Text:
This tradition involves bringing in a Swedish apple cake with candles on it to the birthday person and waking them up with first the American Happy Birthday song:
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear [the name of the person]
Happy birthday to you
Followed by the Swedish Happy birthday song:
Swedish:
Ja må hon leva!
Ja, må hon leva!
Ja, må han leva!
Ja, må hon leva uti hundrade år!
Javisst ska hon leva!
Javisst ska hon leva!
Javisst ska hon leva uti hundrade år!
Ett fyrfaldigt leve för [the name of the person], hon leve,
hurra, hurra, hurra, hurra!
Transliterate/translation:
Yes, may he (she) live!
Yes, may he (she) live!
Yes, may he (she) live for a hundred years!
Of course, he (she) will live,
Of course, he (she) will live,
Of course, he (she) will live for a hundred years!
Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray!
If any of the candles are not blown out that is the number of new partners that person will have in the next year of their life.
Context:
The informant is the daughter of a Swedish immigrant who came to the US for college and ended up staying here and marrying an American. This tradition is done at every birthday by all people present.
Analysis:
For me, this indicates the merging of cultures, Swedish and American. As neither one wants to let their culture go the traditions are combined to form a new one. The Swedish song is very common throughout Sweden and is not unique to the family, however, combining the two songs is something only done by the half Swedish half American side of the family. In addition, the Swedish apple cake with candles on it was part of the Swedish tradition as well as the idea of the number of remaining lit candles correlated with the new partners. The reason for the keeping of these traditions is to preserve a sense of identity and culture. All of the grandchildren participate very strongly in all of the traditions and are proud of their Swedish heritage. Even when new people like significant others join the family it is very important to keep these traditions, although the addition of the American Birthday song may also be there to soften the entry.