What is typically Swedish? Page 4 of 4
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76. During the Christmas holiday season, you use to drink Glögg, to which you add almonds and raisins
77. The weeks before Christmas, you drink the so-called Julmust, which basically is a cola with a slightly different taste. You claim it’s sweeter and better than Coca Cola
78. On Christmas you eat from a speazial Christmas-smorgasbord called julbord, that contains 90% exactly the same food that you find on any other Swedish holiday celebration smorgasbord
79. Between Christmas and New Years you finish conversations when you bumped into someone wishing a god fortsättning, meaning “good continuation”
80. You have at least one pack of knäckebröd in your kitchen cupboard
80. When you enter a pharmacy, public authority or want to buy a mobile phone in a store, the first thing you do is looking out for a nummerlapp-automat (number-dispenser). Ubiquitously used all over Sweden to enable almost perfect queueing justice
82. When you want to order an alcoholic drink at a bar, the waiter will give you a choice between en noll-fyra eller noll-sexa, meaning “do you want 0,4 or 0,6 deciliter of an alcoholic drink (e.g. Vodka) your mix”
83. When you ask your friends where you can buy a certain product, like for example a sofa or blender, they will probably tell you to kolla på blocket, “Have a look at blocket”, the Swedish version of Craigslist or Ebay (without the bidding system though)
84. You figure distances between two places in mil, Swedih miles, (1 mil = 10 kilometers)
85. When you want to express your anger at someone you avoid direct confrontation by putting up an arglapp (angry note)
86. When a wasp gets closer than 1 meter, you get afraid and wave your arms wildly to defend yourself from this unpleasant invader
87. Mooses, of course
88. The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, is probably one of the most media covered Swedish buildings
89. When you eat something that you consider very delicious, you express your delight saying mums mums or nom nom nom
90. You can buy milk called mellanmjölk “in-between milk”, aiming at the percentage of fat it contains
91. Heavily associated with Sweden, this blueprint for Swedish feminism: Pippi Longstrump,Pippi Longstocking
92. Essential part of every complete birthday-buffet: the smörgåstårta (sandwich cake)
93. Every Sunday, you can see raggare posing with their american oldtimers cruising through the city
95. You’re a bit proud of your viking heritage, but rather wouldn’t say it out loud
95. You regularly meet friends or dates for a fika (having a coffee and maybe some pastry)
96. IKEA, of course
97. Every year when the Nobel Price laureates being announced on the radio, you listen carefully, but forget the names and achievements within seconds. Instead, you find it much more interesting what the Royal family is wearing at the Nobel Price gala
98. You or your parents have a dalahäst (dala horse) at home. Every time you look at it, it makes you feel Swedish
99. When you’re asked to pick a certain amount of something, you most likely answer lagom – “Not too much and not too little”
100. Try to fit in and inte sticka ut (don’t stick out)!
This fundamental concept of the Swedish way of interacting is summed up in the “law of Jante”, Jantelagen, which you like to explain to every Sweden visitor who asks you the question “What is typically Swedish?”
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Hi fellow German! Just stumbled across your blog and think its really cool. This list made me laugh a lot. I visited Sweden for the first time in Mai and totally fell in love. I am actually considering to find a job in Stockholm next year when I have finished my MBA. Keep up the good work, I find your blog very informative and you seems to put a lot of effort and time in it! :)
Cheers, Daniela
Hej Daniela! I’m really glad you like my blog. Stockholm is an amazing city. I have been living there for a while and loved it. Once you’ve found a job and apartment, you’ll probably have a great time there. Let me know in case you have any questions! matthias (at) hejsweden.com