culture

Scandinavian Furniture and Design Aesthetic – Mysteries Unraveled

5 December 2023 By Ellen Boyer Pokorny Leave a Comment

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 the Scandinavian design aesthetic, plus lots of tips on furniture stores.

Disclaimer: To keep The Newbie Guide free, we use affiliate links (marked with *) and may get a commission if you click and buy using these links. This does not affect our opinions and our writers always recommend their best for your Swedish experience.

Scandinavian/Swedish Design Aesthetic

When you think of the Scandinavian design aesthetic, often images of neutral colors such as light brown/wood/taupe and lots of white come to mind. There are often elements of nature as a clear spotlight in this aesthetic, such as items made of real wood, highlighted leaves or plants, geometric shapes, and you will definitely see an animal or two, or at least their fur. This aesthetic is largely minimalistic, with a focus on a few centerpiece items rather than many. It is also aimed at functionality. Often furniture is used as more than one item – such as an ottoman and a storage space. Yes, your mind may jump to, of course, Ikea, a classic Swedish take on function and affordability, especially for smaller spaces. But there are many other designers/stores to choose from for a classic Scandinavian design.

If you seek even more detail from an interior designer’s perspective, read our fellow blogger’s piece on how to really bring the Swedish design into your home. He also has great tips for several price ranges, e.g. for lower price ranges, check out Clas Ohlson and Lagerhaus, and for middle to high ranges – check out Design Torget*, Design House, and Svenskt Tenn.

Scandinavian Furniture for your home

Furniture in the Scandinavian design aesthetic usually marries function with minimalism. These pieces are made from wood, or other natural textiles. The design is clean, with a focus on simplistic lines or shapes and contrasting colors such as white and wood. Often, furniture of this style can be your centerpiece item in the room, or start as a base for decorative items that complement it. Scandinavian design is all about warm, mysig (cozy in English), feels – such as candles, furs, and soft lighting, paired with simple furniture pieces.

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect new piece of furniture (or new to you: check out these secondhand shops as well). Mjuk* is also a great furniture option if you are eager to keep it sustainable, as their furniture is entirely second hand.

Check out stores like, BoboHome*, Granit*, Furniw, Balkongshoppen, Mio, Jysk, Royal Design and Illums Bolighus for prime Scandinavian furniture shopping. They all guarantee that your home will be designed the Scandinavian way and bring form and function to their furniture. But, don’t be surprised if your furniture looks a lot like your neighbor’s. Many people shop at these stores, therefore homes tend to look similar once designed/furnished. You will definitely find natural textures like classic wooden stools and simple shapes and designs like geometric or plant-inspired on textiles. Furniture tends to be more minimally designe but decorative items can liven up the simplicity.

Tips before buying

Take a look at these sites before buying, as they range in price and shipping options. If you are picking up furniture yourself, you can often get a discount on shipping, but delivery (and putting together) the items can be expensive.

If you’re looking for outdoor furniture to liven up your space, take a look at Folkhemmet or Rusta for your best options. They have a wide range of prices and options, and often have discounted days or campaigns.

Still not sold? Check out this post for more detail on what many of these incredible sites/stores offer, especially if you are searching for affordable furniture and home decor stores. There are a ton of options to choose from in just this article alone. If you’re still unsure and live near Stockholm, check out this list as well for more detail on the best furniture stores in Stockholm.

Decorate the Scandinavian way

Decorative items are where the Scandinavian design aesthetic really comes into play. If you buy a simple piece of furniture that is functioning well but you want something to cozy it up – this is when you check out the Scandinavian decor stores. Decorative items range from textiles such as pillow cases with geometric or nature-inspired designs, sheep’s wool/fur, candle holders in the shape of food and animals, metal fixtures or figurines, to warm, enticing lamps.

If you’re looking for that one (or two or three) specialty piece to show off the Scandinavian aesthetic, you have a wide range of options to choose from for decor in Sweden. Some are based in Denmark, but you shouldn’t have any issues shipping to Sweden.

Sheep’s Wool and Furs

Who wouldn’t want a Danish sheep’s wool item to decorate their home? Look no farther than at these får-tastic (that’s Swedish for sheep) furs. Danish Fårskinn* and Natures Collection* both offer a wide range of wooly items, as does Nordic Sheep*. They often offer other decorative items as well, so take a look at their sites to get the full picture.

Decorative Items

If you seek an accent item to brighten up your home, you can find a range of options. Swedes are known for their love of candles, especially during the dark months. These can be found at places such as Ennelle*, H&M Home, Åhlens*, and many others depending on your price points. If you’re looking for Scandinavian brands to bring interesting items to your home, check out the metal figures at Älska plåt*, geometric wallpaper at Retro tapeter*, or candles, lights, and decorative pillows from Trendy4you*.

Lighting

Another way to bring in the Scandinavian design aesthetic into your home is to introduce warm lighting. In Sweden, not only will you find candles and plants in every window, but inside the home are various light fixtures that give off that warm, cozy glow. Often the designs of lights can be nature inspired (think artichokes and pine cones or animals). Or they can just be a simple design that brightens the room. If you are looking for the perfect lamp, check out stores like Markslöjd*, Ikea, Nordic Nest*, Lights of Scandinavia, and Stockholm Lighting.

All in one

Many of the stores in this article have more than just lighting or furniture. Remember the functionality concept of Scandinavian design? That extends to the stores themselves. Many of them carry furniture, lighting, decorative art, candles, glassware, textiles, etc. all in one. Be sure to check out these stores for your one stop shop to all things Scandinavian design: Svenssons*, H&M Home, Åhlens*, Clas Ohlson, Hemtext*, Designtorget*, Confident Living*, and Nordiska galleriet*.

Kitchenware and Sustainable Choices

There are many uniquely Scandinavian options to create comfort. Sustainable choices are also available for furniture, kitchenware, and cleaning products.

For the Kitchen

The kitchen can be a great place to bring some Scandinavian design into your home. Many of the stores have functional and well designed kitchen items that make sense. For example, a biodegradable cloth that can be used to wipe up all manner of spills. Often you will find these with Scandinavian designs. Check out stores like Designtorget*, Cervera*, Kitch’n*, and Kitchen Time* for some great options. Nordic Nest* offers many textiles including tableware and other needed kitchen items as does Hemtext*.

Sustainable Options

Scandinavian design also comes in more sustainable options. Mjuk* has furniture and decor that are thoroughly cleaned and inspected but secondhand and cheaper than buying something new. They extend furniture’s life span and take care of the entire process for you. Live Home* is another great option for sustainable items. They offer cleaning and decorative items that are environmentally friendly and cheap. If you are trying to get away from using plastic, BeeLife* offers sustainable food covers that can be used many times, as well as gift cards and other presents made from beeswax.

Decorating and furnishing your home in a foreign place can be a challenge for many people. Especially if you are trying to find a specific design style – such as Scandinavian. This list is not exhaustive. You can easily find even more Scandinavian options online or just walking through a centrum or gallerian. These are located in both small cities/towns but on a smaller scale and in larger cities/areas with many more options. Start with gallerians as they often house many different stores in one place (think a mall or shopping area).

