Sweden is a land of contrasts； in the north， where forests fade into frozen ground， the influence of tradition and folklore① is strong. In the milder， more fertile south， the customs are basically those of continental Europe.
In Sweden， legends exist in people’s everyday life. Hunting legends， for example， tell how men have been turned into beasts by magic. It is thought unlucky to see a hare in the morning but to meet a wolf or a bear is an omen② that hunting will be good.
And there are some ancient customs about birth. When a child is born， the women of the family must carry it three times around its parents’ hearth③ and then examine it for birthmarks. If child is covered in the membrane④， that means it will always be accompanied by a guardian spirit. It is feared that children who lack the protection of a guardian spirit may be stolen by witches and turned into disembodied spirits.
A country wedding in Sweden is also very interesting. It is celebrated with traditional festivities. The bridegroom must formally ask for the bride’s hand in the barn， because this is where the dowry⑤ is stored. On the wedding day the women of the family help the bride to dress in national costume， which includes silver jewelry and a bridal crown. Meanwhile friends and male relations wait in the kitchen， drinking beer. When the bride is ready， all the relatives and guests form a procession， which is led by young men on horseback. They meet the groom’s procession at the church and greetings， symbolizing⑥ the kinship which now unites the two families， are exchanged. When the wedding service ends， the guests go to the bride’s house for the marriage feast.
① folkloren. 民间传说，民俗
② omenn. 预兆，兆头
③ hearthn. 炉床，壁炉地面
④ membranen. 薄膜，膜状物
⑤ dowryn. 嫁妆
⑥ symbolizev. 象征，标志
瑞典的民俗
瑞典是一个南北反差很大的国家。在北方，森林逐渐消失为冰冻的土地，在这里，传统和民俗有很深的影响；而在气候比较温和、土壤更加肥沃的南方，基本上流行的是欧洲大陆的风俗习惯。
在瑞典，人们的日常生活中有许多传说。比如，狩猎的传说就讲述了魔法如何把人变成野兽的故事。人们认为一大早看到野兔是会倒霉的，但如果碰到狼或熊则是一个好兆头，因为它将预示着狩猎的顺利。
关于孩子的出生，瑞典人也有一些古老的习俗。孩子出生后，这家的女人们必须抱着他，绕父母的壁炉转三圈，然后检查他的胎记。如果孩子的身上带有膜状一样的东西，那就意味着，守护神将会一直伴随其左右。人们担心，没有守护神保护的孩子有可能会被女巫偷走，变成游魂。
瑞典的乡村婚礼也很有趣，一般通过传统的形式来庆祝。新郎必须在谷仓正式向新娘求婚，因为嫁妆就放在这里。结婚那天，家中的女人们帮助新娘穿上民族服装，其中包括银制的饰物和一顶新娘花冠。与此同时，朋友们和男性亲戚们则在厨房里，一边等候，一边喝着啤酒。当新娘准备就绪，由年轻人骑马在前面领路，所有的亲戚和客人们随后列队前往。他们在教堂与新郎一方的迎亲队伍汇合后，双方互相祝贺，象征着连接彼此的亲戚关系正式形成。结婚仪式结束后，客人们便回到新娘家里参加婚宴。
