Småland
Coat of arms
Country	Sweden
Land	Götaland
Counties	Kronoberg County Kalmar County Jönköping County Halland County Östergötland County
Area
• Total	29,400 km2 (11,400 sq mi)
Population (2009)[1]
• Total	720,358
• Density	25/km2 (63/sq mi)
Ethnicity
• Language	Småländska
Culture
• Flower	Twinflower
• Animal	Otter
• Bird	Song thrush
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal codes	33000–34000
Area codes	0372 0433 0459 0470–0478 0480–0493

 Småland (help·info) is a historical province (landskap) in southern Sweden. Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands.^[2] The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages. The highest summit in Småland is Tomtabacken with its 377 m.

Administration[link]

The traditional provinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. The province is divided into the three administrative counties: Jönköping County, Kalmar County and Kronoberg County, which roughly cover the entire Småland province. Smaller areas of Småland, however, are situated in Halland County and Östergötland County.

Heraldry[link]

The current coat of arms, granted in 1569, features a rampant red lion on a golden shield carrying a crossbow. The arms may appear with a ducal coronet. Blazon: "Or a lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure holding in front paws a Crossbow of the second bowed and stringed Sable with a bolt Argent."

Population[link]

The population of Småland was 720,358 as of December 31, 2009, distributed over five counties as follows:^[1]

Geography[link]

An image from a canyon in the forested Småland.

The geography is dominated by a forested high plain where the soil is mixed with sand and small boulders, making it barren in all except the coastal areas, and unsuited for agriculture except in certain locations, notably the Kalmar Plains. The province is rich in lakes and bogs. The coast consists of an archipelago of islands and bays in the north and cultivated flatlands in the south. In total, cultivated land covers 14%, meadows 7% and forest 50%.^[3]

Largest towns are Jönköping in the north-west, Växjö in the south, and Kalmar on the east coast near Öland Island.

History[link]

The area was probably populated in the Stone Age from the south, by people moving along the coast up to Kalmar. Småland was populated by Stone Age peoples by at least 6000 BC, since the Alby People are known to have crossed the ice bridge across the Kalmar Strait at that time.

The name Småland ("small lands") comes from the fact that it was a combination of several independent lands, Kinda (today a part of Östergötland), Tveta, Vista, Vedbo, Tjust, Sevede, Aspeland, Handbörd, Möre, Värend, Finnveden and Njudung. Every small land had its own law in the Viking age and early middle age and could declare themselves neutral in wars Sweden was involved in, at least if the King had no army present at the parliamentary debate. Around 1350, under the king Magnus Eriksson a national law was introduced in Sweden, and the historic provinces lost much of their old independence.

The city of Kalmar is one of the oldest cities of Sweden, and was in the medieval age the southernmost and the third largest city in Sweden, when it was a center for export of iron, which, in many cases, was handled by German merchants.

Småland was the center of several peasant rebellions, the most successful of which was Dackefejden led by Nils Dacke in 1542–1543. When officials of king Gustav Vasa were assaulted and murdered, the king sent small expeditions to pacify the area, but all failed. Dacke was in reality the ruler of large parts of Småland during the winter, though heavily troubled by a blockade of supplies, before finally being defeated by larger forces attacking from both Västergötland and Östergötland. Dacke held a famous battle defence at the (now ruined) Kronoberg Castle, and was shot while trying to escape to then Danish-ruled Blekinge.

A geographical part of Småland called Kingdom of Crystal is known for its many glassworks and can be historically traced back to the 18th century.

Traditional Windsor chairs perhaps made in Småland

In the 19th century, Småland was characterized by poverty, and had a substantial emigration to North America, which additionally hampered its development. The majority of emigrants ended up in Minnesota, with a geography resembling Sweden, combining arable land with forest and lakes.

The well known furniture company IKEA was founded in the Småland town of Älmhult.

Overnight between 8 and 9 January 2005 the province suffered serious damage from the storm Gudrun.

Historical cities[link]

Towns with former city status were: Eksjö (chartered around 1400), Gränna (1652), Huskvarna (1911), Jönköping (1284), Kalmar (approximately 1100), Ljungby (1936), Nybro (1932), Nässjö (1914), Oskarshamn (1856), Sävsjö (1947), Tranås (1919), Vetlanda (1920), Vimmerby (approximately 1400), Värnamo (1920), Västervik (approximately 1200), Växjö (1342)

National Parks[link]

Småland has three national parks:

• Store Mosse
• Norra Kvill
• Blå Jungfrun

Religion[link]

Ingatorp Old Church, Småland, Sweden, ca. 1895

In comparison with much of Sweden, Småland has a higher level of religious intensity and church participation.

