Fat Tuesday – time for semla!
Today is Fettisdagen in Sweden – or directly translated, "Fat Tuesday". Shrove Tuesday, as it is generally known in English-speaking countries, is the day when Swedes (and other Scandinavians) eat semla, a traditional pastry long associated with this day.
The name semla is said to derive from the Latin word semilia, which was the name used for the finest quality wheat flour or semolina.
Semla is a cardamon-spiced bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream. The top is sliced off the bun, which is then filled with almond paste mixed with the crumbs from the process of scooping out the bun. The top of the bun is then placed over the whipped cream, and dusted with icing sugar.
The semla can be eaten 'as-is' or it can be dipped in warm milk. Swedes often drink coffee with semla in the context of the traditional 'fika', the point (or points!) during the day when everyday takes a break and some refreshment.
More information
Check out the great article at www.sweden.se.
See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fettisdagen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semla
Content owner: External Relations Office
Created:
February 24, 2009
by
Paul Parker
Updated:
March 8, 2011
by
Paul Parker
