G.076.02-03 - "Congratulations Are in Order" (1915) - Sepia Saturday 603

 Name-Day and Birthday Greetings, and a French Military Medal (1915)

G.076.02

803. Route de MONACO à NICE, la Baie d'Eze. - N.D. Phot.

To: Monseieur Gustaf Ekman, Storegården, Fristad, Sverige - Suède (via Suisse)
From: Gerda (Lyon, 2.6.1915)

Lyon d. 1 juni 1915
Sänder dig hjärtliga lyckönskningar på Gustafs-dagen. [6 juni] Hoppas det kommer i tid. Undrar mycke var du är nu, det är så länge sedan jag hörde från dig. Kära hälsningar, syster Gerda. - Skriv snart är du snäll!

Lyon 1 June 1915
Sending you best wishes for Gustaf's day [=Gustaf's name day in the Swedish calendar, 6 June]. I hope it will arrive on time. I wonder where you are now, it's been so long since I last heard from you. Love, sister Gerda. - Please write soon!

---

1 June, 1915. Gerda is still in Lyon, France. The family has always celebrated her brother's name-day on 6 June (evident by lots of name-day greetings in Gustaf's postcard album from previous years). For this occasion she doesn't want to send a card with images of La Guerre (the war), but chooses one with nice views - maybe bought on her pre-war travels. 

It's been so long since she last heard from her brother that she doesn't feel sure if he's still living in Brålanda. So she sends the card to the family farm at Fristad. Should he not be there, she trusts that they will forward it to him. She also does what she can to get the card sent to Sweden (Suède) via Switzerland (Suisse)  - another neutral country - rather than via Germany. (Possibly she also has in mind that Sweden and Switzerland often get mixed up by people of other nationalities, so by writing "Suéde via Suisse" she may also be hoping to point out the difference.) As the other postmark is illegible, we have no clue which way the card really took to Sweden, though - or when it arrived. 

---

1 juni 1915. Gerda befinner sig fortfarande i Lyon i Frankrike. I familjen har de alltid firat Gustafs namnsdag den 6 juni (det framgår av otaliga namnsdags-hälsningar från tidigare år i Gustafs vykortsalbum). Som gratulationskort väljer hon ett annat motiv än de från La Guerre (kriget) - antagligen köpt på någon av hennes resor före kriget. 

Det är så länge sedan hon sist hörde från sin bror att hon inte känner sig säker på om han fortfarande bor kvar i Brålanda. Hon väljer att skicka kortet till Storegården i Fristad, familjens "fasta punkt", där den äldste brodern Carl bor tillsammans med faderns änka och de yngre halvsyskonen. Om Gustaf inte befinner sig där, så vet hon att de kommer att eftersända kortet till honom. Hon gör också vad hon kan för att få kortet sänt till Sverige (Suède) via Schweiz (Suisse) - också neutralt i kriget - istället för via Tyskland. (Möjligen har hon också i åtanke att Sverige och Schweiz ofta förväxlas av personer av annan nationalitet . Genom att skriva "Sùede via Suisse" kan hon ha försökt vara övertydlig.) Eftersom den andra poststämpeln är oläsbar så framgår det dock tyvärr inte vilken väg kortet i själva verket tog, eller hur lång tid. Men kom fram gjorde det i alla fall!

G.076.03

Gen. Dubail - Gen. Joffre - Gen. de Maud'huy - Gen. de Pouydraguin
La Récompense Impromptue.
La Médaille Militaire accordée au chasseur Lamadon

Den improviserade belöningen.

Militärmedaljen tilldelas jägarsoldaten Lamadon

The impromptu Reward.

The Military Medal awarded to chasseur* Lamadon

*Chasseur, a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry (chasseurs à pied) or light cavalry (chasseurs à cheval) to denote troops trained for rapid action. [Wikipedia]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Médaille_militaire 

The Médaille militaire is a military decoration of the French republic. During WWI, 230.000 such medals were awarded - which is probably why I fail to find Lamadon, and what he did to deserve it. I guess he must have been kind of famous at the time, though - since the postcard doesn't bother to provide any further explanation. However, there are English Wikipedia articles about the generals Dubail, Joffre and de Maud'huy; and one in French about de Pouydraguin. 

*Footnote: When I first tried to interpret/decipher the meaning of the French text of this card, I happened to read chasseur as ”chausseur”, which means shoemaker. It didn't make much sense, but on the other hand, all the men on the card were wearing rather elegant boots ... An observant reader made me aware of my mistake, though, so I have now revised my original text above! ;-) 

Under andra världskriget delades det ut 230.000 franska Militärmedaljer. Därför är det kanske så konstigt att mina sökningar inte ger något svar på varför just Lamadon belönades med en sådan. De fyra generalerna återfinns däremot i Wikipedia-artiklar på engelska och franska.

