The Lindahl News: Abroad Edition

When we first found out we would be coming to Sweden for this school semester, I could only imagine what a thrill it would be to see the festivities on December 13th as the country celebrated Luciadagen. What I didn't expect was that one day of celebrating is more like one week of celebrating.  And I have loved it! Our first Lucia concert took place on the second Sunday of Advent on December 9th. It was held at Kristinekyrkan in Jonkoping. We found out about this concert from Anne's SVF roommate, Elin, as she is a member of the choir performing at the church. This church is very old with its consecration taking place in 1673.  Waiting in line (the concert started at 3:00 pm and was open and free to the public) was cold but the time passed quickly as we watched the adorable antics of the young children in front of us. It reminded us of our own barnbarn. Once inside, the sanctuary filled up quickly. Isn't the sanctuary beautiful? (I took a...

  Forests, wild creatures, princesses, bears, trolls...all were subjects for this Swedish artist and illustrator, John Bauer. Imagine the delight in discovering he was from the Swedish city I'm currently living in! Born in Jonkoping on June 4, 1882, and living here until he went to a private art school in Stockholm, John showed much promise as an artist at an early age.  By 1903 he received his first commission as a fairy tale illustrator. He married Ester Ellqvist in 1906.  By 1912, he was Sweden's only fairy tale artist and was known by his "mood landscapes, populated by trolls with kind and inquisitive eyes, delicate little princesses and plucky little boys." And let's not forget his beautiful Lucia! (Sadly, his own life didn't have a fairy tale ending as he, his wife and their family were drowned  in Lake Vattern as their ferry sank. He was only 36 years old.) This past week, the students took a field trip t...