Understanding the Swedish Backdrop of Love, Guilt, and Motorcycles
Let’s start with a bit of geography
Sweden is part of Scandinavia, located in the northern part of Europe. This means we experience cold and dark winters, but it also blesses us with uniquely bright summer nights.
While working with my editor, I realised I needed to describe this phenomenon in more detail. She commented, “It can’t be night now, can it? In the sentence before that, you wrote that the sun had just risen.”
In Sweden, during the summer, the sun sets and rises again after only a few hours. Above the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn’t set at all during this season. So, even though the sun is rising, it can still be a long time before what I would typically consider morning. I hope you get to experience the midnight sun someday; it truly is extraordinary.
Jenny and most of her friends live in and around Gothenburg—spelt Göteborg in Swedish—on the west coast of Sweden. The city is known for its windy and rainy climate and for its inhabitants, who enjoy wordplay and consider themselves more down-to-earth and hardworking than the “politicians and snobs” in the capital, Stockholm.
In Gothenburg, we find Utby, where Jenny and her friend Agneta live with their parents. Their friend Keyvan, on the other hand, lives in a fancier part of town called Örgryte. Burgården, the upper secondary school that Jenny and her friends attend, is located in the centre of the city.
Biskopsgården is situated in a rougher part of Gothenburg, especially during the time in which the book is set.
Slottsskogen is a large park in Gothenburg and a popular destination, particularly in the summertime. Nearby, you’ll find Marstrand, an island that serves as a sailing hub of sorts.
Another large island on the west coast is Tjörn, where Jenny’s aunt lives.
If you’d like to explore the locations mentioned in the book, you can find a map of Sweden with the cities marked out here:
For a closer look at Gothenburg and its surroundings, click the button below:
Special events and traditions
Ta Studenten
Graduating from upper secondary school, known as ‘ta Studenten’ in Swedish, is a significant milestone in the lives of young Swedes and is marked by vibrant traditional celebrations. The festivities often feature students donning distinctive graduation caps, while parents make a grand entrance with uniquely decorated, sometimes extravagant vehicles to escort the graduates home. Adding to the charm, extended family members typically display large placards adorned with baby photos of the graduate.
For a deeper dive into these traditions, you can explore this blog post, where the author captures the essence of Swedish graduation as ‘a party from start to finish.’
Chalmers Cortège
Another cherished tradition in Gothenburg is the annual Cortège on Walpurgis Night, a parade organised by the Chalmers University of Technology. This lively event attracts large crowds to the city centre each year.
For more details on this tradition, you can refer to the information provided on Wikipedia.
Advent and Lucia
As in many countries, Christmas is a significant family tradition in Sweden. A unique aspect of our celebrations is the observance of the four Sundays of Advent, which lead up to Christmas. On each of these Sundays, we light an additional candle, marking the progression towards the holiday.
The Newbie Guide to Sweden offers a detailed look at this tradition and provides tips on how to navigate December in Sweden.
Another major tradition in December is Lucia, celebrated on the 13th. During this festive occasion, children dress up as Lucia, wearing white robes, or as ‘tärnor’. Others may dress as mini Santas in red or as gingerbread boys and girls. The children then sing songs for their parents. Professional choirs also perform during Lucia celebrations. Central to the tradition, Lucia wears a crown of candles, symbolising light during the darkest time of winter. On this day, we enjoy special buns and mulled wine.
The night before Lucia has evolved into a lively celebration for the youth, who often stay up all night, socialising and partying until dawn. Interestingly, their celebrations often conclude around the same time that young children wake up to sing Lucia songs.
Midsommar
Midsommar is widely regarded as the quintessential Swedish celebration. It’s common to experience a brief rain shower during the day, so even if you choose to eat outdoors—which is considered the traditional way to celebrate—be prepared to quickly move inside with your plates and glasses. Often, by the time you’re indoors, the sun will be shining again.
Numerous descriptions of Midsummer festivities are available online for those interested in learning more.
Speaking of summer, swimming in lakes and the sea is a popular activity, and skinny dipping is not unusual. In Sweden, nudity is generally viewed as natural and innocent, although this perspective seems to be gradually changing. As one article aptly states: ‘Swedes don’t use sexual references as curse words, and they’ve been bathing nude together for centuries.
While there is much more to explore about Sweden and its traditions, this introduction provides you with the essential context to fully immerse yourself in ‘Love, Guilt, and Motorcycles’.
In case you don’t already have the book, you can find it by clicking on the button.