In terms of Lutheran ecclesiastical boundaries, most of the province encompasses the diocese of Växjö. Parts of northern Småland are in the diocese of Linköping.

Småland is also known for its free churches.

Politically Småland is the strongest province for Kristdemokraterna (the Swedish Christian Democratic Party), and both the current leader Göran Hägglund and his predecessor Alf Svensson live in Jönköping Municipality in northern Småland.

Culture[link]

Farmhouses in Småland are typically red with white corners.

The Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus, sw. Carl von Linné, (1707–1778), often called the father of taxonomy or "The flower-king", was born in Älmhult in Småland. He gave the Twinflower its Latin name based on his own (Latin: Linnaea borealis), because of his particular fondness of it. The flower has become Småland's provincial flower.

Another notable person from Älmhult is Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the global concern IKEA. The name "Småland" is used as the name of the children's play areas at some IKEA stores.

Literature[link]

The Swedish emigration to North America during the 19th century, is best depicted in a suite of novels by author Vilhelm Moberg, which is also the basis for the musical Kristina from Duvemåla created by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA fame.

In her writing, children's book author Astrid Lindgren often portrayed scenes from her own childhood, growing up on a farm in Småland.

Smålandians[link]

In the 20th century, Småland has been known for its high level of entrepreneurship and low unemployment, especially in the Gnosjöregion. Some suggest the harsh conditions have throughout history forced the inhabitants of the region to be cunning, inventive and cooperative.

This is how the old Swedish encyclopedia Nordisk familjebok described the people:

the Smålandian is by nature awake and smart, diligent and hard-working, yet compliant, cunning and crafty, which gives him the advantage of being able to move through life with little means. ^[4]

A running joke, or stereotype, in Sweden, is that of the Smålandian being very economical, or even cheap. Ingvar Kamprad said that the Smålandian are seen as the Scotsmen of Sweden^[5]

Language[link]

The local language is a Swedish dialect known as Småländska (Smalandian). This may in turn be separated in two main branches, with the northern related to the Götaland dialects and the southern to the Scanian dialects^{[citation needed]}.

Sub-divisions[link]

For details, see: Districts of Småland

Small lands[link]

The small lands of Småland. The black and red spots indicate runestones. The red spots indicate runestones telling of long voyages.

After the unification of Sweden, around 800-1200 AD, Småland was for consistency divided into chartered cities and into hundreds.

Hundreds[link]

The historical sub-divisions of all Sweden's provinces were through hundreds(Swedish: härad). These were Småland's hundreds:

Sports[link]

Football in the province is administered by Smålands Fotbollförbund.

See also[link]

• Småland and the islands

Notes and references[link]

• article Småland from Nordisk Familjebok (1917). In Swedish.

External links[link]

• Visit Småland - Official tourist site (Kronoberg and Jönköping counties)
• Eastern Småland and Öland - Official tourist site (Kalmar County)
• VisitSweden - Sweden's official website for tourism and travel information (English)
• Travel Smaland

v t e Provinces (landskap) of Sweden Ångermanland Blekinge Bohuslän Dalarna Dalsland Gästrikland Gotland Halland Hälsingland Härjedalen Jämtland Lappland Medelpad Närke Norrbotten Öland Östergötland Scania (Skåne) Småland Södermanland Uppland Värmland Västerbotten Västergötland Västmanland

Coordinates: 57°06′04″N 14°53′53″E / 57.101°N 14.898°E / 57.101; 14.898

Søren Kragh-Jacobsen (born 2 March 1947 in Copenhagen) is a Danish film director, musician, and song writer. He was one of the founders and practitioners of the Dogme95 project, for creating films without artificial technology or techniques.

Early career[link]

Kragh-Jacobsen started out as a popular musician in Denmark, before attending film school in Prague. After returning to Denmark, he directed and co-wrote television productions.

He became one of the developers of the avant-garde film-making project Dogme95, based on creating films based only on reality, without artificial lighting and technology.

Marriage and family[link]

Kragh-Jacobsen is married. They live in Copenhagen with their two children.

Career[link]

His first feature film was Wanna See My Beautiful Navel? (1978). This was followed by the successful Rubber Tarzan (1981), Thunderbirds (1983), Emma's Shadow (1988), Shower of Gold (1988), The Boys from St. Petri (1991), The Island on Bird Street (1997), and his international break-through, dogme #3 Mifune's Last Song (1999), and Skagerrak (2003). Mifune's Last Song won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival.^[1] He has done some commercials and Danish/Swedish TV series.

