Frequently asked questions

1. What kind of Scout activities do you have in Sweden?

Everything from learning to raise a tent, spending lots of time outdoors, hiking, learning knots so that we can survive in the woods, learning about scouts in other countries, wood-craft, and so on.

2. What is a typical game unique to Sweden?

Alla djuren byter bo - All the animals change den! (or nest)

Everyone stand close to a tree, a stone - or anything in nature that you decide is your den. Mark your den with a jacket, a backpack or anything else that you have with you, to make it visible.

One scout or guide stands in the middle of the dens and calls out : "All the animals change den!" Everyone must change their den. The scout or guide left without a den will now stand in the middle and call out.

You can decide on how the animals move; like a frog, on their hands and knees, jumping on one leg, backwards...

Höken flyger högt - The hawk flies high

Everyone stand in a ring. When the leader calls out "The hawk flies high" everyone jumps. The leader varies the calling with different kind of birds; "The seagull flies high, the eagle flies high" and so on. After every call the scouts and the guides jumps.

After a while the leader starts calling out other animals that cannot fly; for example "The mouse flies high". Now you shouldn't jump! The ones that jumps anyway take one step backwards, now they have to help checking who's jumping at the right moment and who isn't.

3. What does your flag design stand for and why was it designed that way?

The age of the Swedish flag can not be decided, but it has existed since about 1550. A very famous family, of whom a few of their sons later became kings, had a lion on a blue background. In 1634 the weapon of the country became a blue flag with 3 golden crowns. This symbol was later made into the 4 blue squares with a golden cross dividing them, and is the Swedish flag today.

4. What hobbies are common in Sweden?

All hobbies exist in Sweden, it might be everything from playing football, listening to music, meeting friends, as well as spending time in front of the computer or hiking in the woods. Wintersports such as icehockey, skiing and skating are very popular.

5. What does your scoutuniform look like?

The uniform is different depending on which scoutassociation you belong to. Since we have five different associations, we also have different coloured uniforms. The colours are green or blue. The uniform contains of a scarf and a shirt. A certain colour is recommended for the trousers, but there is no special model required.

Recently all five associations decided to wear the same uniform, this uniform will be greenish blue and will be used from april 2007.

6. What are Scouts called in Sweden?

Guides and Scouts are all called "scouts". We do not have any special word for boys or girls (We only use Guides and Scouts in formal English correspondence). Since everything is co-ed, everyone is called a scout, whether it is a he or she.

7. What is a traditional article of clothing?

The traditional folk clothes are not used very often, but they are still worn at nice dinners, weddings, family meetings, midsummerparties etc. Have a look at

http://home.swipnet.se/~w-93011/ram2.html

http://hem.passagen.se/monikali/folkdrakt/drakt5.htm

to get some nice pictures of what traditional Swedish clothing looks like.

8. What holidays do you celebrate? How do you celebrate them?

Oh, there are lots of them! Like Midsummer, which means having a party with your family and friends and staying up very late to see the northern lights. Midsummer is celebrated because it is the longest and brightest day of the year.

There is also Saint Lucia, which is celebrated on December 13th. This day is celebrated in honour of Saint Lucia. On this day young and grownup girls all over Sweden dress up in white dresses and have candlelights in their hair. They sing traditional songs and read poems. The light that changes a lot impacts most of our traditions.

Most people in Sweden also celebrate Christmas and Easter. Have a look at http://www.luth.se/luth/present/sweden/history/folklore/ for some more information about how Easter and Christmas are celebrated.

9. A traditional Swedish recipes and how do you make it?

Swedish Meatballs

4-5 Servings

400g minced meat
4 Tbsp breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp potato flour
150 mL water
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/3 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp finely cropped, fried onion

1. Mix breadcrumbs, potato flour and water. Set aside for at least 10 minutes until bread crumbs absorb the liquid.

2. Add egg, salt, pepper and onion.

3. Add mince and blend with a fork.

4. Form round balls, 3-4cm across, with your hands. Rinse your hands with cold water to make it easier.

5. Heat a frying pan. Fry the balls in butter or margarine for 3-5 minutes. Make sure they are fried all around, and cooked through.

What is a traditional children's song in Sweden?

Blåsippor
(Swedish)

Blåsippan ute i backarna står,
niger och säger att "nu är det vår".
Barnen de plockar små sipporna glatt,
rusar sen hem under rop och skratt.

"Mor, nu är våren kommen, mor!
Nu får vi gå utan strumpor och skor!
Blåsippan ute i backarna stå,
har varken skor eller strumpor på!

Mor i stugan hon säger så:
"Blåsippor aldrig snuva få.
Än få ni gå med strumpor och skor,
än är det vinter kvar", säger mor.

Blue Anemone
(English)

The blue anemone blooms now,
curtsies and says "spring is here".
Children merrily pick the flowers,
and rush home, laughing.

"Mom! Spring has come now, mom!
Now we can go without socks and shoes!
The blue anemone outside
wears neither sock nor shoe!

Mother, in the house, says:
"Blue anemones never catch cold.
You must still wear socks and shoes!
It's still winter", says mother.

The turning of the seasons, and especially the coming of spring, and how long it takes, are common themes in children songs. Botanically, the English name for the blue anemone is "liverwort", or "hepatica". It blooms in early spring, at least in Sweden. You can see some pictures of blåsippor here: Wikipedia page about Hepatica.