Why Sweden celebrates spring with bonfires and songs
This week: The history of Valborg, and how likely is a Swedish pope? For Membership+ subscribers: Sweden's Labour Day traditions, Social Democrats set out their stall, and how to navigate Swedish taxes and bureaucracy.
Advertisement
In this week's episode we talk about the possibility of there being a Swedish pope and the state of Catholicism in Sweden today. We also dive into the history of Sweden's Valborg celebrations and why bonfires will be lit across Sweden on the last day of the month.
For Membership+ subscribers we jump forward a day to the first of May and what to expect on the public holiday that is Labour Day.
We discuss what to make of a recent burst of activity from the Social Democrats, the party most closely associated with May Day in Sweden.
Finally, with the deadline for filing taxes coming up next week, we give some last minute tips before checking out what readers of The Local are telling us are the most annoying things about Swedish bureaucracy.
Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.
Advertisement
Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:
Swedish traditions
Religion
Politics
Taxes
You can listen to the free episode here:
Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts.
Advertisement
Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.
Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+
Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.
Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription.
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Sweden
3 hours ago
- Local Sweden
Sweden's new alcohol law: 'Freedom reform' or flop?
This week: How a new law puts a chink in Systembolaget's armour, and why Sweden could ban international adoptions. For Membership+ subscribers: what are the Social Democrats planning for next year's election? And how will Sweden's elderly care system cope as immigrant workers are forced to leave Sweden? Advertisement This week we talk about a new alcohol law that came into force this month and what it means for consumers. And why has a government inquiry proposed banning international adoptions and apologising to adoptees. For Membership+ subscribers we discuss how Sweden's biggest political party, the Social Democrats, is gearing up for next year's general election. Finally, with updates expected this month on new salary requirements for work permit holders, we look at how the current limit has already led to staffing shortages in Sweden's elderly care service as immigrant workers are forced to leave the country. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Alcohol Family Politics Work permits You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Advertisement
Local Sweden
7 hours ago
- Local Sweden
Inside Sweden: Why we're asking members to help The Local
The Local's editor Emma Löfgren rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter. Advertisement Hej, You may have noticed a new message to members from our co-founder, publisher and CEO, James Savage, at the bottom of articles this week. He writes: I would like to thank you for supporting The Local as a member. It's been absolutely crucial of late. But here's the thing: right now, we are facing challenges of a kind we have never experienced in our 21-year history. Global tech giants are eating up a bigger and bigger share of advertising budgets, while making us less and less visible on their platforms. That makes operating as a small player in an already challenging sector even more difficult, especially when costs are rising. Our mission has always been to help people living in another country feel at home, to champion your rights, to keep you in the loop. For us to keep doing that, we need your support. If you are able to support us further, please consider making a donation. You can click here and follow the steps to leave a donation amount that suits you. This will help keep us going and allow us to continue doing the journalism that matters to you. Every word of what James wrote is true. We've had one of our most important news cycles in the past few weeks, being the first and almost only media outlet to cover Sweden's citizenship freeze. But journalism costs money, and right now it's hard to break even as a relatively small newsroom in this world of tech giants and far bigger media actors – or even break through the noise of the domestic Swedish-language media. The biggest change in Sweden since the last election has been the government's so-called "migration paradigm shift", which has had a life-changing impact on many foreigners living and working in this country. Advertisement With just over a year to go until the next election – and less than a year until stricter citizenship laws, and possibly stricter work permit conditions, come into force – making sure those affected are actually heard in the public debate is more crucial than ever. I'd like to think we can make an impact together. Thank you for being a member. If you want to help but are not able to make a donation, please tell a friend about us and ask them to become a member. Any help we get can make a huge difference. To us as a media company, as journalists, but also to raising the voices of those who still believe in a hopeful, constructive and international vision for Sweden and the rest of the world. In other news Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who chaired the agency managing adoptions to Sweden some 20 years ago, has said he's not ruling out an apology after an inquiry unveiled widespread abuses spanning several decades. With just over a year to go until Sweden's next election, a key poll suggests that the centre-left Social Democrats may take a decisive leap forward. Sweden's streets are filled with jubilant high school students. Why are they there, and what are they doing? This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Francisca Leonardo, founder of the tour company Xperience Stockholm. I really enjoyed my conversation with her. GAMES: Have you tried The Local's games for Membership+ subscribers yet? We've got a new crossword and word search puzzle out now A new agreement between Sweden and Estonia means that up to 600 criminals convicted in Sweden could serve time in prisons in Estonia, in what Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has described as a "historic" deal. Advertisement Foreign citizens are significantly over-represented in Swedish prisons. Here are some of the rules about how they should be treated. A government-commissioned inquiry this week proposed a series of suggestions that would make it cheaper to travel to Arlanda Airport. And finally, from summer activity tips to rail disruptions, here's everything you need to know about travelling in Sweden this summer. Have a good weekend, Emma Löfgren Editor, The Local Sweden Inside Sweden is our weekly newsletter for members which gives you news, analysis and, sometimes, takes you behind the scenes at The Local. It's published each Saturday and with Membership+ you can also receive it directly to your inbox.
Local Sweden
2 days ago
- Local Sweden
Sweden's Constitution Committee criticises government for citizenship slowdown
KU, the Swedish parliament's constitution committee, has criticised the leaders of all three government parties for writing an article in a Swedish newspaper calling for a slowdown or stop in granting Swedish citizenship applications. Advertisement On November 29th, the three governing parties of Sweden's right-wing coalition and the Sweden Democrats published an opinion piece in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper titled 'It should be harder to become a Swedish citizen'. The parties pledged in the article to 'as much as possible, take measures to stop more Swedish citizenships from being granted until new rules are in place', hinting that they would take steps to get the Migration Agency to slow down the processing of citizenship applications. They did not explicitly say how they would do so, but the government did in January order the Migration Agency to make extra efforts to identify potential security threats in citizenship cases. These security checks, which came into force on April 1st, led to a near two-month freeze in citizenship applications this spring, and have slowed down the process of issuing new citizenships by forcing all applicants to attend in-person ID checks before their applications can be granted. READ ALSO: The Green Party reported the government to the Constitution Committee for ministerstyre or ministerial governance ‒ essentially, individual ministers trying to influence or meddle in the affairs of a public agency. Advertisement
