” – basically “hi, i know this sounds a little strange, but can i borrow your toilet? I really really need to pee.”

Before I knew it, some strange guy was peeing in our bathroom (presumably in the toilet) and the other, the funny sounding fat lady was telling Porbjorn jokes. Evidently they came from the party upstairs and were too stupid to use the toilet before leaving. After coming down one flight of stairs, peeing was imminent.

After the Swedish guy’s relief, they both took off. Porbjorn returned and noted that was completely bizarre. I asked about the fat lady and he looked at me funny.
Him: “What fat lady?”
Me: The girl you were talking to?
Him: “Ohhh, that was a skinny Swede who sounded like he had no balls.”
Me: Hahahaha…oppps.
Him: “Yea, and I couldn’t understand the Norwegian, except that he was desperate to pee. I figured we should lend him our toilet.”

Good idea, nothing beats a terrible night then a Swede with a fat lady voice and Norwegian that is desperate to pee.

December 14, 2009 | 6 Comments »

Swedish Christmas Holidaying, Too Many but oh so Fun!

As a non Swede, I’m not quite sure what’s the deal with all the Christian holidays in a very pagan country. I just feel it is another reason to drink, eat, and drink again. And be really crazy. So I put together a little list of all the dates you should know during the Christmas season, the Swedish way.

Advent
Until today, I had no idea what Advent is but it is the official Christian Christmas holiday season. Advent starts on the 4th Sunday before Christmas, so this year it’s on November 28th. Get your swedish christmas decorations up folks and get the little Advent calendar. You know that calendar, the awesome little booklike thing with push through boxes in which chocolates hides.

If you would like to see an advent ceremony in Stockholm head to Skansen or Stadshuset. All other cities in Sweden will have ceremonies in the local kyrkan or stadshuset.

St. Lucia – December 13th
Early in the morning the Lucia parade (lussetåg) headed by Lucia, Queen of Light, would go around the house. The Queen, usually the youngest daughter in the family, wears a crown of candles (yes totally wild!) and a white dress with a red sash. Following her are her maids (tärnor), star boys (stjärngossar), and santa claus Tomte. And for yummies, the procession walkers carry saffron buns (lussekatter) and spicy gingerbread cookies (pepparkakor).

December 22nd or so…
Put up that Christmas tree, julgran. I’m sacrilegious and put my tree up at Thanksgiving.  Swedes put the tree up a couple days before christmas.

Christmas Eve (Julafton) – December 24th
If you love Donald Duck and Disney, Christmas Eve in Sweden is THE most awesome holiday ever. Donald’s always been my favorite disney character (seriously, screw Mickey) and in Sweden he hosts the the Christmas Special. At 3PM. Every year. Without fail. Look for Donald’s Swedish name, Kalle Anka, and his special called Kalle Ankas Jul.

Once you’ve gotten over the splendid short clips from Bambi, Pinocchio, Cinderella, and more, it’s time to eat. Swedish Christmas food is both delicious and slightly strange at the same time. You will drink lots of glogg, pudding, lax, potatis, and more and more. Till you are stuffed.

After food, jultomte visits! If you’re good, lots of Christmas presents will come you way.

… by the way, December 24th is not a red day in Sweden. The 25th of course is a red day.

Christmas Day (Juldagen)– December 25th
After all the drinking and eating, it’s time to haul your ass to church.  Seriously, yes get up! Because after church, you will drink and eat all day.

Twelfth Night (Trettondagsafton) – January 5th
Twelfth Nights marks the official end of Christmas, which is on the 12th day. Pretty original and how the song 12 days of Christmas came to be. Most importantly, this is the day the Magi, aka the Wise Men, visited Jesus Christ and is called Epiphany Eve.

As trettondagsafton is the end of Christmas, many people take down their decorations. However with Knutdag, Swedes take down their decorations on the 13th. You know, just to be really different.

January 6th, is a red day, so yes another awesome holiday!

Knutdag – January 13th
Christmas ends on Knut’s dag. The tree is taken down, or plundered by the children (julgransplundring)

November 23, 2009 | 7 Comments »

The Living in Sweden Series

Inspired by my good friend Hairy Swede of Welcome to Sweden, I decided to write a moving and living in Sweden series.   My tale is about finding a job, finding a place, getting a work visa on my own.   I did not have the luxury of EU or Swedish citizenship or a Swedish boyfriend to give me easy entry into Sweden.   Instead, I arrived as a well educated, skills based employee in Sweden.   And yes, it is possible to find a job in Stockholm.   The road is not easy; it is as Robert Frost put it, a road much less traveled.   Below is the list of articles I will post over the next couple months.  The links are not live yet, but as each article posts, I will highlight the links here.

Living in Sweden: Finding a Job
Living in Sweden: Writing a CV and Going for a Job Interview
Find an Apartment in Sweden
Living in Sweden: English Bookstores
Living in Sweden: What to take to Sweden
Living in Sweden: Dress Like a Swede
Living in Sweden: Swedish Employment Benefits
Living in Sweden: Swedish Holidays or Red Days
Living in Sweden: Learning the Swedish Language

Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken (1915)
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

October 7, 2009 | 3 Comments »
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