*Fotnot: När jag först försökte tolka innebörden av den franska texten på det här kortet, så råkade jag läsa chasseur som "chausseur", vilket betyder "skomakare". Det verkade lite konstigt, men å andra sidan hade alla männen på bilden eleganta stövlar på sig... En observant läsare gjorde mig dock uppmärksam på mitt misstag i översättningen, så jag har nu reviderat texten ovan!  ;-)

Galerie Patriotique - A.N. Editeur
visé Paris N au verso

Chambre Synd. Francaise
des édites de la carte postale ill.

To: Herr Gustaf Ekman, Backa, Brålanda (Sverige) - Suéde (via Suisse)
From: Gerda (Lyon, 28.6.1915)

K. Bror! Sänder sig de hjärtligaste lyckönskningar på din födelsedag. Hoppas det kommer i tid. Har du fått mitt brev och kort, det är så längesedan jag hörde från dig. Kära hälsningar, syster Gerda. Skriv snart!

Dear Brother, Sending you my heartfelt best wishes for your birthday. I hope [the card] will arrive on time. Have you received my letter and card, it's been so long since I heard from you. Love, sister Gerda. Write soon!

3.7.1915 fyllde Gustaf 37 år.

3.7.1915 was Gustaf's 37th birthday.

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Linking to Sepia Saturday 603

G.061.01 - G.063.03 / Gustaf-dagen 6 juni 1913

Postcards sent to Gustaf Ekman at Värmlands Nysäter in June 1913,
to celebrate his Name Day (6 June). (Cf similar post for June 1912.)

Heartfelt congratulations on Gustaf's Day 6/6 1913, from Edla Jansson.

Heatfelt congratulations on Gustaf's Day 6/6 1913 from Sally Emanuelsson
(Gustaf's younger half-sister = my grandmother, 13 years old in 1913)

Heartfelt congratulations on your Name Day 6/6 1913, from Selma Emanuelsson.
Much love from all of us.

(Selma was Gustaf's step-mother, and my great grandmother.)

View from Mullsjö

Heartfelt congratulations on your Name Day, with love from your sister Ester.
As you can see, I'm now in Mullsjö. Write some time soon, please.

Greetings on Gustaf's Day from Lydia, Oscar, Anna

Heartfelt congratulations on your Name Day 6/6 1913 from Carl. Gerda also sends her love. I will write a letter soon. Heard from Gerda that you didn't get my letter.

(Carl was Gustaf's older brother at the family farm, Storegården in Fristad)

 

Heartfelt Congratulations on Gustaf's Day from (Emma?)

Heartfelt Congratulations on Gustaf's Day from Edla

The illustration on this card was made by Jenny Nyström, a famous Swedish illustrator. The verse rhymes in Swedish; the meaning is something like: "You may be as sly as a snake, but you have managed to win my affection"

The card was sent anonymously - but comparing the handwriting to the previous card, I'd say Edla sent it... Was there a romance going on between them? 

Hjularöds slott

From: E Osbeck (11 July 1913)

Best wishes from Storegården (Fristad).  A G and E Osbeck.

G.053.02 - G.055.03 Gustaf's Name Day 1912 (6 June) / Sepia Saturday 594

Namnsdagshälsningar från 6 juni 1912, adresserade till Gustaf på Storegården i Fristad (dit han återvänt 1911 efter 8-9 år i Amerika). Gustaf är nu snart 34 år gammal (hans födelsedag var i juli). Några av avsändarna är okända för mig (Hilda, Anna, E Obk, A.B.)

Name Day greeting cards from 6 June 1912, addressed to Gustaf at Storegården in Fristad (the family farm in Sweden, to which he had returned in 1911, after 8-9 years in America).
Gustaf is now nearly 34 years old (his birthday was in July). 
Some of the senders are unknown to me (Hilda, Anna, E. Obk, A.B.)

From Gerda (sent from Floby 3 June 1912).
Like Gustaf, Gerda also returned to Sweden from America in 1911.

Dear brother, I have now decided to go home on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. I'll be on the train at noon. I'm going to Falköping tomorrow, Erik is graduating then. Best wishes to all of you from all of us. / Sister Gerda / Floby, 3 June 1912.

