#skiferien

»Sportlov« literally means »sport holiday« or »Sportferien« in German. If you use an ordinary translator it is often translated as »winter holidays« or »ski holidays«. Apparently it is a holiday in the winter season and it has the appreciation for doing winter sports.

In Sweden the Sportlov starts for some communes in the 7th week and ends in the 11th for others. Today is the 9th week of the year and Stockholms län’s pupils (greater area of Stockholm) have the pleasure of an entire school free week.

How did that come about?
Due to a shortage of coal, which was the main heating device in the 1940s it got necessary to save energy. So the government decided to establish a school free week for children but also to offer many outdoor sport activities as compensation.  

Later in the 1950s also the infection rate increased during the harsh Swedish winters and that was another reason to close schools to avoid contamination.

Today the Sportlov still exists but lost its primary meaning for saving energy. The tourist offices of Sweden offer a wide variety of activities not necessarily winter sports for outdoors. Also many Swedish families use the week for vacations abroad.

Pic:
Espen Sundve: http://flic.kr/p/4BkY4R

References:
http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportlov_i_Sverige