Tuesday 24 February 2009

FAT TUESDAY

In England today we celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding the first day of the Christian season of fasting and prayer called Lent. I think Lent is where you chose to give something up you love for a period of time, like TV for example.

The word shrove is the past tense of the English verb shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by way of Confession and doing penance.

If I am not a religious person so will not claim to fully understand the spiritual meaning behind it all. What I do know is that it is the day where we eat PANCAKES!


In Sweden, the day is called Fat Tuesday, the day is marked by eating a traditional pastry, called semla or fastlagsbulle, a sweet bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream. Originally, the pastry was only eaten on this day sometimes served in a bowl of hot milk. Eventually the tradition evolved to eat the bun on every Tuesday leading up to Easter, as after the Reformation, the Protestant Swedes no longer observed a strict Lent. Today, semlas are available in shops and bakeries every day from shortly after Christmas until Easter. The semla is now often eaten as a regular pastry, without the hot milk. The semla is also traditional in Finland but they are usually filled with jam instead of almond paste.


My friend Cissi with two Semlas.

3 comments:

  1. Those look like two cream filled scones, I think I'd prefer those to pancakes actually.

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  2. They are totally different to scones, much tastier :)

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  3. Hej!

    How great to fun this blog! i am a Swedish girl who moved to the UK in 2006 (Bath, to study, am now living in London) from Stockholm. I think you are up for a fantastic adventure and will have the time of your life! Dont worry about the language; if you are social and keen to meet new people you will learn really quickly! And if you are struggling at times it may be of comfort if i tell you my english grammar still is shit - and will most probably always be - but that really doesnt matter. Places you MUST go...
    Mosebacke, Stockholm (the BEST place to have a beer with a view over Sthlm and great clubs and bars, magic!)
    Kärrsön - beach and beachvolleyball place, 20 min bus ride from Sthlm

    If you have any questions about Sweden, Swedes or Swedish fire away!
    Best of luck

    kristin_nu@hotmail.com

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