Gerda is writing from Floby, which means she was with their older sister Emma and family. Erik was Emma's and Brynolf's  son. (I don't have his date of birth.) When Gerda says she'll be going 'home', she is obviously referring to the farm in Fristad, where Gustaf is now living with their older brother Carl, their father's widow Selma and her three children: Hildur (Selma's daughter from her first marriage, born 1892), Sally (my grandmother, born 1900) and Nils (the youngest, born 1902). (Samuel, the father, had died in 1907, while Gustaf and Gerda were living in America.) 

One reason for Gerda to go and visit the family at the farm that week may have been Gustaf's 'name day', which was/is 6th June. There have been several Swedish kings called Gustaf. Gustaf I of Sweden was elected king of Sweden on 6th June, 1523. It was celebrated as a sort of informal national day long before it got official status as national flag day in 1916. Not until 1983 did it get the official status of national day - and it took even longer before it was made a public holiday (2005). 

Anyway - it is obvious from Gustaf's postcard album, that name days were widely celebrated in Sweden in the early 20th century. In 1912 (when he had been back in Sweden about a year), he received quite a pile of name day cards from family and friends. (Following below.)

Från Gerda (Gustaf's syster, som också återvände till Sverige från Amerika 1911)
(Poststämplat i Floby, 3 juni 1912 - som var en måndag)

Käre bror! Nu har jag bestämt mig för att resa hem på onsdag istället för på tisdag. Kommer då på middagståget. Jag tänker resa till Falköping imorgon. Erik har examen då. Kära hälsningar till Er alla från oss alla. / Syster Gerda / Floby 3 juni .12.

Gerda skriver från Floby, vilket betyder att hon var hos äldsta systern Emma med familj. Erik var Emmas och Brynolfs son (jag saknar hans födelsedatum). När Gerda skriver att hon ska resa hem, så menar hon uppenbarligen till Storegården i Fristad, där Gustaf nu bodde tillsammans med deras bror Carl, deras fars änka Selma, och hennes tre barn: Hildur (Selmas dotter från hennes första äktenskap), Sally (min farmor, född 1900) och Nils (den yngste). (Fadern, Samuel, dog 1907, medan Gustaf och Gerda bodde i Amerika.)

En orsak för Gerda att resa hem och hälsa på familjen just den här veckan i juni kan ha varit Gustafs namnsdag den 6 juni. Detta datum firades också som något av en informell nationaldag även innan den utsågs till Svenska flaggans dag år 1916. Status som officiell nationaldag fick dagen inte innan 1983 - och först 2005 blev den även nationell helgdag. 

Hur som helst visar Gustafs vykortsalbum på att namnsdagar uppmärksammades minst lika mycket som födelsedagar i börjand av 1900-talet. År 1912, när han varit tillbaka i Sverige ungefär ett år, mottog han en hel liten hög med namnsdagshälsningar från familj och vänner.

From: Elin & Oscar  (Gustaf's brother and sister-in-law) / Norrköping, 5.6.1912

Hjärtlig lyckönskan på namnsdagen och många hälsningar till Eder samtl[iga]. / Elin
Instämmer i föreg.! / Oscar

Our warmest congratulations on your name day, and greetings to all of you. / Elin
Agreeing with the previous speaker! / Oscar

Hjärtlig gratulation från Hilda

Congratulations from Hilda

Sent from Norrköping, 5.6.1912

Hjärtlig gratulation och många hälsn. från Anna
Congratulations and many greetings from Anna
Sent from Norrköping, 5.6.1912

6.6.-12
Hälsning på namnsdagen! / E Obk.
Greetings on your name day! / E Obk.

På Namns-dagen den 6/6. 1912 av H.L. (Hildur Lundgren?)
On your Name Day 6/6 1912 from H.L.

(As there is no sign of this card having been sent by post, I think H.L. is probably his step-sister Hildur Lundgren,  also living at the farm.)

På Namns-dagen den 6/6 1912 from A.B.
On your Name Day 6/6 1912 - A.B.

Sent from Malung 5.6 1912

Hjärtligt gratuleras du på Namnsdagen den 6/6 1912 / Syster Ester - Hoppas Ni mår godt hemma. Hälsa Gerda om hon har kommit. Skall snart skrifva brev. Jag önskar jag vore hemma i Fristad nu och finge vara i skogen något, här kan vi ej alls vara ute. 

Kära hälsningar till Eder alla.

Congratulations on your Name Day 6/6 1912 / Sister Ester - I  hope you are all well at home. Give my love to Gerda if she has come. I will write a letter soon. I wish I were back home in Fristad now and were able to be out in the forest a bit, here we cannot be out at all. Best wishes to you all.

