- Celebrating my first birthday in Sweden couldn’t have been better. I got birthday wishes, presents, hugs, and cake from new family and friends. Phone calls, Skype calls, messages, and photos from friends and family back home.
Gift from hubby!
- I was a bit nervous about my first birthday in a new country: What will it be like? What are the cultural differences?
- Last weekend we celebrated my birthday with my family-in-law. They bought a banana cake, gave me presents, and sung happy birthday to me:
The Swedish Birthday Song:
Ja, må hon leva, Ja, må hon leva, Ja, må hon leva uti hundrade år.
Ja, visst ska hon leva, Ja, visst ska hon leva, Ja, visst ska hon leva uti hundrade år.
(x2)
“Ett fyraldigt leve… leve hon. HURRAH, HURRAH, HURRAH, HURRAH.”
English Translation
Yes, may she live, Yes, may she live, Yes, may she live for a hundred years.
Oh sure, she will live, Oh sure, she will live, Oh sure, she will live for a hundred years.
“A four fold cheer … cheer for her. HURRAH, HURRAH, HURRAH, HURRAH.”
Listen to it here:
My in-laws taught me how to knit for my birthday! They own a knitting and yarn store, Lerdalaboden, so learning from them was easy- even if it was in Swedish! I’m working on a hat and scarf right now. My husband cooked some delicious chicken Alfredo and bought another cake today!
Some Common Swedish Birthday Customs
- Breakfast in bed- unfortunately this is usually only for children. The family comes into the room with breakfast (sometimes with cake) and sings for the birthday boy/girl.
- Some Swedes enjoy Smörgåstårta (Sandwich cake) on their birthdays. Read more about that in a previous post. Hubby bought me a shrimp sandwich this morning instead.
- A popular birthday cake is Prinsesstårta (Princess Cake)- a sponge cake with lots of cream inside and a shell of marzipan. Read more about that in a previous post.
- Swedish flags are often used to decorate the birthday cake.
- Bring your own birthday cake to work to celebrate yourself with your workmates.
- Surprise parties are not common in Sweden, instead you plan your own festivities if you want.
Vocabulary
Grattis på födelsedagen: Happy Birthday!
Grattis: Congratulations
Tårta: Cake
Oct 24, 2012 @ 23:35:47
Happy birthday, Meg! Guess I was a day too early with the Skype call to you — but then, I didn’t even know it was your birthday . . . glad it was such a happy one!
Oct 25, 2012 @ 00:18:50
Happy birthday
the birthday song sounds very funny when it’s translated, I guess since being used to hearing it I haven’t really thought much about the meaning of the words before
Oct 25, 2012 @ 02:38:25
Happy birthday!
That birthday song with the puppets is cute!
Oct 25, 2012 @ 05:54:36
Happy Birthday!
Oct 25, 2012 @ 07:05:30
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEG! GLAD IT WAS A GOOD ONE. I’M IN QUEENS- COULDN’T GET THE SONG TO PLAY-WILL TRY IN SOUTHOLD TOMORROW.CALL YOU OVER WEEKEND. KNIT ME A SCARF!!
Oct 25, 2012 @ 07:30:46
Megan, Belated Happy Birthday! Glad you had a good one. Love your posts.
Mariette
Oct 25, 2012 @ 08:21:58
GRATTIS!! Hoppas du hade en fin fin dag! Kram!
Oct 25, 2012 @ 09:22:10
You moved to Sweden *and* you have family who owns a knitting store? Sounds awesome! Really enjoying your blog, keep writing!
Oct 25, 2012 @ 09:37:12
Happy birthday!! Grattis på födelsedag!!
Oct 25, 2012 @ 10:25:54
Happy Bday
Oct 25, 2012 @ 20:41:52
Thanks for sharing your birthday song Love and miss you.Aunt Mary Uncle Mickey We love all your posts
Oct 26, 2012 @ 16:26:36
I just love your blog!! Take a look here: http://frankfurtmalin.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/beautiful-blogger-award/
it’s a nomination to zhe beautiful blogger award!
Grattis på födelsedagen!! kram Malin
Nov 13, 2012 @ 19:16:39
Happy belated birthday!! I love you and miss you so very much!!