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Straight-up Scandinavia: Understanding the smörgåsbord
Smorgasbord is a word commonly used in the English language. The Merriam Webster Dictionary describes it as "a luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of foods and dishes (as hors d'oeuvres, hot and cold meats, smoked and pickled fish, cheeses, salads, and relishes)." You can even use the word to describe a random mixture of things. But let's take a look at its real meaning.In Swedish the word is spelled smörgåsbord and breaks down into two parts: smörgås and bord. Smörgås of course means "sandwich" and bord means "table." Scandinavians are big on open faced sandwiches and it is no surprise that one of their contributions to the global culinary vocabulary has to do with exactly that. This means that a true Scandinavian smorgasbord will always have a good selection of bread, butter and cheese, the beginnings of an excellent open faced sandwich. The first smorgasbord in America was seen at the 1939 World's Fair held in New York, when Sweden's delegation served up a traditional buffet as part of the exhibition. The American's loved it so much they got rid of the pesky dots and rings over the "o" and "a" and americanized the word into its current state.
Although American lovers of Nordic culture like to use the word liberally, Scandinavians rarely use the word smorgasbord to refer to their buffets, and it is certainly not a staple of everyday life. Instead, the fancy buffet normally consisting of various fish like herring and salmon, even surströmming, cold meats and pates is saved for large gatherings, festive parties and special occasions. The most common variant on the theme is the julbord, the standard Christmas buffet which is served everywhere from family dinners to classy restaurants during the holiday season.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Sweden, Foreign Language
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael Feb 24th 2008 4:39PM
Just about the only true smörgåsbords you'll find in Sweden are around Christmastime, when they're billed as julbord (Christmas tables).
The ferry lines across the Baltic have nightly smörgåsbords, as well.
Even more fun Swedish language fact: Smörgås not only means sandwich, but it can be parsed further to mean "butter goose."
Anna Brones Feb 24th 2008 10:30PM
ah yes.... butter goose... I love deciphering Swedish words!
DENNY Feb 25th 2008 4:52AM
WHATS THE BIG DEAL AT WHAT THE YOUNG LADY WAS WEARING I'VE SEEN AIRLINE STUARTESS WEAR JUST AS PRVOCTIVE CLOTHING WHEN I USE TO FLY WHEN I WAS FLYING TO THAILAND WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY WE FLEW ON ORIENTAL AIRLINES THE AIRLINE STUARTRESS WORE MINI SKRITS SO SHAOT THAT YOU COULD SEE EVEYTHING THEY HAD UNDER THOSE SKIRTS THEY WOULD OF HAD EMBRASSED THE POPE THEY WERE SO SHORT YOU COULD EVEN SEE THEIR CUNT HAIR AND LIPS THEY HAD THOSE BRAS ON THAT PUSHED THEIR BREAST UP HIGH AND IT BARELY DID COVER THEIR NIPPLES SOME YOU COULD EVEN SEE THEIR NIPPLES AND THAT WAS BACK IN THE MIDDEL 60'S THE WAY WOMEN OF TODAY DRESS WHY DID THAT AIRLINE PITCH SUCH A BITCH ABOUT THE WAY SHE WAS DRESSED MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T SCREW THE PILOT YOU THINK ?