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Will Ferrell puts odd spin on Swedish Christmas

The Local Sweden
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Will Ferrell puts odd spin on Swedish Christmas
Will Ferrell and Alicia Vikander. Photo: Screenshot/The Tonight Show

Swedish Hollywood star Alicia Vikander and US married-to-a-Swede comic Will Ferrell have been spreading the Christmas spirit with a unique rendition of a famous Swedish drinking song.

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The video clip of the two actors toasting with glögg – traditional Swedish mulled wine – and performing a cheerful version of Sweden's most popular drinking song 'Helan Går' went viral on Friday after they appeared on US talkshow 'The Tonight Show' late on Wednesday.

The clip shows Vikander, from Gothenburg, and Ferrell, who is married to a Swede and owns a summer house in Gnesta, south-west of Stockholm, offering a series of tongue-in-cheek insults in Swedish.

"Jimmy är en idiot," says Ferrell in the video ("Jimmy is an idiot").

"That one I understood," replies talkshow host Jimmy Fallon.

"Jätteäcklig," insists Ferrell ("really disgusting").

"I'm…an athlete...?" tries an increasingly unnerved Fallon.

The pair also discuss the intricacies of the Swedish 'julbord', a Christmas smörgåsbord comprised of various foods, including pickled herring, gravlax, meatballs, rice pudding and ham.

READ ALSO: The Local's guide to Swedish Christmas

Ferrell has been married to his Swedish wife Viveca Paulin for more than 15 years and is well-versed in the often peculiar Nordic Christmas traditions.

The former Saturday Night Live funnyman has even said in interviews that he could imagine moving to Sweden for good, despite also being quoted by Reddit last year saying: “There’s a lot to hate about Sweden. Beautiful people, the high cheek bones, the fact that every person speaks better English than we do and the durability and great warranty plans on a brand new Volvo”.

Meanwhile, Vikander, 27, is one of Hollywood's new favourite sweethearts, with recent roles in blockbusters such as Academy Award-nominated Danish film 'A Royal Affair', opposite Benedict Cumberbatch as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 'The Fifth Estate', and more recently British sci-fi thriller 'Ex Machina', released earlier this year.

It is not the first time she has attempted to teach the world about Swedish traditions. Watch this video of her explaining Midsummer's Eve and Crayfish parties during her last appearance on The Tonight Show.

READ ALSO: Swedish actress speaks out on Hollywood pay gap

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