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Category Archives: Culture
On Scandinavian painting traditions – aspirations, light, and mindset…. Part 1
Although we have effectively turned the corner, with both the winter solstice and 2016 behind us, it doesn’t yet feel as if the light is coming back. At least not to me. But – you have to trust me on … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Scandinavia
Tagged church paintings, lack of light, land of darkness, medieval, Middle Ages, painted decor, Scandinavia, Traditional, vernacular, winter
4 Comments
An evening at the Japanese Garden
Day or night, I rarely – if ever – turn down an invitation to experience the Japanese Garden. So when Drake (the owner of the company I work for, and also a board member of the Japanese Garden) asked if … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Just for fun, Local interest
Tagged ceramics, dusk, exhibit, garden, illumination, Koi pond, Living National Treasure, Mashiko, outdoor lighting, Portland Japanese Garden, pottery, twilight
4 Comments
Whippings, weather and witches – and other superstitions relating to Swedish Easter traditions.
Well friends – it is Spring again and with it, time for another ancient and mysterious holiday. To me, in some sense, the word “Spring” is an onomatopoeia of tremendous potency. Here in our northern hemisphere, it is the time … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Just for fun, Scandinavia
Tagged Easter, fertility, Holiday Traditions, Lent, magic, Påskris, Shrovetide, superstition, Swedish, witches
5 Comments
Fatten up with a Semla on Fat Tuesday!
Well my friends, once again, it is Mardi Gras, Fettisdagen, or Fat Tuesday – whichever moniker you prefer! Back in the day, that meant that this was the last day of Shrovetide, and your last chance to gorge yourself on … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Food and Drink Recipes, Scandinavia
Tagged baking, Fat Tuesday, Fettisdagen, Mardi Gras, semla, Shrovetide, Swedish, Traditional
11 Comments
Nothing says “Christmas” like a pink flamingo…
In many ways, I enjoy living in the US. But there are some instances where this gal from the old world feels like a real alien. One of those instances is the Holidays. What is up with the Christmas ornaments??? … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Just for fun
Tagged American, bumper sticker theory, Christmas, culture, decoration, Holiday Traditions, Holidays, individual expression, ornament, US
19 Comments
Magic and Mysticism in Scandinavian Vernacular Architecture – on Folklore, Superstition and on How the Gods Really Were in the Details…
The urge to decorate is as old as mankind. Since time immemorial, adornments have served as status indicators, cultural and national insignia, as well as tribal trademarks. Heraldic badges and coats of arms mark political and familial affiliations, and entire … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, On Building, Scandinavia
Tagged Architecture, Building, carvings, folklore, magic, mysticism, ornament, Scandinavian, superstition, symbol, Traditional, vernacular
12 Comments
Celebration of the times before the big disconnect – how the old masters selected wood
I spent my childhood summers on a farm in a rather desolate part of northern Sweden. At one point, much later in life, we were looking into moving a small grain storage barn on the property. It was situated a … Continue reading
Posted in Cool building materials, Culture, On Building, Scandinavia
Tagged Building, history, lumber, Materials, Nature, Swedish, timber, Traditional, Trees, wood
5 Comments
From shou-sugi-ban to acetylated wood – a clean, green future in wood preservation
Tar kiln or “tjärdal” from Öland, Sweden. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. Since humans began using wood, the material has always been subject to more or less successful methods of wood preservation. Alexander the Great is said to have soaked wood … Continue reading
Posted in Color, Cool building materials, Culture, Environment, Green Living, On Building
Tagged acetylated wood, cool building materials, environment, green building materials, Green Technology, Japanese, lumber industry, modern, pesticides, Scandinavian, shou-sugi-ban, Traditional, wood preservation
27 Comments
From Hallow Ghosts to Weary Witches – a Primordial Peek at Halloween
Those of you who have read my post “Lucia, Yule Goats, and other interesting occurrences” know that I find the origins of our holiday celebrations fascinating. Although it was never traditionally celebrated in my native country of Sweden, Halloween … Continue reading
Posted in Culture
Tagged ancient, apples, celebrations, Celts, Halloween, harvest festivals, holiday, Malleus maleficarum, Romans, traditions, Trick or Treat, witches
5 Comments
Lucia, Yule Goats, and other interesting occurrences
December 12, 2010 Okay – so the Holiday Madness is upon us, yet again! Since I’m a transplant away from my own country, I always think it’s fun to compare traditions – especially since the US represents such a wide … Continue reading
The Creative Flux 