Fjuckby

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Fjuckby
Country Sweden
Municipality Uppsala Municipality
County Uppsala County
Province Uppland
Charter
Area
 - Total 0.18 km² (0.1 sq mi)
Population (2000)
 - Total 65
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Location of Fjuckby
Location of Fjuckby

Fjuckby (help·info) (IPA: ['fjɵkːˌbyː]; UN/LOCODE:SE UPP) is a village in Uppsala Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden, located about 15 km north of the central city Uppsala along European route E4. The village has a population of 65 people (as of 2000) within an area of 18 hectares. Known as a site for runestones, the village's name has generated worldwide interest in the village.

Contents

[edit] History

Prior to the 1930s, the village was known as Fjukeby.[1] In the 1930s, the spelling of the name of this small historic town was changed to Fjuckby.[2] With globalization, many English-speaking visitors traveled to Fjuckby out of amusement at the name in order to ridicule it.[3] Inhabitants of Fjuckby endured years of ridicule over the name, which is not only similar to "fuck", a common English expletive, but includes the word "juck", a Swedish equivalent of the same expletive.[1][4]

Over time, residents grew weary from constantly having to take a tiresome defensive stance, and suffered from constant teasing.[5][1] In addition, the name Fjuckby made it difficult to sell property or run a successful business.[1] Globalization has made those associated with Fjuckby an international laughing stock and the butt of rude English-language jokes.[6]

In December 2006 the inhabitants of Fjuckby applied to change the name of their village.[5] The request was sent to the Swedish government surveyors' office, and requested that the office grant permission for the name to be changed back to Fjukeby.[1][7] The request complained of suffering from an epidemic of "weariness, embarrassment and conditioned shame."[5] In particular, the place name 'Fjuckby' arouses ridicule, teasing and hilarity in the general public and spontaneously and repeatedly leads to associations concerning certain carnal activities between people and between animals.[1][7] The change was not allowed as only 15 of 50 residents were in favour of the change.

[edit] Location

Fjuckby within Uppsala County

Fjuckby is located north of Uppsala in Uppsala County. Uppsala County is located on Sweden's east coast, where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. (Coordinates: 59°58′N, 17°36′E.)

[edit] Culture

Fjuckby contains the runestone U 1016, on which the location of death might be inscribed to commemorate the person at home.[8] A recently discovered runic section inside a main runic band on a runestone in Fjuckby contains an inscription that commemorates a son who died in Greece.[8] In particular, the stone reads:

Captain Liut erected this stone in memory of his sons. One was called Aki, who was lost overseas. <?) captained a merchant ship. He reached Greek harbours. At home he died.[9]

In a study by Fred Wulf, Wulf proposes that the added message emphasizes that the sponsor's other son Hafnir died at home.[8]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f O'Mahony, Paul. (December 14, 2006) The Local. Residents of Fjuckby demand new name.
  2. ^ Daily Record (Scotland) (December 16, 2006) Bad spell for village. Section: News, Page 5
  3. ^ Olbermann, Keith. (December 14, 2006) MSNBC News. 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Dec. 14. Part 1. (reporting, " But now, here are COUNTDOWN‘s top three newsmakers of this day. ... Number two, residents of a small historic town in Sweden who have to get government permission to change the name of the place after years of silent suffering -- Fjuckby, F-J-U-C-K-B-Y, Fjuckby. They say globalization has made this necessary. Too many English-speaking visitors coming by Fjuckby and giggling, or worse.")
  4. ^ Gold Coast Bulletin (December 16, 2006) Call for F-Word Change; Village voices opposition to name that's no joke. Section: B - Main; page 103.
  5. ^ a b c The Independent (December 15, 2006) Fjuckby villagers tire of ridicule. Section: EUROPE; Page 30. (writing, " Residents of a Swedish hamlet complain that they are suffering from an epidemic of "weariness, embarrassment and conditioned shame" and need official help to escape being constantly "forced to take a tiresome defensive stance". The inhabitants of Fjuckby say that the global spread of English means that they suffer constant teasing and low self-esteem. Now they want permission to change the village name -to Fjukeby. After enduring years of ridicule the inhabitants of the Swedish village of Fjuckby have handed in an application to Swedish authorities to have the hamlet's name changed to Fjukeby.")
  6. ^ Kranes, Marsha. (December 19, 2006) New York Post Weird but true. Section: News; Page 37.
  7. ^ a b Reuters (December 14, 2006) Tired of ridicule, Fjuckby seeks name change.
  8. ^ a b c Wicker, Nancy L. (July 1, 2000) Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study. Blandade runstudier 2. Volume 72; Issue 2, Page 232.
  9. ^ Ian, Raymond. (1995) Chronicles of the Vikings: records, memorials, and myths. Published by University of Toronto Press. Page 84. ISBN 0-80207-165-1

[edit] External links

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Municipalities of Uppsala County
Counties of Sweden · Sweden

Coordinates: 59°58′N, 17°36′E