You have lots of options for choosing Scandinavian design, whether it be furniture or decorative items for your home. Also ask the locals as they can give you great tips on the best place to buy items.

What item are you purchasing next for your Scandinavian inspired home?

All You Need to Know About Halloween and All Saints’ Day in Sweden

27 October 2023 By Ellen Boyer Pokorny Leave a Comment

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 light and reminiscence.

Although many of us may enjoy the cozy (mysig in Swedish) feels of autumn, the crisp air, the beautiful foliage, the candles starting to crop up in everyone’s windows, there are two events that occur at the end October and beginning of November that can really add to the coziness: Halloween and All Saints’ Day.

How is Halloween celebrated in Sweden?

Although Halloween has only more recently been widely celebrated in Sweden and throughout Europe, Swedes and non-Swedes alike have been more readily embracing the spookiness and candy-ness of Halloween since the ‘90s and (mainly) kids participate in the celebrations today. Kids dress up in costumes (mainly simple witches and other ghostly characters) and walk around their neighborhoods saying “bus eller godis” (trick or treat) and ask for candy. Teenagers are now also taking up the mantle and elevate their dress-up to more intricate costumes and go to parties or events. Adults in Sweden have the option to attend parties, events, parades, etc. as well, as some restaurants and establishments will decorate for Halloween and host events.

Halloween and all saints day in Sweden — A local COOP decorating for Halloween.

You will also find the theme of Halloween in the plockgodis (picking candy) aisles – behold many strange creatures and characters!

Local grocery stores often put up displays of pumpkins and other Halloween items such as masks, skeletons, and other fun items prior to Halloween.

Coinciding with Autumn break for many schools, Halloween (October 31^st) and All Saints Day (November 1^st) are often celebrated while children are at home.

Nowadays, it is a bit more common for pumpkin patches (självplock – choose yourself) to crop up at farms that typically sell other fruits and vegetables throughout the year, although this trend is still quite small and not every farm sells pumpkins that you can pick yourself.

Pumpkin Patches in Sweden

Choosing and carving your own pumpkin is a time honored tradition in many cultures that Sweden has caught on to. Not only do many grocery stores sell pumpkins these days, (to decorate or eat, you decide) but now many farms are setting up activities for the entire family and growing pumpkins in their fields (patches) in the autumn.

Stockholm

The nearest patch to Stockholm is Thorslunda, about 45 minutes outside of the city by car. You can also get there by bus. They have information on how to get to them on their website (information in Swedish). They also have a café that serves lunch and “fika”.

Southern Sweden

In Southern Sweden, you can pick pumpkins at Söderköpingsbonden. They also have tractor rides for the kids, pigs, and a strawberry field.
In Malmö, pick your pumpkins and corn at Slattvikgård.
In Södertälje, you can find a pumpkin patch and many other items to choose yourself at Trädgårn Södertälje.

Halloween Events in 2023

There are plenty of halloween events around Sweden to keep you spookily entertained. Here are a few from some of the major cities in Sweden. But just google Halloween + evenemang + the name of your city or Allhelgona + evenemang + the name of your city and you will find something more local.

Stockholm

If you fancy an extensive parade to enjoy with the family, Stockholm hosts the Shockholm Halloween Parade, this year taking place on November 4, 2023.

Gamla Stan hosts ghost tours all year, but around Halloween they pull out all the stops to bring an even ghostlier walk. Tours are in English and Swedish, so take a look for on their website before booking.

You can also journey through Gröna Lund amusement park to celebrate Halloween where they host special Halloween themed evenings.

Skansen, the open air museum located near Gröna Lund, hosts some fun fall activities and has a lot to do for the entire family during autumn break.

Drottningholm Slottsteater hosts a haunted theater show during the autumn holidays this year in their usually closed theatre. You book tickets on their website.

Gothenburg

In Gothenburg, there are various activities throughout the city during autumn break. Liseberg, the amusement park, decorates for Halloween and has activities for the entire family. The Culture Center puts on shows, and many more events for young, old, and in between.

What is All Saints’ Day and how is it celebrated?

All Saints’ Day is the day to remember passed loved ones and has religious basis dating back to the 7^th century. In Sweden on November 1^st, many will make their way to Skogskyrkogården, an extensive cemetery and UNESCO World Heritage site. Families gather around graves of those they wish to remember and light candles. Others attend church service in one of the five chapels on the cemetery grounds. Although it is no longer seen as a religious affair, it was once considered a hallowed day, which is why All Saints’ Day is a red day (röd dag) in Sweden.

All saints day in Sweden — Candles light up the cemetery near Stockholm on All Saints’ Day.

By November 1st, Sweden can already be quite dark. But the numerous candles surrounding the gravesites up and down the entire cemetery at Skogskyrkogården is a serene sight. Skogskyrkogården is open to the public and the cemetery, aglow with candlelight, is a peaceful place to visit. If you choose to walk the paths of the cemetery, you are sure to see many families taking part in the traditions of reminiscence.

Other traditions outside of lighting candles at the cemetery include wreath making. They are made from evergreen branches that can be laid on gravesites. The wreaths are usually made to fit around candles and can also be decorated by items that have specific importance. The circular wreath is said to symbolize eternity and lighting candles are meant for remembrance.

Where do these celebrations for Halloween and All Saints’ Day in Sweden come from?

Modern day Halloween comes from Celtic traditions, where evil spirits were warded off by lighting bonfires and wearing costumes on Samhain (October 31^st). It is said that the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest on this night. This adds a layer of spook to Halloween celebrations and explains the traditions on November 1st, when All Saint’s Day (Alla helgons dag) is celebrated in Sweden. All Saints Day, also called All Hallow’s Day or All Souls Day, celebrates those that have passed on. They were said to visit family members during the Samhain celebrations the evening before (or All Hallow’s Eve).

Influence from other cultures on Halloween and All Saints’ Day in Sweden

Cultures and traditions often go beyond their physical borders – the same is true of Halloween and All Saints’ Day celebrations. Let’s delve into the influential cultures that have likely shaped Sweden’s celebrations today.

Halloween in the US

The US is a long way away from the simplicity of Samhain. Ghosts are now warded off by lighting a “bonfire” no bigger than the average jack-o-lantern with a tea light candle. But Halloween is often celebrated by child and adult alike. In the US, Halloween is treated as an important event every year. Children go trick-or-treating (or dress up in various costumes and ask the neighbors for candy) as soon as it’s dark out as well as during school hours. Adults partake in similar cosplay but go searching for alcohol instead of (or alongside) candy. Houses are decorated with pumpkins, spider webs, spooky characters, and fake grave stones. Neighbors often camp out on their front lawn dressed as their favorite characters to hand out giant candy bars. Pumpkin patches and haunted hayrides are a common occurrence and you can find them wherever there is a field (or a farm!).

