First Advent in Sweden
We need First Advent, it gives us something else to think about, it brightens up our life at the end of the darkest month of the year. On the fourth Sunday before Christmas the first candle is lit, with another being lit each proceeding Sunday, marking the countdown until Christmas. Once all four are shining brightly we know the waiting is almost over, a tradition that has taken place in Sweden since the 1890s and is loved by young and old.     Advent Candl

Will Alternativ Stad's Ralph Fidler Prize Save Aspudden's Pool?
I love awards, partly because I love the fact that they give recognition to both individuals and groups, and partly because they spice life up for those involved. And they usually turn our attention to interesting and worthy things. Such is the case with Alternativ Stad's (Alternative City's) award. This membership organisation is a Stockholm based group lobbying for a environmentally sustainable city. They are also part of the global organisation Friends of the Earth

Lussebullar or Lussekatter, a part of the Swedish Christmas Tradition
This Lucia is my 19 year anniversary – 19 years ago I came to live in Sweden for the first time. So I decided after so many years here it was time to bake Lussebullar (lusse buns) or Lussekatter (lusse cats). Swedes seem to love yeast buns and I always feel like it is a bit beyond my baking depths but at a friend’s recently I discovered how easy this recipe is. According to the illustrious Wikipedia Lussekattar had nothing to do with Lucia initially, but originated from the fear of Lucifer, or the devil. In Germany in the 1600s the devil, in the form of a cat, punished children, whereas Jesus, in

Surviving the winter and darkness of Sweden II
The last week has been classic November weather here in Stockholm, and in much of the country. Just a week ago I was scuffing through the piles of leaves on the ground, kicking them up as I walked along with my kids. They were golden yellow and had that lovely crunchy sound under your feet as you walked. That was then.  Since then we've suffered daily from something ranging from a mist, to drizzle, to tonight's constant downpour. Rain. Dark. Grey. Wet. An absent sun. November. They are the words on everyones lips at the moment, and everyone's facebook

Surviving the winter and the darkness of Sweden
It struck me today how hard the darkness and the cold weather is on children, how hard it is on all of us. The kids start school at 8.15 - 8.30am and while it is currently still light, it won’t be long before we will be watching the sun rise on our way to school in the mornings.   My kids are picked up most days by 3.30pm and by the time we walk and get the train we are usually home by 4pm. It is well and truly dark by then in November and the cold, biting wind that rips through the naked trees or the rain that pelts down only make it all the less charming. These late afternoons are