Today is nyårsafton and everybody, their mother and their dog are getting ready for some mad partying tonight. Yet, I am staying home, because jag är förkyld.

Yes, I have a nasty cold, and so there’s no partying for me. I will stay at home, watch TV, and then watch fireworks, which they normally tend to fire in the playground right behind my house. I can watch the show from the comfort of my bedroom window. I will also do some designated driving for my friends in the wee hours of the morning.

But before you too disappear into your Systembolaget-fueled New Year’s eve madness, take a look at these two examples:

• nyårsafton (def. –aftonen, pl. –aftnar, def. pl. –aftnarna) – årets sista dag – New Year’s Eve, 31 December
• nyårsdagen (pl. -dagar, def. pl. -dagarna) - årets första dag – New Year’s Day – 1 January

See anything odd about this second word? No? Look again.

We don’t say “nyårsdag” but “nyårsdagen” – this word exists in singular only in the definite form.

And that’s probably the limit of our intellectual effort for today.

Remember, if you’re going to party hard – have someone else do the driving afterwards, or call a cab. It may cost an arm and a leg tonight, that’s for sure, but it’s better to start the year in one piece, safe and sound. And besides, nyårsdagen from the inside of a jail cell is not all that exciting.

Have a safe New Year’s eve and a fabulous New Year!
Kramar,
Anna