Day of the Dead in Mexico

Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) on November 1st. They make offerings (ofrendas) to their family members who have passed on. These can include favorite foods, drinks, pictures, and cut marigolds. This tradition celebrates their loved one’s memory and often includes lighting candles by their gravestones.

American culture brings an over-the-top-ness to Halloween including political statements and giant skeletons. Swedish festivities are usually more simple but still influenced by the US Halloween culture. There is also a similarity to Mexican traditions in Sweden. Many Swedes journey to the cemetery (kyrkogården) to light a candle and remember their loved ones on All Saints’ Day.

Autumn in Sweden comes on quickly and moves just as quickly into winter. But in its midst are fun celebrations for Halloween and remembrance of those who came before during All Saints’ Day.

How do you plan to celebrate Halloween and All Saints’ Day? Do you have similar traditions where you are from? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!

5 facts about the crayfish party

11 August 2023 By The Newbie Team

Before you innocently suck on your first kräftor… take the time to read these 5 facts about the do’s and don’t of Kräftskivor. At the bottom of this article, we’ve added a series of coupons for money off your big pre-crayfish party food shop. Don’t miss out!

1. Good bye blue sky (like we saw much of it anyways this year 😒)

Kräftskiva (the Crayfish Party) is a typical Swedish festivity that marks the end of the summer.

Sorry for the reality call, but let’s face the truth: soon the sun will be gone, so make sure to enjoy it!

Why is it celebrated in August? The origins date back to the early 20th century when there was a risk of over-fishing. They introduced restrictions on river crayfishing and the season was limited to a couple of months from August.

2. Eat, eat, eat

In this great feast, the crayfish are cooked in a brine, with a lot of dill. They are eaten cold, with your own hands. Sucking noisily to extract the juices is a must.

Aside from crayfish, you usually eat bread and a strong cheese i.e mature Västerbotten.

3. But manners, please!

It is good to have some elegance to the table. People usually wear fancy bibs and hats during the crayfish party.

4. Drinking and singing

Snappsvisor are traditional drinking songs that are supposed to be sung when taking shots. If you can’t speak Swedish, don’t be ashamed to give it a try. Nobody will be sober to sing them right anyway…

5. Hangover

The day after a Kräftskiva you will probably feel a bit bad, but instead of blaming all the drinking you can do like the Swedes and just say “jag tål inte kräftor” (something like “it was the crayfish”).

Learn more about the history of this celebration in this article.

Let us know what’s your favourite Swedish holiday and how do you celebrate it?

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Sweden and Sustainability: Waste Sorting and Disposal

11 April 2022 By The Newbie Team 8 Comments

Written by Ezinne Edet

Waste sorting and disposal is a common practice in Sweden. However, it may come as a culture shock to a newbie. You will notice that the bins at your home, office, school, or even on the walkway have different labels. As a result, you may find it difficult to figure out how the waste disposal system works.

Imagine finishing a cup of coffee and standing by the bin, reading the labels to figure out the right place to dispose of the cup. Depending on where you are coming from, this may feel a bit awkward.

Sweden is one of the countries that sorts and disposes of waste in categories. If you are confused about how to sort your garbage, where which garbage goes, or what the labels mean, we have compiled a simple guide for you.

waste-sorting-and-disposal-in-sweden — Typical waste bin (on the walkway)

Paper packaging (Pappersfӧrpackningar)

Here, you place paper packaging, like paper cups, toilet roll tubes, shoe boxes, paper bags, milk and juice packs, and the likes.

Organic waste (Matavfall)

You should place food waste, eggshells, kitchen paper, non-dyed napkins, used coffee grinds, tea bags, and wooden single-use items here.

Plastic (Plast)

This category is for plastic packaging containers, plastic bags, plastic wrapping, plastic bottles, plastic tubes, refill packs, plastic bags, packets for crisps, and similar items.

Metal (Metall)

You should place cans, bottle caps, tubes, aluminium foil, aluminium containers, soda cans, jar lids, and empty paint tins here.

Non-recyclable/ Residual waste (Restavfall)

This category is for waste that cannot be recycled, like dyed napkins, padded envelopes, vacuum cleaner bags, razor blades, toothbrushes, and diapers.

Newspapers (Tidningar)
Here, you place recyclable paper, like magazines, newspapers, diaries, catalogues, flyers, drawing and writing papers. Note that newspapers are sorted separately from paper packaging. Also, you should sort bound books and envelopes as residual waste or organic waste.

Coloured and Clear Glass (Fargat Glas, Ofargat Glas)

Sort coloured glass (fargat glas) separately from clear glass (ofargat glas). Place glass materials like empty wine and beer bottles, jars of mayonnaise and jam, etc. here. However, remember to remove corks, metal caps, and jar lids and place them in their respective categories.

Batteries and Lighting (Batterier, Ljuskallor)

You should place rechargeable batteries, button cell batteries, small-size batteries, batteries for mobile phones and electric tools in the compartment for batteries (batterier). While in the compartment for lighting (ljuskallor), you place LED bulbs, light bulbs, fluorescent bulbs and lamps, halogen lamps, etc.

Sorting waste may sound like too much work. Nevertheless, a helpful tip would be to, first of all, sort the recyclables—paper, plastic, metal, organic waste, glass, batteries and lighting—then place the rest as residual waste.

Other categories of waste

You should hand in this category of waste at staffed recycling centers (ÅVC) in your municipality. You can hand them in physically at their designated offices or place an order by phone or on their website.

Hazardous waste: containers with residues of paint, oil, glue, or solvents.
Landfill: pots and pans, ceramics, scrap metal, mirrors, porcelain, and plumbing fixtures.
Garden waste: tree branches, leaves, moss, and grass.
Textiles: towels, clothing, beddings, and curtains.
Electrical waste: computer, household appliances, refrigerator, TV, radio, etc.
Bulky waste: these are household materials that are too bulky to fit into the bin. For example, sofa, household furniture, and toys. Exclude interior fittings (e.g, doors and kitchen cabinets) and car parts from bulky waste items.
Expired/Unused medicine: deposit this type of refuse (including hypodermic needles) at pharmacies or chemists, where they will be disposed of properly.

Why sort waste?

Sorting waste is important because it is beneficial for the environment and communities. It is also useful for recycling.

In Sweden, organic waste is converted to biogas and bio-fertilizers for farmers, while other recyclable wastes are transformed into new products. On the other hand, residual waste is converted to energy for heating homes, powering buses, and fueling taxis.

Sweden is one of the topmost ranked countries in the world for recycling cardboard and newspaper. Hence, it is no surprise that the country topped the charts in the Global Sustainable Competitive Index 2021 and holds second place in the 2021 UN Sustainable Development Report.

If you are a newbie in Sweden, leave a comment to tell us how waste sorting and disposal has been going for you. If you are not currently living in Sweden, tell us how you dispose of waste in your country. We can’t wait to read your comments!

About the Author
Hej! I am a Nigerian studying a Master of Science in Management at the University of Gothenburg. I have travelled around different countries in Africa, but this is my first time living and studying in another continent. I see living in a new country as an opportunity to learn a new culture, language, and create new networks and experiences. I will be posting about my experiences in Sweden, as a newbie, and sharing information to help you settle in fast. Enjoy!

