Halloween and All Saints’ Day are both celebrated in Sweden, let’s look at the differences. Halloween – a spooky tradition that now haunts Sweden alongside the rest of the world, and All Saints Day – a day of remembrance of those who have passed on. Both are full of ghosts, but one sports costumes and candy and the other […]
Social
Scandinavian Furniture and Design Aesthetic – Mysteries Unraveled
Decorating your space can truly make it feel lived in and like a home. But when you’re new to a country it can be challenging to know where to buy new items such as furniture and decor. If you are looking for ways to make your home feel more Swedish, we have the details on […]
Minority groups in Sweden
Written by Silvia Lopez If you think about the population in Sweden, you probably first think about the Swedes. But, did you know that there are also five official minority groups in Sweden? These groups are: the Sámi, the Swedish Finns, the Tornedalers, the Roma and the Jews. In this article I will present them […]
The #BlackLivesMatter Movement In Sweden
Written by Silvia Lopez The death of African-American citizen George Floyd while in police custody on May has triggered a wave of protests against racism. In Sweden, the support to the movement #BlackLivesMatter has been enormous. Many have been the mobilisations taking place in the country during the last days. Would you like to learn […]
Online harassment: How is the regulation in Sweden?
Written by Silvia Lopez Social Media have changed the way we work, study and how we communicate with each other. For those living abroad, social media help to keep in contact with family and friends without extra costs. However, social media also create new places for crimes and harassment. How is Sweden controlling this? Social […]
Gender and COVID-19. How is the Pandemic Affecting Women?
Written by Silvia Lopez COVID-19 is affecting our lives. Although in Sweden there are not as many restrictions as in other countries, we all have seen our daily routines affected. But, how is the pandemic affecting women? Sweden is the only country in Europe where a lockdown has not been decreed. However, the impact of […]
Becoming a Swedish citizen: A milestone on the path of integration
Written by Tatiana Sokolova Some of us are lucky enough to be born with one (or two…) of those ‘strong’ passports which allow us to explore the world without visas, study and work in many places of our choice without obtaining residence permits. And some of us aren’t. I definitely wasn’t – until now that […]
Missing Sweden While Being Abroad
Written by Tatiana Sokolova Sometimes the best way to understand what you like and dislike about a country is to leave it for some time. The cultural translation, bracketing, brokerage; the cultural shocks one experiences in transitioning between two places, allow to understand deeper what we cherish and what we abhor about them. Every year […]
In Praise of the Public Library
Growing up in the 1990s in a small ex-industrial town in the North of England, devoid of iPads, Netflix and other now commonplace forms of entertainment, we had to make our own fun. And to me, the highlight of my weekend for more years than I care to admit was my Saturday morning pilgrimage to […]
A Toe In The Water
Okay, I could tell the usual stories about living in Sweden – you’ve heard variations of them a million times. The ones about Swedish being such a difficult language. It is. I have been here ten years off and on and can still only hold conversations with three year olds. Or the endless horror tales […]
Swedish Taxes: Where, Why and How?
Written by Georgia Lane A guide to where our tax money goes and the pros and cons of a high tax society. Sweden has a progressive income tax and income thresholds are regulated each year. On each earning over this figure you will also pay national income taxes, with the money going to the state. […]
Finding The Best Activities for Kids
Written by Georgia Lane Moving to Sweden can seem scary and difficult, especially when you’re bringing your littles. But what many people don’t realize is that Sweden offers many free, fun and interactive activities that both you and your children will enjoy! Living as an expat in Stockholm was a lot easier than originally expected. […]
