Excited to study Sweden!  Hubby’s ancestors were from Sweden predominately – so we’re eager to learn more about this country. He grew up with certain foods (like Pepperkakor) that I attempted making this year at Christmas.  Sweden is much more than IKEA… and the beloved meatballs with lingonberry sauce….. 😉 … and MINECRAFT.

Video “Wild Sweden”

ABOUT SWEDEN:

• 10 things to know before visiting Sweden – funny – and informative article at CNN Travel
• VisitSweden – official travel and tourism website
• National Geographic – Kids
• Print out Map for Sweden – National Geographic MapMaker

LANDMARKS / GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES:

• Stockholm Archipelago – 30,000 islands ?!
• Ice Hotel
• the Northern Lights * Live webcam at Aurora Sky Station * ; more about Aurora Borealis
• Midnight Sun
• Caves
• Explore where ancestors lived: Orebro and Ostergotland

FOOD:

• Swedish Meatballs
• Pickled Herring
• Pepparkakor
• Swedish Fish 😉
• “fika” – to take a pause or a coffee break

ARTS and CRAFTS:

• Crystal Glassworks
• Sami hard & soft handicrafts

PEOPLE / CULTURE / HISTORY

• ABBA
• Pipi Longstocking character
• Vasa – Sunken ship museum
• Markus Persson (founder of Mojang – Minecraft)
• actor Alexander Skarsgard
• model Elin Nordegren (and ex-wife of Tiger Woods)
• actress Greta Garbo
• Alfred Nobel
• author, poet Ray Bradbury
• tennis player Bjorn Borg
• our Swedish last name means:  Valley Twig !

ANIMALS

• Moose
• Lynx
• Brown Bear
• Wolf
• Wolverine

Pebbles inspired by St. Lucia at Christmas at our church’s “Winter Wonder” program