Almanackan

Almanackan, in Swedish, refers to a yearly publication that blends a calendar with practical information. Traditionally an almanac includes a calendar for the coming year, feast days, tides and astronomical data, weather lore and forecasts, planting and gardening advice, and various tables such as calendars of lunar phases, rising and setting times, and numerological data. In addition to calendars, many almanacs offer articles on astronomy, meteorology, agriculture, and cultural or historical notes. Almanacks have served as practical reference works for farmers, traders, sailors, and households.

Historically, almanacs emerged in medieval and early modern Europe as compilations of calendars, Julian/Gregorian calendars, saint days, and astronomical data. They evolved through printed forms in the 16th–18th centuries and became mass-produced in the 19th and 20th centuries. The pronunciation and spelling differ by language; in Swedish "almanacka" is the term, and the definite form "almanackan" refers to the almanac in question.

Regional varieties include nautical or astronomical almanacs, providing navigation tables such as ephemerides, tide schedules, and celestial coordinates. In North America, the Farmers' Almanac and the Old Farmer's Almanac are well-known examples that combine weather forecasts with folklore, gardening tips, and household advice.

Today, modern almanacs may exist in print and digital formats, sometimes focusing on data for specific professions or interests, while retaining the core function as a yearly reference work. The term remains a broad label for annual reference publications.