Swedish Christmas - a unique advent calendar app celebrating Sweden's Christmas traditions, announces CloseUp PR

Having earned lead performances in productions such as The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast and Les Misérables, professional soprano singer Mia Karlsson has also created the charming and innovative Advent Calendar app, Swedish Christmas.

Each day in the run up to Christmas, users can open a new 'window' on their advent calendar and experience a different example of Swedish songs and traditions. These high quality videos include music performed by some of Sweden's best musicians; the Malmö Chamber Choir, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, violinist Mats Edén and of course, vocalist Mia Karlsson. In charge of the arrangement and recording was P O Nilsson, Musical Director at Helsingborg City Theatre.  

As well as the songs of these performers, the videos also feature displays of festive traditions such as candle-making and dancing games. There are also tasty recipes for making traditional Swedish Christmas food and even an example of a Lucia procession which was recorded in Lund's Cathedral in Sweden.

Mia's personal favourite episode is a clip featuring children baking Lussekatter, the delicious Swedish saffron buns: 'While we watch the video of the children baking, they're singing the traditional song En Sockerbagare, which is so cute and really emotional.' To help put together the footage, Mia recruited the help of sound engineer and filmmaker Paul Suchanek, as well as recognised app-developers Johan Pihlgren and Bill Mårtensson, and graphic designer Åsa Skans.

The app itself was inspired by Mia's own difficulty struggling to hold on to much-loved traditions. Having lived in the UK for several years, she begun to realise how much she missed her native Sweden and its customs around Christmas; Swedish Christmas was the ideal passion project to counter this homesickness. She comments how it is sure to 'be popular with those who would like to stay close to their Swedish roots,' and even 'anyone who is curious about Sweden and its traditions.'

To download your copy of Swedish Christmas for your smart phone, head to:

App Store (£1.49) - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/swedish-christmas/id476554525?mt=8

Android Market (£1.70) - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.immediate_art.swedish_xmas

Once downloaded, the app offers 24 'windows' to be opened daily from the 1st of December, taking you one step closer to a traditional Swedish Christmas. It also provides text in both Swedish and English.

The app was originally released in 2011. Since then a few updates have been made and future plans are to carry on developing the calendar with new footage and songs. Those who have already purchased the app will receive free updates of its most recent version.

Any enthusiasts can also purchase the Advent Calendar's footage on DVD, or alternatively enjoy Mia's vocal talents through her CD, My Swedish Christmas. The album includes an array of Swedish Christmas classics such as Stilla Natt, Ett Barn är Fött and Marias Vaggsång.

The DVD and CD can be ordered online at:

www.traditionalsweden.com

TotallySwedish stores in London (http://www.totallyswedish.com)

For further details about retail outlets and how to order large quantities of the DVD and CD, please contact: director@immediate-art.com