Author: Taylor, Tiffany

“God Jul!” from Sweden !

Official Name: "The Kingdom of Sweden”
Government: A Constitutional Monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Language: Swedish (Finnish, Romani, Yiddish, Sami, Meankieli)
Money: Swedish Krona (in the EU, but doesn’t use Euro)

Sweden is in the geographical region known as Scandinavia in northern Europe. Lush, large forests cover half of the country and over 100,000 lakes dot the landscape.
Sweden's Arctic north has been called the "land of the midnight sun," because during the summer months the sun never sets. Even in the capital of Stockholm in the south, the summer nights last only four hours and the sky doesn't deepen beyond twilight. But winter lasts until May and the nights are long and the days are short.
In the fall and spring, there are spectacular light shows in northern Sweden known as the "aurora borealis," or "northern lights." The dazzling green or red lights, which fill the late night sky, are caused by collisions of tiny particles high in the Earth's atmosphere.
Sweden is one of the least populated countries in Europe, with a population of less than 10 million people.
During the 1930s, Sweden developed the welfare system, known as "the Swedish model." Under their system, all Swedes have access to publicly financed health care, unemployment, child care, schools, elder care, and at least five weeks of paid vacation per year.
Sweden is renown for producing great pop bands and singers, including ABBA, The Cardigans, Ace of Base, Europe and The Hives. Sweden is the world's 3rd largest exporter of music after the United States and the UK.
A traditional and famous dish of Sweden is Swedish meatballs, served with gravy, boiled potatoes and lingonberry jam.
Around Christmas time in Sweden, one of the biggest celebrations is St. Lucia's Day on December 13th. This holiday is celebrated by a girl dressing in a white dress with a red sash round her waist and a crown of candles on her head. Small children use electric candles but from about 12 years old, real candles are used! A national Lucia is also chosen. Lucias also visit hospitals and old people's homes singing a song about St. Lucia and handing out 'Pepparkakor', ginger snap biscuits.