We’re the Griswoldsson’s Family Christmas ski package in the Swedish Alps (no, they don’t really have alps, but the mountain range between Sweden and Norway is the best they got and not too shabby for some family skiing.) This is the first year our collective family (we’re not that big a bunch has decided to try outsourcing the julafton smörgåsbord (Christmas Eve buffet) and make it a ski holiday.
The snow gods have granted every man,woman and child’s wish to make this Christmas white, but it has come at a hidden price probably demanded by the lesser revered cold gods. The thermometer reads -25C, that’s -13F to you all on the Fahrenheit . It’s the coldest I’ve yet experienced in Sweden and to my own surprise, we’re surviving it nicely. Bundle yourself and kids up in enough layers and it’s pleasant enough. Snow-covered fir trees and golden hues from sun barely cresting the hills makes a most beautiful backdrop.
Today ’tis the night before Christmas, also known as Julafton. Today’s THE day of Christmas in Sweden. Tomorrow, the 25th, Juldagen, is merely a day in the aftermath and the first day of the post-Christmas sale day. Or for most of us at the foot of a ski slope, a longer ski day (today all the lifts closed at 1pm).
Without our knowing about it, friends of the family told us that we’d be celebrating with one of Sweden’s biggest soccer/football heros, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I want to find an equally enormous Boston sports hero to paint a picture of how popular he is, but to my own embarrassment I am not current on today’s Boston sports heroes. Perhaps someone can give a suggestion.
Anyway, Zlatan is at our hotel with his family. 
I had a sighting yesterday morning. What I love about Sweden, (and I’m sure most Swedish celebrities would agree,) is that people respect the privacy of Sweden’s famous for the most part. While there were a few gawkers (yes, me among them) no one approached him. The one “paparazzi” shot I found when doing a google search was from a rather respectable distance.
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One celebrity who won’t be left alone today is Jultomten. 
God Jul till er alla. And a Merry Christmas tomorrow Boston!
God Jul, Merry Christmas to you from America to Sweden. I would say the football star is comparable to David Ortiz from Boston. Hope that helps?
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Merry Christmas to you all from me.
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God Jul from Canada. Unlike the Americans, we all know who Zlatan Ibrahimovich is here. And I would definately like some of that under my tree!
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I enjoyed this post Abhishek. It was certainly creative and not what I was expecting when I clicked on the title – a title I might add, which is quite good. I know I had to find out what ways ‘guaranteed’ I could grow my list.
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That’s perfect that people can take the business loans moreover, that opens up completely new opportunities.
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Thanks for sharing!
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