What’s ‘Christmas in Sweden’ without a julbord!

3 December 2021 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Julbord – one thing you can not miss out on if you’re looking to soak in Christmas celebrations in Sweden. Literally translated to ‘Christmas table’, the julbord is a buffet of traditional Swedish eats, and a window into the land’s culture, habit, craving and identity.

Written by our content writer, Nidhi Dhingra

The Swedish julbord is a thing of beauty: a long table brimming with robustly flavoured local meats, fish, cheeses, and breads, embodying the Nordic palate. The julbord on Christmas day itself (December 24) is reserved as an intimate family meal to be enjoyed in a private setting. Families travel distances to be with each other, with sometimes 3-4 generations getting together under one roof. Prior to that, from mid-November until just before Christmas, julbords are offered in eateries across Sweden, and are gaily enjoyed with friends and colleagues.

Statistically, 70% of the employed in Sweden are invited to a julbord by their companies — that’s over three million guests at restaurant tables! If you’re new in Sweden, it is a perfect table around which to build or strengthen bonds, for the mood is jolly and hearts joyous with the anticipation of year-end holidays just round the corner.

The history of julbord

The julbord tradition is believed to date back to the early 1100s, with ties to the Catholic advent fast that ended on the 24th December. With tables set up in community spaces, it was a meal inviting all; putting out all the food before it went bad, and ensuring that no one went hungry, be it the rich, poor, or homeless.

In the 1500s, upper-class gatherings known as the ‘aquavit buffet’ became common. A separate table would be set up in a side room to entertain travellers and guests, with savoury bites that could be enjoyed while standing, along with glasses of aquavit (made from potato or grains and cured with herbs like caraway, dill, fennel, coriander and anise). Johanna Kindvall, writer and illustrator of the book ‘Smörgåsbord’, says it’s possible that this tradition was borrowed from the Russians who liked to mingle around eating caviar, herring and vodka.

From the mid-1800s the julbord began its transformation into its present avatar — that of a big smörgåsbord meal. The reason most likely was the invention of the iron stove, that changed the art of cooking dramatically. Previously, the food was always cooked, but now the stove gave the option to roast and bake in a whole new way. This gave way to common households making a variety of foods and snacks, often to accompany their aquavit.

Not long after, as many Swedes recall, mothers and grandmothers would be spending the entire December cooking. In a ritualistic manner, they would pick their own herring, bake their own cakes, cookies, and ham from scratch.

By the late 1800s high-end restaurants began serving smörgåsbords. In 1912, at the Olympic Games in Stockholm, the world was introduced to this Swedish specialty. Though it was in 1919 that the Swedish Academy mentioned the word “julbord” for the first time. In 1939, the Swedish Pavilion at the World’s Fair in New York presented it outside of Sweden; and the julbord was here to stay.

*“Christmas Eve”, a watercolor impression from 1904 by the Swedish painter, Carl Larsson of a Christmas table*

What you find at a traditional julbord

An extensive spread, the julbord begins with glögg (mulled wine with blanched almonds and raisins), and typically has five courses of food — pickled herring, fish course, cold meats, warm course, and desserts.
The conservative julborders have their meal in this very order as a strict rule. You may mix them up; however, just keep in mind that not all dishes go well together.

Pickled herring

Swedish food culture has been immensely impacted by the abundance of fish. The pickled herring is served in varieties; the senapsill (herring in a creamy mustard sauce) now being the most common. It comes from the age-old tradition of preserving raw fish with salt to endure the long winters. Once seen as poor man’s food, it now has a place of pride on the Christmas table. In fact, ask any Swede and they’ll tell you that a julbord without at least 2-3 varieties of herring is unthinkable!

Fish course

The fish course consists of salmon, cod, crayfish and prawns. A distinct preparation is the lutfisk (dried cod), said to have been around since the days of the Vikings. Though it is now more held onto as a concept, than food.

Cold meats

The cold spread of cured meats includes ham, pork, elk, reindeer, moose; often paired with cheese and knäckebröd (crispbread). The obligatory julskinka, or Christmas ham, is the show stopper — boiled with aromatics and baked with glaze and breadcrumbs.

Historically, pigs were the most common domesticated animals as they populated fast and could be fed relatively inexpensively. In the 1800s, when all else was preserved meat, farmers began to hold back a few pigs for slaughter to serve them fresh at the Christmas feast. What a treat! To this day, Christmas is a very significant time of the year for the pork business in Sweden.

Warm course

Swedish meatballs, sausages, pork ribs, janssons frestelse (creamy potato casserole) and dopp i grytan or dip in the pot (a broth made from liquid in which the ham was cooked) are some of the warm dishes that follow. These are served with cabbage (red, brown and green), potatoes and beets.

Desserts

The desserts are no less varied (where’s the room for more food though?!) — from cakes, cookies (almond, cinnamon, chocolate, caramel), and chocolates to semla buns, ris a la malta (rice pudding with whipped cream) and risgrynsgröt (rice porridge dusted with cinnamon and sugar, served with a hidden almond. According to folklore, whomever gets the almond in their risgrynsgröt will be married in the coming year.

While the dishes remain classic, ingredients vary locally with significant dishes special for different parts of the country.

This king-size meal is most often accompanied by wine, julöl (a dark beer brewed for Christmas), or julmust (a non-alcoholic Christmas beverage) for kids. Several million litres of julmust are consumed in Sweden during December; more than any soft-drink competitor can beat.

I was frankly baffled by the dizzying variety I saw on my first julbord — in Liseberg, Gothenburg. The trick is to go easy, keep to the order of the courses, and not overload your plate, so you can make it to the desserts. Luckily, I was with friends who could guide me on the must-try; for there was no way I could’ve even tasted every single dish.

Booking a julbord

Quintessential to a Swedish Christmas, the julbord starts to get booked way in advance, sometimes as early as October. So make sure to get yourself a place before it’s too late.
Find one here, or here.

When you begin your search on the julbords to try around you, remember not to be overwhelmed by the choices; the average Swede will feast on a julbord more than once during the season, and so can you!

Changing trends in the classic julbord

Even though Christmas, like all other festivals, is about tradition for most Swedes, new trends are slowly finding their way into Sweden’s classic julbord. For instance, one of the biggest changes in the last decade has been the emphasis on using organic, fair trade and locally produced food. In response to this demand, organic glögg, sill and mustard are now easily available, while smoked eel is rarely included in the buffet, as it is an endangered species.

Apart from this shift, time and tastes have made way for a wide variety in julbords today, apart from the traditional.

Types of julbord and where to find them

Vegetarian and vegan julbord

Over the years, with more and more people choosing to cut out on meat consumption, the demand for vegetarian-friendly julbords has increased, leading to organisers including vegetarian alternatives in the traditional Christmas buffet. In some cases, the entire table may be created as a vegetarian meal.

