tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post685521227405352561..comments2023-11-10T23:55:11.147-06:00Comments on A Swedish American in Sweden: Swedish Public Holidays for ForeignersHairy Swedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-83739092371041211162009-03-28T09:05:00.000-05:002009-03-28T09:05:00.000-05:00@eklandisk – yeah I did know that Sundays counted,...@eklandisk – yeah I did know that Sundays counted, but I was hoping there was more reason to the red day. It just seems so very logical. The old man had explained that that was the reason quite a while ago but I guess I wanted more.<BR/><BR/>@anonymous – a good call. I actually do remember that from a few other public holidays. And of course klämdagar.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-58356228358631544702009-03-28T01:06:00.000-05:002009-03-28T01:06:00.000-05:00"On the Swedish calendar, all public holidays that..."On the Swedish calendar, all public holidays that result in a day off from work are written in red."<BR/><BR/>Yes, and don't forget that people will leave early the day before, at 2 pm at the very latest, or even take the entire day off. So you'll find that many people don't work on 30 April either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-69783374071945211352009-03-26T14:28:00.000-05:002009-03-26T14:28:00.000-05:00@Richard: Did you eat any waffles? Most of the str...@Richard: Did you eat any waffles? <BR/><BR/>Most of the strange days you see in the calendar are because of Sweden's long history of state religion. Since the church was part of the government, its holidays were marked in the official calendar. In fact many calendars used to list the titles of each Sunday or other Church holiday, even the ordinary ones like <I>tredje söndagen efter trefaldighet</I>.<BR/><BR/>@Hairy: The red color in the calendar is explanation enough. Well, before the 5-day work week, the red color was more consistent, because Sundays are just as red and were holy as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-25050826847570051072009-03-25T16:24:00.000-05:002009-03-25T16:24:00.000-05:00@smek - for some reason that doesn't really surpri...@smek - for some reason that doesn't really surprise me.<BR/><BR/>@anonymous - yeah Swedes are big on unions it seems. But I'm ok not joining one at all.<BR/><BR/>@Richard - the best I can do for you is the red on the calendars Im afraid. Anyone else?Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-11760941356302691392009-03-25T10:30:00.000-05:002009-03-25T10:30:00.000-05:00Also, there are so many other days that are specia...Also, there are so many other days that are special days, but not public holidays, today is "Marie bebådelsdag", for instance. And can someone give me a good explanation of why they are called red days? The fact that they are marked in red on the calendar just doesn't cut it for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-44349376542465452272009-03-25T07:19:00.000-05:002009-03-25T07:19:00.000-05:00The unempolyment office in my neighborhood here in...The unempolyment office in my neighborhood here in Sweden gives a booklet in English, it says that being paid what you should is the result of collective bargaining through unions. The booklet recommends you join a union soon after becoming employed here because there is no minimum wage. Don't trust your employer too much. I have learned its not such a personal trust thing, we all have certain duties.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-74281526641796136122009-03-25T04:19:00.000-05:002009-03-25T04:19:00.000-05:00May day is the biggest drinking day of the year in...May day is the biggest drinking day of the year in Finland. Graduate or not :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-21509255117580881172009-03-24T17:00:00.000-05:002009-03-24T17:00:00.000-05:00@smek – is the high school graduate thing a big dr...@smek – is the high school graduate thing a big drinking day then? <BR/><BR/>Seriously… I need to pay more attention to that sort of thing.<BR/><BR/>@Floridian – Oooh… you might win. Or lose.<BR/><BR/>@john – I think Lund is making the right decision. It’s only fitting that the day be celebrated as you enter the country.<BR/><BR/>And here’s the thing John… farts are funny. They will always be funny. This is not debatable. BO is not. <BR/><BR/>@Anonymous – I’ll be honest, didn’t have any idea that this went back to a saint. Kind of an interesting history of the celebration.<BR/><BR/>@Eklandisk – good work with the history thing. Maybe that’s why I struggle so much with the idea of May Day being a laborers day. I’m used to Labor Day in September.<BR/><BR/>And a good point about the difference between the two holidays/traditions.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-37246594641003693392009-03-24T13:00:00.000-05:002009-03-24T13:00:00.000-05:00@anonymous: Different day, different tradition. Ap...@anonymous: Different day, different tradition. April 30th is not May 1st.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-43717563056989339532009-03-24T12:58:00.000-05:002009-03-24T12:58:00.000-05:00I think it's interesting to note that the origin o...I think it's interesting to note that the origin of the political holiday on May 1st is the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago 1866. Interesting also how the labor holiday was successfully moved to September in the United States.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-11481002758321130692009-03-24T12:51:00.000-05:002009-03-24T12:51:00.000-05:00What!? Laborers day? Demonstration day? I did not ...What!? Laborers day? Demonstration day? I did not know that :D<BR/>It has surely been Valborgsmässoafton loooong before anything else. It's been around since the year 779.<BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_NightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-60646763066671528232009-03-24T09:04:00.000-05:002009-03-24T09:04:00.000-05:00I found out that in Lund this year they are changi...I found out that in Lund this year they are changing their May 1 celebration to be a "Welcome to Sweden, Steiners" party. We feel humbled, but also that it is an appropriate action for the city to take.<BR/><BR/>Also, Hairy, I have to call shenanigans from your last post about the stinky guys. Now, I'm all for not stinking and good hygiene, but aren't you the same guy that lets 'em rip on the bus silently and (at least according to your post) gleefully?JandJinLundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14860110999448041086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-17445084039213192932009-03-24T02:08:00.000-05:002009-03-24T02:08:00.000-05:00The worst thing I did was to mistakenly book a bus...The worst thing I did was to mistakenly book a business trip over Midsummer. It didn't occur to anyone booking my trip that I might not have these holidays memorized. :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-37894802497242850002009-03-24T01:44:00.000-05:002009-03-24T01:44:00.000-05:00In addition to what Jacob M said, it's also a fest...In addition to what Jacob M said, it's also a festival of high school graduates (ta studenten i gymnasium) in Finland. All who ever graduated from high school, may (pun intended) wear that white cap with a black band.<BR/>BTW, Hairy, did you get paid from that may day, when you asked for an unpaid day-off, LOL!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-67861992038754982902009-03-24T01:38:00.000-05:002009-03-24T01:38:00.000-05:00@sassa - we should probably just start celebrating...@sassa - we should probably just start celebrating both by not going to work on all the American public holidays as well. best way to not get mixed up if you ask me.<BR/><BR/>@Jacob - Bonfires, fireworks, and drinking do all sound kind of exhausting. Sounds like I'll definitely be too tired to demonstrate. damn.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-2415837477438205262009-03-23T19:02:00.000-05:002009-03-23T19:02:00.000-05:00May first is the public holiday for the socialists...May first is the public holiday for the socialists to take to the streets and demonstrate against the government, yes. Through most of this days history that meant demonstrating against themselves. This got tiresome and lots of people felt really silly as the decades of Social Democratic rule went by. Rather few do that anymore. <BR/><BR/>May first is, first and foremost, the day after Valborgsmässoafton. Walpurgis I think it may also be called in English. It's the celebration of the return of the light after the long winter. Bonfires, fireworks, drinking. Who's got the energy to take to the streets the day after that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-67874935398088761532009-03-23T18:48:00.000-05:002009-03-23T18:48:00.000-05:00I know exactly how you feel... I still cant rememb...I know exactly how you feel... I still cant remember all these things in Sweden or the US... get them all mixedup all the time... :PSassahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10505752329756142870noreply@blogger.com