Our Journey to Sweden

   Arriving in Sweden at the start of a month-long trip, we reflect on the trajectory that got us here. Of course, our trip is integral to Carol’s heritage discovery process - exploring/discovering/establishing her Swedish roots. This journey to Carol’s “homeland,” Sweden, is not dissimilar to Carl’s reconnection to his Polish Jewish heritage, featuring two trips to Poland in 2022-23, and continuing in various ways to this day.

   Carol grew up two generations removed from her direct Swedish roots. Both her father, Jack, and grandfather Harold Oscar were born in the U.S. Carol’s great grandfather, Johan Oscar, immigrated at the age of seven with his parents in 1866, and Harold grew up in Lindsborg, Kansas, along with his brothers and sisters. With a name like ‘Cedarholm’ it wasn’t hard for Carol to be conscious of her Swedish roots, but regular family visits to her grandfather and to Lindsborg were significant in connecting Carol to her Swedish heritage. At her grandparent’s home she first heard Swedish spoken and had Swedish foods. Lindsborg, founded in 1869 by Swedish immigrants, is even today one-third Swedish, and shows it with Swedish-inspired architecture, including the iconic Dala horses painted on buildings and as figurines around the town. On a few occasions, Carol and the family joined in celebrating Svensk Hyllningsfest – a major festival held every two years in October to honor the town's Swedish pioneers and including parades, traditional music, dance, art, and Swedish cuisine.


Map by Brett Cedarholm



   Another big influence was the family research done by her father’s cousin, Gene Cedarholm, who grew up on a family farm near Lindsborg. Beginning in the 1980s, Gene did a lot of family research both in Sweden and Kansas, and shared manuscripts of his writing with Carol and others in the family. Carol became entranced with ancestor discovery and research, and spent many hours exploring this on Ancestry.com, and still does. Our trip here is to attend a family reunion, organized primarily by Carol.


Tshirt design by Carol Cedarholm


   Carl also has a great interest in Sweden, and it developed well before he met Carol. The Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP), socialist and closely aligned with labor unions, was the most powerful political force in Sweden for much of the 20th century. It developed a model of governance that is considered a “middle way” between capitalism and communism, featuring a political culture of compromise and consensus, a spirit of cooperation between labor and management, and an emphasis on strong social welfare policies built on a capitalist foundation. These policies include universal healthcare, free education, generous parental leave, strong social safety nets, a degree of shared workplace governance, a focus on gender equality and feminism, and a foreign policy based on decolonization and support for left wing movements. Sweden's success, both economically and socially, provided a concrete example that socialist-inspired policies could be achieved through democratic means. SAP's dominance has decreased in recent decades. While it is still the largest single party, Sweden is now governed by a conservative coalition that includes a powerful right-wing anti-immigrant party.


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