Some vegetarian dishes in the julbord include vegetarian meatballs, marinated tofu or grilled turnip pâté as an alternative to the ham, mustard eggplant in place of the mustard herring, and pickled squash to replace the pickled salmon.

Here’s an updated guide we found on vegetarian-friendly julbords:
Vegetarian julbord in Stockholm
Vegetarian julbord in Gothenburg

Fish julbord

With a coastline extending over 3,000 kms, seafood preparations in Sweden are varied and delicious. If that’s your food of choice, look up restaurants known for their fish; chances are that they’d be offering julbords with a focus on seafood.
Fish julbord in Stockholm

Julbord on a cruise

Imagine enjoying your julbord while afloat on a cruise in the Swedish archipelago — enjoying the winterscape outside while the golden-hue lights and candles inside hold you warm in a feeling of ‘mysigt’.
Here’s where to find a julbord on a cruise.

Julbord with a show

If it’s music and laughter you like with your food, go for a julbord with a show. There’s numerous options to choose from, and something for everyone. You may dig into the feast while cracking up over a stand-up comedy, wafting to some jazz, enjoying a play, getting nostalgic over 90s music, or maybe nodding to some rock and roll.
Find one here:
Julbord with a show – in Stockholm
Julbord with a show – in Gothenburg

Hosting a julbord at home

Julbord in a home setting is the most intimate form of Christmas in Sweden

If you’re feeling brave enough, you could host your own julbord and invite friends over.

Daunting as the idea may be, there’s but one thumb rule to keep in mind cooking: Focus on quality, and not quantity. For, a smaller number of tasty, well-prepared dishes will go down better than a large spread of average food, and it’ll be less stressful too.

Here’s a handy link with some staple Swedish julbord recipes. Just pick your favourites from each category and get started!

Remember to serve some glögg to start with, and stock up on some wine and beer to go with the food. You may also look up mumma, an old-fashioned Swedish Christmas cocktail made of four types of alcohol; available at Systembolaget. A low-alcohol alternative to it would be svagdricka, a malt drink that’s dark, sweet, and still made by a few breweries.

Whether you enjoy a julbord in a restaurant or at home, either way, try it you must, for ‘you have to taste a culture to understand it’.

E-learning book: ‘Beyond Fika’: The A–Z of Swedish Habits Demystified
In an easy to navigate A-Z format, ‘Beyond Fika’ is an encyclopedia of common Swedish terminology, history and contemporary life and habits. A handy guide to making you feel at home in Sweden.
Written by Mattias Axelsson, an acknowledged expert on Swedish holidays and traditions, it is the perfect companion for anyone curious about life in this Nordic country.

Buy the book here.

About the Author
Hej hej! I’m a writer and illustrator originally from India; and now call both India and Sweden home. I have had a 2-year stint in Gothenburg — easily the best two years of my adult life. An explorer at heart, I travel often; armed with a curious mind, a sketchpad, notebook to scribble in and my taste buds – exploring by-lanes, discovering treasures, gaining new friends and experiences.

Advent in Sweden

27 November 2021 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

When it comes to Christmas, Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia are the kings! The period of Advent in Sweden is a joyous time to celebrate with friends and family. Festive lights, markets and paper stars brighten up the dark, cold nights and set the mood for the festive season ahead.

Written by William Mansell

Julkalendern

The lighting of a candle on the fourth Sunday before Christmas marks the start of Advent. From 1st December a new door on an advent calendar is opened revealing a picture or chocolate.

The Swedes, ever the forerunners of life have taken this concept to a new level. Julkalendern (The Christmas Calendar) is a TV special produced every year. Split into 24 parts, lasting 10-15mins per episode, the story is slowly unravelled day by day like a traditional calendar. Since 1960, a whole library of tales have been told from pirates & superheroes to time travel & Santa.
The 2021 edition: En hederlig jul med Knyckertz (A normal Christmas with Knyckertz) follows the story of 11yr old Tove who wants to celebrate a normal Christmas despite his family being petty criminals. Watch Here

Sankta Lucia

On the 13th December, the festival of Saint Lucia is celebrated .The day is observed with public processions of school boys and girls dressed in white robes. Boys are called ‘Starboys’ and typically wear a conical hat adorned with stars while girls wear a wreath crown. One chosen girl gets the special honour of portraying Lucia. She leads the procession and singing whilst wearing a candle lit wreath, lighting the way.

Gävlebocken

Made of straw, Gävlebocken is a giant version of a Swedish Yule goat. Erected every year at the beginning of Advent in the city of Gävle, north of Stockholm. This delightful display first created in 1966, while quiet in nature has become the talk of the town due to its unfortunate survival track record. Out of a possible 54, the goat has only managed to survive arson attacks 18 times. The past 4 years has been it’s best survival period in history! Can 2021 see Gävlebocken stick out the Christmas season for another consecutive year?

Mat & Dryck

Advent in Sweden would not be complete without food & drink! Glögg parties are popular excuses for seeing friends and family. Filled with Pepparkakor (gingerbread) Lussebullar (saffron buns) & mulled wine, their spiced aromas synonymous with Christmas set the mood perfectly.

Enjoyed throughout Advent and especially on Saint Lucia day, Lussebullar or Lucia buns are go to treats. If you are in Stockholm, why not visit the wonderful annual gingerbread exhibition at ArkDes?!

Julmust, a soft drink similar to root beer & cola is a favoured beverage the Swedes love to consume during Advent. Only sold at this time of year, the drink is so popular, it outsells Coca-Cola by 50%

The Julbord or Christmas table is a smörgåsbord of Swedish foods. Several courses of small plates make up the buffet style meal. Foods include: different fishes, pickled herring, cold meats, Christmas ham, sausages, potatoes & of course meatballs! Traditionally served on Julafton (Christmas Eve), many restaurants also offer the julbord throughout December.

Find out more about how Sweden Celebrates Christmas here.

Useful Vocabulary:

Jul – Christmas
God Jul – Happy Christmas
Julafton – Christmas Eve
Tomten – Santa
Snö – Snow
Stjärna – Star
Ljus – Light/candle
Julgran – Christmas tree
Julklapp – Christmas present

What is your favourite part of Christmas? Will you be spending Advent in Sweden? Let us know in the comments!

About the Author
I’m a wannabie Swede, currently living in the UK, hoping to soon call Sweden home! A designer, creator and all-round Swedish fan, I am highly interested in the culture, music, design, nature & of course Fika! When I’m not travelling, I also love to watch Scandi noirs, listen to Swedish music & I watch Melodifestivalen every year! These have all helped me to develop my Swedish language skills!

Birthdays in Sweden

4 October 2021 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Written by William Mansell

Celebrations are a big deal in Sweden, be it for Christmas, Easter or Midsommar and birthdays are no exception! The Swedes even celebrate their fabulous Fika treats on various days throughout the year!

First things first;

Grattis på födelsedagen – Happy Birthday or Grattis – Congratulations for short.
Jag är (Tjugosju) år gammal – I am (Twenty Seven) years old.

Special Birthdays

Every birthday is celebrated in Sweden and decade birthdays in particular are by and large always extra special. Celebrated with friends and family, children often have birthday parties.

