- The Old Country
- Posts
- The Old Country Newsletter – Shorts and Founding Fathers
The Old Country Newsletter – Shorts and Founding Fathers
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden
Philip Gustavsson
May 24, 2024
Good morning!
It’s Friday, May 24th. The weather of the past week in the southern parts of Sweden has been warm and left a longing for the coming summer vacation. The news of the week contains stories of the upcoming election for the European Parliament, new numbers on Sweden’s unemployment rate, and a reignited debate about … shorts.
This week’s story from the past is actually about two people who lived a long time ago. Nevertheless, their respective lives have helped shape the history of the new country.
Do you have a personal story about your heritage? Please reach out by sending me an e-mail via the button at the bottom of this newsletter.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip
Did you get this newsletter sent to you from someone you know? Click on the button below to subscribe for yourself. All you risk is learning something (perhaps even about yourself.)
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
My personal favorite book-series of all time is The Emigrants, by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg. Through the four books in the series, we get to follow the triumphs and tribulations of early Swedish immigrants in America. In the first book, "The Emigrants," we meet Karl Oskar, Kristina Nilsson, their three children, and eleven others who set out from Småland in 1850, seeking a better life away from poverty, religious persecution, and social injustice.
By clicking here, you can learn more about the books and order a copy for yourself. Beyond getting your hands on an incredible book, it is also a great way to show support for this newsletter, as a few cents of each sale will help support our work.
Statistics you didn’t ask for
I, like many of you who read this (I assume), have relatives who emigrated from Sweden during the 1800’s or 1900’s. Many of them left their farms in the Swedish countryside because of poverty and famine.
If a similar mass-migration were to occur today, the great-great-great granddaughters and -sons of those leaving Sweden would likely not hear stories of how their ancestors tended the land. The reason for this is that urbanization in Sweden keeps rising. In 2022, the percent of Swedes living in an urban setting was 88.49 %. Ten years earlier, that number was 85.62 %. Compared to the U.S, the urbanization in 2020 was at 82.66 %.
Election Weekend: A Voter Turnout Cocktail?
Thursday, June 6th, is Sweden’s National Day. The Friday is a potential "squeeze day", i.e. a day that many are free from work. Sunday of that same week, June 9, is election day for the European Parliament. Is this a recipe for low voter turnout or an opportunity to boost early voting, which started this week?
"It's not an optimal date," says Linda Berg, political scientist and election researcher at the University of Gothenburg.
In Sweden, general elections for parliament, regions, and municipalities are held in September. However, the EU elections take place in late spring or early summer, historically resulting in lower turnout according to Berg.
"Research shows that early fall is the best time for elections, while summer is the worst as people are less inclined to vote."
The last European Parliament election in Sweden was on May 26, 2019. This year, election day falls on June 9. The potential for a long weekend could further impact turnout, Berg suggests, but she also notes factors that might drive higher participation.
"The current global unrest might encourage people to vote. Support for EU membership is high, and more candidates are familiar to voters compared to the last election. Plus, there are excellent opportunities for early voting," she explains.
In other news
A serious traffic accident occurred on Tuesday between Norsholm and Kimstad, resulting in the deaths of three individuals under the age of 20. Two other individuals of the same age group are hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while investigations and witness interviews are ongoing to determine the cause of the accident.
Sweden's unemployment rate in April was slightly higher than expected, reaching 7.7% compared to the anticipated 7.6%. This increase was influenced by more people entering the labor market and a higher number of unemployed individuals, according to Statistics Sweden.
The Swedish government plans to allocate 25 billion kronor annually to support Ukraine, as announced by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson. This significant financial aid will be directed towards military, humanitarian, and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
Would you like to feel closer to Sweden? A perfect way to do that would be to have a look at Swedish broadcasts; either current or past. SVT Play is an online streaming service provided by Sveriges Television (SVT), the Swedish national public television broadcaster.
To watch it, one has to be in Sweden – or have access to a VPN provider that can connect to a remote server located in Sweden. Like NordVPN, which sponsors this segment of the newsletter.
By using NordVPN, you can access what SVT Play has to offer – including current news, documentaries about emigrants, live broadcasts from nature-events, and much more – by simply connecting to a server in Sweden. Follow the link here to get 74 % off for your first two years and three months (!) of usage. By doing so, you also help support the distribution of this newsletter.
Shorts: The Summer Debate Heats Up Again
As more and more Swedes go through their wardrobe to find something to wear that will let their skin, accustomed to the cold northern winds, breathe, a yearly (and very important) debate is reignited. And, like every year, it engages too many people.
Benjamin Franklin once said that “[…] nothing is certain except death and taxes.” If he had lived in 21st century Sweden, he would have added “… and the debate of whether or not to wear shorts.“
As temperatures climb, Sweden’s perennial debate over whether men should wear shorts to work heats up once more. This year, Aftonbladet’s Ida Söderberg reignited the discussion, stating shorts are fine for children, but not adults. In contrast, journalist Lennart Ekdal, speaking on TV4’s "Efter Fem," argues shorts are acceptable when temperatures soar above 30 degrees.
Vesna Prekovic believes the appropriateness depends on the profession, suggesting that a TV host in shorts would face backlash. Meanwhile, Rasmus Hansson calls for respect for those in labor-intensive jobs who prefer shorts, highlighting their contributions. As the temperature rise during the summer months, and hopefully stay higher than during November (which is no guarantee in Sweden), the debate will likely cool off. Until next year, that is.
Do you also have strong opinions on shorts and short-wearers?
Word of the week
OBETYDLIGT [OO-beh-TEED-lig]
Settlers and Founding Fathers
The biggest emigration from Sweden to the USA took place between 1850-1930. But, the people who set out on the voyage across the sea in the 1850’s were not the first Swedes to reach the Americas. New Sweden, a Swedish colony, was established in 1638 in the current states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.
Mårten Mårtensson, or Martti Marttinen, was born in Rautalampi, Finland – which then was part of the Realm of Sweden, in 1610. Although much of the more detailed information from his life has been lost to history, it is known that he left Finland for Sweden. However, he did not stop there.
In 1654, Mårten Mårtensson arrived in New Sweden aboard the Eagle and quickly pledged loyalty to Governor Rising at Tmicum Island. Initially settling near Fort Trinity (modern-day New Castle), Mårten found himself under Dutch rule after they captured the fort in 1655. Dissatisfied, he soon joined Finnish settlers in Ammansland. Mårten likely had three wives, inferred from the age gaps among his children. His legacy includes 34 grandchildren and at least 147 great-grandchildren, one of whom stands out in American history—John Morton. Does the name ring a bell?
John Morton, born in 1725 in Ridley, Pennsylvania, was an American farmer, surveyor, and jurist, who became a pivotal Founding Father of the United States. As a delegate to the Continental Congress, Morton signed the Continental Association and the Declaration of Independence, casting the decisive vote for Pennsylvania’s support of independence. He also chaired the committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation, although he passed away before signing them.
Morton's role in American history has been particularly significant for Finnish Americans. In the early 20th century, Finnish immigrants used Morton's legacy to assert their place among America’s founding nationalities. Reverend Salomon Ilmonen, an amateur historian, played a crucial role in promoting this connection during Delaware's 300th anniversary. Celebrations in 1938 and 1988 highlighted this heritage, boosting the self-esteem of American Finns and solidifying their historical identity.