Scandia Midsommar Festival (Minnesota)
The day was specially made for Scandia's Midsommar celebration, weather-wise and attendance was good.
I was very surprised to see two old friends from Sweden: Anders Åhslund, Hassela Sweden, brought a tour group consisting of a mixture of Swedes from Hälsingland, Uppland and other areas. Steffan Quint, internationally renowned videographer (Sweden & Alaska), whom I hadn't seen for several years, stopped by for a chat.
There was a long parade behind the flags, a great majstång was tipped up and everyone enjoyed the Swedish dance demonstration and singing.
Don't miss Scandia's Spelmanstämma in August! We'll be there, selling our books and Jerry will be playing with the ASI Spelmanslag.
I was very surprised to see two old friends from Sweden: Anders Åhslund, Hassela Sweden, brought a tour group consisting of a mixture of Swedes from Hälsingland, Uppland and other areas. Steffan Quint, internationally renowned videographer (Sweden & Alaska), whom I hadn't seen for several years, stopped by for a chat.
There was a long parade behind the flags, a great majstång was tipped up and everyone enjoyed the Swedish dance demonstration and singing.
Don't miss Scandia's Spelmanstämma in August! We'll be there, selling our books and Jerry will be playing with the ASI Spelmanslag.
Hi Jerry,
Thank you for telling us about this location on the web. We looked at the website and My Enemys Child was just as when we read about it. If Valkula is near as good we will buy the other three.
Joyce and Will
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Hi Gerald, Yes it is me, and we just talked on the phone about your book Vallkula, book one. As a first generation American,it brought back many fond memories and recollections that were so detailed and accurate about when and where that story takes place
Both of my parents emigrated to America from different areas of Sweden, and shared their lives with us. Valkula helped me remember a somewhat similar story about a relative who lived in Stockholm, and took her cow every spring on the train from Stokholm, where she lived to a Fabod called Salbeck, to eat the fresh growing mountain pastures.
I have a cowbell from possibly that cow. Wow how that book helped me remember some of my Mothers stories to us. That meeting with you at Gammel Garden last June in Scandia and hearing about your book, I knew I had to read it. That day After I had bought your book I also picked up a CD from a vendor who also was at the Mid summer festival. The title Swedish Pastoral Music.
Once again Wow, out came my old cowbell and it sounded just like the ones on The CD. Of course that along with reading your book of fiction, was so similar, that I began to do some searching through old family negatives and Since last June I have began to scan some of those old pictures into my PC and hope to soon back that all up with a CD.
I have been To Selbeck and seen where my Mothers family had a Stuga. Now I look forward to reading your other books, and also would like to hear and share with other interested people about where our ancestors came from. Sincerely Glennie Gilleen
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Hello again, Glennie...
Thank you for sharing this great story. I'd like to hear more about the train journey your grandmother took twice yearly from Mora to Stockholm...with her favorite cow, no less. I know you said you had some old photos.
Do you know the cow's name or why she would take a cow all the way from central Dalarna, down to Stockholm. Certainly there was plenty of milk available in the city?
Like me, I'm sure some of the readers would enjoy seeing the photos you have scanned and hearing more about the story. Personally, I think it one of the most poignant things I've ever heard around the folklore of these resourceful women of the forest...and the city, too, it seems!
Jerry
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Hi Jerry, I had to review some of my geneology papers about the old country, as there were a number of people with similiar names.
First the relative that took the train with her cow to Mora every spring from Stockholm, was one of my maternal grandmother's sisiters. Her birth name was Anna Persdotter, born October 18, 1869 in Langlet, Sweden.
This was a short distance from Mora (Dalarna) Sweden. This great aunt of mine left home in 1890 and went to Stockholm and married and had one child. She became a widow, but lived in Stockholm much of her life.
Yes, she did take that cow back anf forth every summer to Longlet and the near by Fabods, where her parents had some good land for the cows and sheep to feed on.
I will try to also send that photo of her and the cow that was taken at her parents fabod in Salbeck.
Thank you to for the information regarding cow bells, as now I am quite certain this cowbell my mother gave me when I was quite small came from her.
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Hi Glennie,
Thanks for the comments and the fantastic photo on the Reader's Forum (http://www.smultron-pub.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=37).
It would be great if you had a photo of your great aunt on the train with her cow, but this is nearly as good.
I wonder whether anyone else has relative with a past like yours?
Keep us up to date, please.
Jerry
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