One tradition the Swedes have taken to is waking up the birthday boy/girl, no matter how old they are! Family members sing ‘Ja må du leva’ and bring presents to open in bed. Birthday cards are notably less common than in the UK so consequently best wishes are generally sent by sms and/or in person.

Mexicans have Quinciñeras (15th), Americans have Sweet 16 and most places celebrate 18th or 21st as special milestones. On the other hand Sweden views 20 as a bigger birthday than 18. Although legally Swedes can drink at 18 it should be noted that they have to be 20 to buy alcohol at systembolaget (government run liquor store) hence why 20 is more meaningful than 18.

Birthday Song – Födelsedagssång

Swedes love their songs. From Melodifestivalen to the many drinking songs sung at every celebration. And you’ve guessed it there’s also a birthday song, however it’s not the classic ‘Happy Birthday to you’ we’ve all come to know. The swedes have their own song! ‘Ja, må han/hon leva’ (Yes, may he/she live) And at the end everyone shouts Hurra Hurra Hurra Hurra!

Listen here

Lyrics:

Ja, må han leva! // Ja, må han leva! // Ja, må han leva uti hundrade år!
Javisst ska han leva! // Javisst ska han leva! // Javisst ska han leva uti hundrade år!

Birthday Cake – Födelsedagstårta

What birthday would be complete without a cake? The Princesstårta is by far the most popular to enjoy on birthdays. It was Named in honour of three princess who were said to have a strong affection for the cake. The cake is a layer cake with pastry cream, raspberry jam and whipped cream. With a green layer of marzipan covering the cake, pink roses and a dusting of icing sugar finish the decoration. A delicious addition to any birthday! Bonus points for taking fika to share at work.

How do you celebrate birthdays? Do you have any fun and interesting traditions? Let us know in the comments.

E-learning course: Your Swedish learning options
Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about The Swedish stuff? Where can you learn? How does it work? Can you join the different options if you don’t have a Swedish personal number? We’ve got you covered. Over the years we’ve been repeatedly told just confusing this process can be so we created a digital course with all the information you need to make a good decision. Here you will learn about:

The different study options to learn Swedish in Sweden.
The differences between study alternatives.
How much Swedish (and other things) you need for other educational paths in Sweden as well as to work in Swedish.
After finishing this course, you will be able to make an educated study choice and you will learn the most important key words and phrases for studying Swedish in Sweden. Hopefully, Swedish will start making sense!

Sign up to your course here
About the Author
I’m a wannabie Swede, currently living in the UK, hoping to soon call Sweden home! A designer, creator and all-round Swedish fan, I am highly interested in the culture, music, design, nature & of course Fika! When I’m not travelling, I also love to watch Scandi noirs, listen to Swedish music & I watch Melodifestivalen every year! These have all helped me to develop my Swedish language skills!

Learning Swedish is fun!

26 July 2021 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Written by William Mansell

Learning a language can be a hard process, but it can also be a rewarding one. Swedish is no exception whatever your aims. Whether you are learning for fun, work or planning to move to Sweden, learning Swedish can be fun!

Now we know that the Swedes are a very proficient bunch of people and their high level of English can make practicing with a Swede that bit trickier! Outside Sweden the chances of finding/knowing a Swede are slim, so here are some methods I regularly use to learn Swedish.

Online Language Apps:

In the age of technology, with 101 different resources available to us at our fingertips. The easiest & fastest way is to use an app such as Duolingo for as little as 5 minutes a day. Broken into manageable sections, Duolingo supplies you with lots of vocabulary & some grammar. I personally like that I can practice all elements from writing & listening to speaking.

TV / Film / Music:

A favourite way of learning for me is to simply watch to programs or films in Swedish. Subtitles can be set in English, Swedish or another language. With many great ‘Scandi-noir’ series and much more accessible on Netflix & Svt-Play it couldn’t be easier.

This style of unconscious learning allows you to get familiar with hearing Swedish & seeing it in written form. Soon you start to pick up words and phrases that you understand. (Please note: Fika or snacks always help! Especially Lördagsgodis!)

The same technique can be applied to music. Sweden is home to a booming music industry and there is no shortage of songs in Swedish. Watch the annual Melodifestivalen show in February, Allsång på Skansen in the summer or listen to the familiar songs of ABBA in their native Swedish. ABBA 100% makes Swedish fun!

Not only it helps to improve your knowledge of the language but also gives you an insight into Swedish culture at the same time.

Some recommendations: Storst av Allt (Quicksand) Bonusfamiljen (Bonus Family) Kärlek och Anarki (Love & Anarchy) Snabba Cash (Fast Money) Melodifestivalen (Sweden’s Eurovision selection) Allsång på Skansen (Sing a long concerts) Julkalendern (Christmas Tv advent calendar)

Check out www.svtplay.se for more!

Books & News:

For me books come at a later stage of learning as you need a certain level of vocabulary & grammar understanding. Having said that, children’s books are a great place to start. For example picture & word books with simple sentences. As your Swedish improves you can advance to teenage & young adult texts until you feel comfortable reading at a native level.

One of my favourites, ‘Short stories in Swedish’ by Olly Richards, breaks up the reading process into sections:

Look at the story title and illustration
Read a chapter of the story
Read a short summary at the end to see if you’ve understood the chapter
Review a vocabulary list of any unfamiliar words
Answer key questions to test your knowledge of the chapter
Re-read as many times until you feel you’ve comfortably understood the story.

8 Sidor is a news website with short articles in everyday Swedish. It covers local and international news that you may have heard in your native language. There is also the option of listening to the articles, making this a quick and easy tool to add to your everyday routine.

How do you make learning Swedish fun? Will you be adding any of these into a new learning routine? Let us know in the comments.

About the Author
I’m a wannabie Swede, currently living in the UK, hoping to soon call Sweden home! A designer, creator and all-round Swedish fan, I am highly interested in the culture, music, design, nature & of course Fika! When I’m not travelling, I also love to watch Scandi noirs, listen to Swedish music & I watch Melodifestivalen every year! These have all helped me to develop my Swedish language skills!

How to survive the Swedish winter?

1 July 2021 By The Newbie Team 1 Comment

Written by Malena Rasetto

Let it cool down a bit and talk about my experience in a Swedish winter. Unfortunately, I’m no longer in Sweden to talk about the summer. Instead, I spent 5 months in such a country, I had the real experience of Swedish winter.

Jockmock – December 2021. Photo by Malena

I lived in such winter last December until April 2021. It was quite an experience I really enjoyed! But how to survive the Swedish winter? I mean, me coming from Argentina, where winter is not colder than 0°C and the maximum is 16°C…

How to survive the Swedish winter?

I knew that all I needed was good clothes. So, before moving to Sweden, back in December 2020, I bought a second-hand snow trouser, and I had thermal t-shirts and tights. However, that was not enough! I also needed good gloves and a hat.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have good gloves, so my hands suffered the cold, sometimes I used to borrow gloves from my hosts, which were made to survive the -30°C.

