Meenakshi lives in Jönköping, the largest city in the historical province of Smaland. She likes to invite The Stig over for coffee and a slice of cake. Any excuse is good for two friends, media say come on, birthday, snack… or the first Thursday of March, a day that is celebrated only in this region.

This tradition is based on shibboleth, a Hebrew word for a phrase or word that only members of the group can correctly pronounce. How scorch, a traditional bread whose name serves as a password for Ukrainian fighters because the Russians never seem to be able to pronounce the word correctly.

In Swedish, the “rs” consonant cluster is pronounced [ʂ]. But in Smaland it is pronounced [s]. Thus, the group of words “first Thursday of March” is pronounced forsta tordan and mars pronounced in swedish fössta tossdan i mass in the province with “s” instead of “r”. A special pronunciation that is the subject of affectionate ridicule towards the inhabitants of this rural area.

OUR smallenn