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Bakelse-Jeanna facts for kids

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Bakelse-Jeanna
Bakelse-Jeanna in an 1820 book illustration. Copper plate engraving by Johan Gustaf Ruckman

Bakelse-Jeanna (1702–1788) was a famous Swedish pastry seller. Her name means "Pastry-Jeanna," and she was a very well-known person in Stockholm during her time. She became so popular that she appeared in many Swedish plays, songs, and books in the 1700s and 1800s.

Who Was Bakelse-Jeanna?

Jeanna was a real person who lived a long time ago. She was born in 1702 and passed away in 1788. She came from the Åland Islands, which are islands between Sweden and Finland.

Jeanna spent her life as a street seller in Stockholm. A street seller, sometimes called a månglerska in Swedish, is someone who sells goods directly on the streets. Jeanna sold delicious cakes and pastries. She became a very familiar sight to everyone in Stockholm.

From Real Life to Famous Stories

Because Bakelse-Jeanna was so well-known, she started appearing in fictional stories even while she was still alive! This shows just how famous she was.

For example, she was a character in a funny play called Donnerpamp. This play was written by Carl Israel Hallman in 1782. Later, in the 1800s, she was mentioned as a small character in many other Swedish books and plays.

Her fame even led to a popular song about her. Here's a part of it:

Bakelse-Jeanna Song
Swedish song What it means in English

Känner du Bakelse-Jeanna?
Ja, nog känner ja’na
Och har känt’na i många år!

Do you know Pastry-Jeanna?
Yes, I surely know her
And have known her for many years!

Hon går på Stockholms gator,
Säljer pepparkakor,
Tar för stycket så mycket hon får.

She walks on Stockholm's streets,
Sells gingerbread,
For each piece, she takes as much as she can get.

Bakelse-Jeanna became such a symbol of street selling that her name was used for a long time in Stockholm. People would sometimes call other women who sold pastries on the street "Bakelse-Jeanna." This shows her lasting impact on the city's culture and history.

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