And what about the boots? Ok, yes! You’ll really need special boots, those kinds of boots your feet won’t breathe but won’t suffer the cold either. Plus, thermal socks; or if you wanna feel Scandinavian for a bit, those cool wool socks everyone wears on Christmas (you can buy them in second-hand shops).

My experience

Östersund - February 2021. Photo by Malena — Östersund – February 2021. Photo by Malena

Now, you may be wondering what I have done for months up north when it’s cold and dark! Well, I enjoyed life. I caught few Northern Lights, learnt how to ski, walked in frozen lakes, and froze standing on a frozen lake waiting for Northern Lights that never appear… Do you remember watching movies where the guys are standing outside and ended up completely white like in Home Alone? Ok, that was me the whole of January trying to survive a Swedish winter.

When it comes to such weather, you need to enjoy life, go out despite the cold. A place is as beautiful in winter as it is in summer.

I remember being in Kiruna for Christmas, I had 2 hours of daylight from 12 am to 14 pm, but I woke up at around 8 to go on tours, and enjoy the snow. I spent Christmas in Kiruna, what an amazing experience! I booked a tour in a sled and had dinner in the mountains trying to see the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see them, but that didn’t ruin my experience, or even, my Christmas. I was living the dream.

If I have to recommend spending winter in Sweden, I would say be prepare. It may sound silly but during the night, given it is so white outside, it looks daylight. The landscape, the view, and the experience worth it! So, sit back, get ready and enjoy the Swedish winter.

E-learning course: Preparing your move to Sweden
Are you already feeling a bit overwhelmed about all the stuff you need to figure out how to move to Sweden? We’ve got you covered. Over the years we’ve been repeatedly told just stressful this process can be so we created a digital course with all the information you need to move. Here you will learn about:

Short (and long facts) about Sweden.
The history and background of Sweden in regards to democracy, religious freedom, gender equality, social security, child welfare and LGBTQIA+.
The types of visas and residence permits that are available plus the requirements.
Important Swedish agencies, and trust us, you DO need to know about these ones.
How to find a place to stay and how to avoid rental fraud.
How to pack for your move depending on the season.
And there will be some quizzes to make sure you are paying attention and not falling asleep at your screen.
After finishing this course, you will have a greater understanding of what has made Sweden what it is today, how you best prepare for a move here and to get your stay here started in the best manner.

Sign up to your course here

About the Author
Hej! I’m Malena. I’m an Argentinian travelling Sweden. After living in Ireland for 2 years and a half I decided to start backpacking Europe. I’ve been living with different families since then. I love to be around different cultures, I love outdoor activities like hiking and swimming. I love blogging, reading and writing. You can find me on Instagram as @malenarasetto. I really hope you enjoy my articles! Vi ses!

Bringing Sweden Home

22 June 2021 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Written by William Mansell

Scandinavian design, what images do you get? Many people around the world turn to Sweden & Scandinavia when it comes to design, and it’s clear to see why. As a designer, I am constantly inspired when creating interiors. Here are some tips for ‘bringing Sweden home’ & making your home extra Swedish, whether living in Sweden or not.

In short the design principles of Scandinavian design are simple; interiors are minimalist & clutter free, creating impact from a select few objects that are functional, sustainable & aesthetic.

Paired back colour palette

The go to White, black & pastels often with pops of vibrant colours. White is great for reflecting light, especially on the darkest of days, while black provides a visual contrast. Other colours can be added throughout to brighten & liven spaces up.

Natural materials

Used in flooring, cladding, furniture & accessories, woods add much needed warmth to interiors as well as strengthening the connection to nature. Soft furnishings like reindeer or sheep skins and plants also help.

Geometric patterns & graphic prints

Whether through wallpapers & art or cushions & blankets, in small pops, geometric patterns are great for adding visual interest throughout every room in the house.

Signature pieces

A signature piece of furniture is often at the heart of any great Scandinavian interior. Typically beautifully crafted & more expensive, items such as a slim, wooden low sideboard or an Arne Jacobsen Egg chair propel an interior to greatness.

When I say Sweden, you say IKEA! The first place people think of when talking Swedish design is IKEA. Created by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943, the furniture store has revolutionised flat-pack culture and made furniture & other interior products available to the masses at great prices. With a large product range, IKEA has allowed people to create entire spaces on budgets.

While IKEA is the talk of the town, there are so many other places you can visit to buy Swedish design or simply collect inspiration. Notably Stockholm is home to many chain & independent stores, so check some out!

DesignHouse Stockholm, Svenskt Tenn & Design Torget are amongst my favourites offering beautiful products & furniture in the higher price bracket, however they are worth the money, especially for those well crafted signature pieces.

Scandinavian design at other stores

Clas Ohlsen – Low price range
Lagerhaus – Low price range
Design Torget – Mid-High price range
DesignHouse Stockholm – High price range
Svenskt Tenn – High price range

Find out more here.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve made your home extra Swedish or how you plan on bringing a slice of Sweden home!

About the Author
I’m a wannabie Swede, currently living in the UK, hoping to soon call Sweden home! A designer, creator and all-round Swedish fan, I am highly interested in the culture, music, design, nature & of course Fika! When I’m not travelling, I also love to watch Scandi noirs, listen to Swedish music & I watch Melodifestivalen every year! These have all helped me to develop my Swedish language skills!

Mother’s Day in Sweden

27 May 2021 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

May is soon ending, bringing us closer to the summer months. But it is not over yet. Do you know what is celebrated in Sweden at the end of May? It’s Mother’s Day, Mors Dag in Swedish.

Disclaimer: To keep The Newbie Guide free, we use affiliate links (marked with *) and may get a commission if you buy using these links. This does not affect our opinions and our writers always recommend their best for your Swedish experience. So if you want to support our work, simply use these links if or when you need to buy a service or product.

In Sweden, this day is always celebrated on the last Sunday of May. This is late compared to the other countries and the reason for this late date is to make it possible for everyone all around the country to go outside and pick blooming flowers.

A bit of history – Mother’s Day in Sweden )

Mother’s Day was founded in Sweden in 1919 on the initiative of the author Cecilia Bååth-Holmberg following the American model. In a small booklet called “Mother’s Day” which was published in 1920, there were a number of instructions for how the day could be celebrated:

The Swedish flag is hoisted from the home’s flagpole.
Mother is greeted in the morning with songs by the children.
Before getting out of bed, she was offered good coffee and bread, prepared by the children. She is honored with flowers and a small gift.
She is, as far as possible, to rest and be free from all housework that day. The children make the bed, sweep, cook and do the dishes.
At the afternoon coffee or in the evening, a small ceremony was held, where the father in the house participated.
Absent children should send a letter or telegram or postcard, specially made for Mother’s Day.

Nowadays

Mother’s Day is not an official holiday in Sweden and therefore not a flag day but it has nevertheless become a very popular holiday in the country.

It is usually a day of some celebration, where everyone takes the opportunity to show extra appreciation for their mothers. And who knows, unlike the fathers of 1920, modern dads are probably doing some of the cooking and cleaning and child caring :-).

