A TOWN’S 700TH BIRTHDAY. Chris Weisfelder has been sending me charming descriptions of her days in Sweden, where she spends part of each summer. There was a big celebration of Midsummar –Midsummer Night (Chris notes the theory that summer was once thought to begin on May 1 with the solstice marking the height of summer, which, after all, it does in terms of light.) The banquet she described was tempting, especially the different kinds of herring, including herring with beets. I remember fondly the smorgasbord at the old Copenhagen restaurant in New York with seven different herring dishes followed by desserts with bowls of whipped cream. Chris and her neighbors also celebrated the 700th birthday of the nearby town of Halmstad. Halmstad received the rights of a city from the Danish king (it was then part of Denmark) on May 31, 1307. The event was celebrated all day long with festivities and when it got dark—beginning at eleven p.m.—with fireworks and a light show.
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How strange that a Dane should celebrate an event linked to Swedish expansionism! The provinces of Blekinge, Skåne and Halland were ripped from mother Denmark by raw force (legitimized by a treay, but in fact, a victors peace!) And now Swedes like Christine celebrate that ancient victory and are joined, ironically, by Philip Schaefer!
The International Herald Tribune just had a feature on redevelopment of the Malmo waterfront and the famous Turning Torso building pictured in the site below.
The article also shows that Danes are buying back Sweden apartment by apartment, since the cost of living in Copenhagen is very much higher.
Here’s the link.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/26/properties/remalmo.php
How wonderful that some centuries old grievances are forgotten! I have to point out that I am, I believe, one quarter Swedish. My father was more aware of this than my mother, who grew up with her parents speaking Danish.
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