Malung is a small town in the province of Dalarna in Sweden. I wonder what Ester was doing up there? As far as I know, she lived in the province of Västergötland; at this time in her life probably in Mullsjö near Jönköping. So her stay in Malung must have been temporary. But if it was a holiday, it sounds a bit odd that she wasn't able to go out at all!

Linking to: Sepia Saturday 594

G.029.02 - "Home Sweet Home"

 

To: Herr Gustaf Ekman, Galeton, Potter Co, Pa, Nort America - Box 113
From: Ester (his sister in Sweden) (June 1905)

Hjärtliga lyckönskningar sändes dig på namnsdagen [6 juni]
och kära hälsningar från syster Ester
Skall snart skrifva bref

Congratulations on your name-day [6 June]
and heartfelt greetings from your sister Ester
Will write a letter soon

Comment

Gustaf's name-day in the Swedish almanac is 6th June, in remembrance of Gustav Vasa, or Gustav I, being elected king of Sweden on 6th June, 1523. The day has been celebrated in Sweden as a kind of national day since 1893, even if it did not get official status as national day until as late as 1983.

The birch tree and forest path on this post card remind very much of Sweden in early June; and I suspect Ester had the same thought, and wanted to send her brother a card that would remind him of 'home' at that particular time of year. 

Whether the picture on the card is actually from Sweden is hard to tell, though, considering the very international back of the card:

Name Day & Easter Greetings (1908) - from Gerda's Postcard Album

 R.018.01 - A Name Day Card

Gerda's Name Day in the Swedish Almanac was/is 23 March.

To: Gerda Ekman (Chicago)
From: Anna Johnson (mars 1908) 

Gerda gratuleras på det hjärtligaste af en gammal vän på Gerda-dagen
den 23 mars 1908. / Anna Johnson
Kom och se mig någon gång

Heartfelt greetings to you from an old friend on your name-day, 23 May 1908.
Anna Johnson
Come and see me some time!

Comment:
1/ This card must have been sent in an envelope. (No address or trace of a stamp.)
2/ The surname indicates that either she got married, or she changed her Swedish name to sound more American. The phrasing of her invitation to Gerda also indicates that she has been in America for a while, as she is mixing English and Swedish expressions.

Kommentar:
1/ Detta kort måste ha skickats i kuvert, då det saknar både adress och spår av frimärke.
2/ Anna Johnson: Hette hon Jonsson i Sverige eller har hon gift sig med en Johnson? Att döma av uttrycket "kom och se mig" så har hon i alla fall bott i Amerika länge nog för att blanda sin svenska med engelska...

Easter Sunday in 1908 was 19th April

R.019.02

To: Miss Gärda Ekman, 3328 Michigan Ave, City*
From: Anna (Chicago, 18 April, 1908) [Lincoln Park?] 

Happy Easter to you from Anna

Comment: It seems this card was posted within Chicago. The name on the cancellation was probably Lincoln Park? Possibly this card is from the same Anna who wrote the name-day card above, but hard to say for sure.

R.018.02

To: Miss Gerda Ekman, 3328 Michigan ave., Chicago Ill.
From: Gustaf (Galeton, Pa), 17 April 1908

Hello syster! Lycka till, en glad påsk med många ägg o många vackra pojkar. Jag mår bra, hoppas du gör detsamma.

Hello sister! I wish you good luck and a happy Easter with many eggs and  many pretty boys. I am well and hope you are, too.

Comment: The card is not signed, but from the greeting and postmark I conclude it's from Gerda's brother Gustaf, who was living in Galeton, Pennsylvania, at the time.

Kommentar: Kortet är inte undertecknat, men att döma av hälsningen "hello syster" och poststämpeln (GA--- PA) är avsändaren hennes bror Gustaf i Galeton, Pennsylvania.

R.019.01

To: Miss Gerda Ekman, 3328 Michigan ave, Chicago Ill.
From: Helén (Rockford, 18 April, 1908)

Rockford, 18th April 08
Kära Gerda, Jag skäms att jag icke har skrifvit förut men bättre sent än aldrig. Jag mår bra. Julia o Agnes äro också friska. Hoppas du skrifver snart igen. Treflig påsk. från Helén

Rockford, 18th April 08
Dear Gerda, I'm sorry that I haven't written earlier, but better late than never. I am well. Julia and Agnes are also healthy. I hope you will write again soon. Happy Easter from Helén

Comment: From the same Helén who sent Easter Bunnies in October 1907 (R.011.01)