Acclaimed internationally, he has received several major awards for his work, including the Memorial François Truffaut Award/Giffoni, an Emmy for The Island on Bird Street and a Silver Bear at the Berlinale film festival in Berlin for Mifune's Last Song. The Boys from St. Petri was screened out of competition at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.^[2]

References[link]

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2007)

Eddie Meduza (real name Errol Leonard Norstedt) (June 17, 1948–January 17, 2002) was a Swedish composer and musician working mainly in the rockabilly genre. Many of his songs were about alcohol, women, and cars, quite often with obscene lyrics. Sometimes they were also politically oriented, many aimed against the Swedish Social Democrats. He was also a popular performer of Raggare music. Norstedt's other identity was the far more vulgar E. Hitler.^[1] In this guise he generally recorded more sexually explicit material.

He is remembered now mostly for his more explicit work, but many of his songs are very ironic and some contain clever, albeit unpolished, social commentary, and earn his music something of a cult following. Norstedt also recorded serious rockabilly songs with a distinct 1950s flavour in his own studio, called Studio Ronka^[2] (ronka or runka is Swedish slang for masturbation, similar to wanking in English.). He played most of the instruments himself. He often got bad reviews from the press, notably Expressen journalist Mats Olsson, to which Norstedt replied by writing even more offensive songs, such as Kuken står på Mats Olsson (The cock stands on Mats Olsson), Mats Olsson är en jävla bög (Mats Olsson is a damn fag) and Mats Olsson runkar kuken (Mats Olsson is wanking his cock). He reportedly said that no matter what he did it was never good enough for the critics.^[3]

Despite this he was considered an accomplished musician and songwriter, in particular by Swedish record company executive Bert Karlsson who, with mixed results, tried to foster that talent in Norstedt. He never had a major breakthrough and this is commonly attributed to his increasingly obscene songwriting. According to himself, he developed alcoholism in the late 1970s during periods of intensive touring. After collapsing on his way to a show he changed his lifestyle completely.^[4] He sobered up and started working out. However, despite his efforts the years of alcohol abuse eventually took their toll and he died in his home. He is survived by his wife and children.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• 1975 - Errol
• 1979 - Eddie Meduza & The Roaring Cadillacs
• 1980 - Garagetaper
• 1981 - Gasen I Botten
• 1982 - För Jaevle Braa!
• 1982 - 21 Värsta !!!
• 1983 - Dåren E Lös
• 1984 - West A Fool Away
• 1985 - Ain't Got No Cadillac
• 1986 - Collection (2 LP)
• 1989 - Dom Dåraktigaste Dumheterna Digitalt (Röven 1)
• 1989 - Dom Dåraktigaste Dumheterna Digitalt (Röven 2)
• 1990 - På begäran
• 1990 - You Ain't My Friend
• 1991 - Collection (CD)
• 1995 - Harley Davidson
• 1997 - Silver Wheels
• 1998 - Värsting Hits
• 1999 - Väg 13
• 1999 - Dance Mix
• 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 1
• 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 2
• 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 3
• 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 4
• 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 5
• 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 6
• 2001 - Scoop
• 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 7
• 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 8
• 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 9
• 2002 - Just Like An Eagle
• 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 10
• 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 11
• 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 12
• 2003 - Live(s)! CD+DVD
• 2003 - 100% Eddie Meduza
• 2003 - Live(s)! CD
• 2004 - Rock'n Rebel
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 13
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 14
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 15
• 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 16
• 2005 - Raggare
• 2006 - Dragspelsrock
• 2006 - Dubbelidioterna

Singles[link]

• 1975 - Tretton År / Här Hemma
• 1978 - Punkjävlar / Oh What A Cadillac
• 1979 - Yea Yea Yea / Honey B
• 1979 - Såssialdemokraterna / Norwegian Boogie / Roll Over Beethoven
• 1981 - Volvo / 34:an
• 1981 - Gasen I Botten / Mera Brännvin
• 1982 - Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha / Tonight
• 1982 - Jätteparty I Kväll / Tonight
• 1982 - Jätteparty I Kväll / Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha
• 1982 - Sverige / Stupid Cupid
• 1983 - Fruntimmer Ska En Ha...
• 1983 - Fruntimmer Ska En Ha... / Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha?
• 1983 - Jag Vill Ha En Brud Med Stora Bröst / Leader Of The Rockers
• 1983 - Jag Vill Ha En Brud Med Stora Pattar / Leader Of The Rockers
• 1984 - Sveriges Kompani (Militärpolka) / Dunder Å Snus
• 1984 - Punkar'n Å Raggar'n / Hej På Dig Evert
• 1984 - Fisdisco / California Sun
• 1985 - The Wanderer / It's All Over Now
• 1988 - Småländsk Sommarnatt / Birds And Bees
• 1990 - Sweet Linda Boogie / Heart Don't Be A Fool

See also[link]

List of Swedes in music

External links[link]

• Official Web page (Swedish)
• John-Johns fan-site (Swedish)

References[link]