Looking for Mothers day gifts?

The biggest gift for many mums is just to get a call, a visit, some quality time and a bit of extra love and care. But if you want to do some extra, you can get her some nice flowers. You can bring them yourself or have them delivered. If you don’t know where to order flowers online, we suggest Interflora*, with them you can send flowers within Sweden and also abroad.

You can also have a look at Lampgallerian* if you know your mum is looking for some cool and pretty new lamps for her house. Or, why not book a holiday holiday for the two of you? Once the travel restrictions are over of course!

But what if all is not sunshine and roses and you have some resentment towards your mother? You are probably not alone in this but Mother’s Day is a good opportunity to forget old arguments and hopefully make nice again. Perhaps you could bring her a picture of the two of you together (preferably from before you fell out:.-)). It will make you think about nice and meaningful times spent together.

This special date is also an opportunity to remember and honour the mothers who are no longer with us, perhaps by lighting a candle or planting a beautiful flower on a grave.

Mother’s Day in Sweden is this week on Sunday! Get ready and organise something special and unforgettable for your mum.

When is Mother’s Day in your country and how do you usually celebrate it? Let us know in the comments below!

Remember to tag us on our social media while celebrating this special day with your loved ones.

Wish you a nice celebration to all of you.

Source of information (in Swedish) – Nordiska Museet, Morsdag.

How I became a Moominmamma

28 August 2020 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

Have you read Tove Jansson’s Moomin books? If you haven’t, you must, and if you have – re-read them. Not only are they beautifully written, subtly philosophical and thoroughly entertaining – I believe they reveal the Northern soul. In this article, I explore the connection between the Moomins and the Swedish/Nordic mentality – if there is such a thing.

This article is written by Tatiana Sokolova a continuation of ‘The Moomins and the Swedish/Nordic mentality’, which you are very welcome to read here

Moominmamma’s bag

Another source of my childhood fascination was Moominmamma’s bag.

‘Was there something important in it?’ they ask Moominmamma in Finn Family Moomintroll, when the bag disappears.

‘No, just the things which one needs in an emergency. Dry socks, candies, steel wire, stomach powders and such’.

Elsewhere I read, fascinated, how Moominmamma pulls out some dry socks for everyone from her bag.

We all know that in most cultures mothers do have this kind of magical bags – or at least they used to have. (My mother-in-law definitely still does, and the powers of her bag are truly remarkable.) Leaving aside the discussion of what or who Moominmamma represents in Tove Jansson’s stories, it is instructive to see WHAT EXACTLY constitutes the emergency items – and it was the CONTENT of the bag that fascinated me so.

Elsewhere in Finn Family Moomintroll we see Moominmamma packing:

‘blankets, saucepans, coffeepot, food, sunscreen, matches, everything to eat on, in and with, umbrellas, warm clothes, stomach powders, whisks, cushions, mosquito net, swimming trunks, a table cloth and her bag’.

(It’s incredible how much more sense this list makes to me now, when I am a Moominmamma myself, then it did when I was 7… 15… 20…)

I guess what fascinated me (apart from the ever-present coffeepot) was that the list represented things needed for comfort, and more specifically for altering, adapting the environment for one’s comfort. I believe it to be one of the key features of the Nordic/Swedish life.

To illustrate my point, I’d like you to take a trip to two places: a) Clas Ohlson and b) some sports shop, like Stadium. Nowhere else have I seen:

a) so many things, big and small, designed to make your life, in all its imaginable and unimaginable aspects, comfortable, enjoyable and beautiful;

b) so many things, big and small, designed to make you enjoy an active outdoor life, while looking very elegant – and things which last literarily forever.

Swedes/the Nordic people are not conquerors of nature. They are its admirers and wilful, determined negotiators. And everything they do, they do not with chic as some of their Southern European counterparts, but with understated style. Armed by beautiful, extra-light, super-portable, weatherproof, everlasting coffeepots made of organically grown metal, and a good dose of irony – like Tove.

The sea

I grew up in a landlocked part of Siberia, surrounded by great rivers and great woods, and the description of culture based on a proximity to the sea was awe-inspiring for me. The multiple references to bathing, boating, fishing, and all the things maritime, as part of a mundane, everyday experience, aroused a kind of jealousy in me.

‘Oh, to be a newly awoken Moomintroll and dance in the bottle-green waves at sunrise!’

…exclaims Tove, and I wondered what it would actually feel like.

Or, to the contrary, observe from the shore how:

‘The sea had changed its face. It was now black-green, and foam crowned the waves, while the depths glowed yellow, like phosphorus. Growling gloomily, the storm was approaching from the south, spreading its black sails over the sea’.

Mesmerising, isn’t it? Yes, the sea can be warm and friendly, and it can be scary and glorious, but it can also be very cultured, and a manifestation of that is a bathhouse.

What on earth is a bathhouse, I wondered as a child. And why would one have such a thing? But I knew intuitively that in the Magic Winter a bathhouse represented summer, joy, safety, perhaps life itself – in contrast to winter, which at first for a Moomintroll who suddenly awoke from hibernation, was synonymous to depression, danger, and death.

‘He looked at the wardrobe and thought how wonderful it was to know that his old bathrobe was hanging there. That in the midst of everything new and disturbing there was something safe and familiar. He knew that his bathrobe was blue and missed the hanger, and that there presumably lay a pair of sunglasses in one pocket’.

Once he is prohibited to open the wardrobe, Moomintroll becomes possessed by the desire to do it, to see that the bathrobe is actually still there. And as long as he cannot do it, he can never feel safe. In the end, when he does open it and wears his bathrobe, it turns out that instead of the sunglasses there was a stone in the pocket, still warm from the summer sun. And by opening the wardrobe in the bathhouse, Moomintroll lets out the ‘ancestor’, some kind of a spirit of the past.

The bathhouse is important. It is a place where we change clothes before going swimming – and thus it represents a preparation for diving into the sea. That is a very potent symbol: of joy, adventure, life – but equally oblivion and death. Not something to toy with, in other words. And Swedes/Nordic people take these things seriously. They build constructions and design things that facilitate the sea exploration and admiration, and whose names travel into other languages, including my own.

Less philosophically, the sea is an unalienable part of the Swedish/Nordic life and culture, something you cannot get away from. Summer holidays by the sea probably shape the mentality of people here from an early age, but the sea is present year-round, every day.

As Moomintroll longed to put on his bathrobe in the middle of the winter to enwrap himself in the summer memories, so I longed to try these sea impressions on myself when I was a child. Today, seeing a narrow stretch of the Baltic Sea from my balcony as I sip my Sunday morning coffee makes me one truly happy Moominmamma.

About the Author
Tatiana Sokolova is an investigator, collector and classifier of cultures, places, and ways of expression – the very things which often defy classification. She lives in Stockholm with her intercultural family. She is a researcher, a freelancer of various trades, and a little bit a photographer. Also a little bit a writer of short stories, and an aficionada – a lover of flamenco song, guitar, clapping and dance.