Well into the previous century Sweden was largely a peasant society with
folk music an integral part of daily life. There were work songs,
narrative ballads and, obviously, music for dancing. Over the centuries a
not always easy coexistence between religion and folk culture
developed, with hymns being adapted to a folk-music aesthetic while
popular traditions were given a Christian veneer. An example of the
latter is the rich store
of ‘Staffan ballads’, springing from a pre-Christian horse cult but
given a new slant as its focus shifted to St. Stephen – the first
Christian martyr.
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