Writing notes to one another
is a traditional Swedish custom
when meeting for the first time.
Afterwards they hug and kiss
and drink Aquavit
and dance the
slängpolska.
Bonus:
This is my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Aunt Kitty Nelson-Gustavsdotter Vasa:
Her maiden name was Katarina Gustavsdotter Vasa, Princess of Sweden. But she went by Kitty Nelson. (The Gustavsdotter - simply means she was the King's daughter - Gustavsdaughter in English. If your name was Gustavsson - that would mean you were the King's son - or a descendant of Gustav - Like Craig Gustavson.)
A bit of trivia, all the males in Kitty's line use the surname Nelson, and curiously enough, they all continue to resemble her down to our day. In fact, when I first viewed this portrait I thought it was my dad.
Isn't it odd? I never boast about my royal heritage the way traditionalists like to do. It doesn't add to my stature one bit.
Christmas will soon be here.
