The Newbie Guide to Sweden

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

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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.

Celebrating Midsommar

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What makes everyone in Sweden happy? Summer. Life in Sweden can be sometimes challenging due to the long and dark winters. But it changes when comes the summer and the light brings people together. In Sweden, there is even one special day when people are united to literally have a party celebration of fertility and of the light. It’s called – Midsommar.

Midsommar has that special bond that brings friends, relatives and villagers together to a field or a park in a city. There we dance and sing around a Maypole. Some eat classical picnic food, some indulge into the Swedish traditional sill, potatis och snaps! Don’t forget! Midsummer can’t be without strawberries! Hopefully, the weather God Thor gives us sunshine with blue sky as the Swedish flag. But despite the weather people are still smiling and dancing. Midsommar is as important as Christmas in Sweden, instead of expecting gifts, everyone just rejoices that summer has arrived.

Modern Midsommar

Without a doubt, Midsommar is the most phenomenal event to a newbie in Sweden. If you stay in a city, you might think you are in a bad apocalyptic movie. Most people leave the cities for the countryside, therefore the city suddenly becomes quiet, although it is the opposite situation on the E4 road.

The Midsommar was originally a festival for pagan farmers, with traditions that existed long before the arrival of Christianity. They were celebrating the fertility of nature and welcoming the light after darkness. Now we might say, most Swedes celebrate the 5-week vacation starting from Midsommar.

Traditionally, the most common start of the day is to pick wildflowers to make wreaths to stick on a maypole. The maypole is the key to the whole celebration, representing fertility. When the maypole is raised, people gather around to dance and sing. Most importantly it is the culmination of Swedish midsommar, don’t stand aside but jump in the crowd. Singing a song about a frog with Swedes, that’s fun!

What’s so special about Midsummer?

It is the magic of the bright night. The lightest and longest day that created many various mysterious legends and rituals which some people still do until today. The one day of the year when collectively everyone in Sweden are genuinely happy! Who wouldn’t be happy about summer days after the long dark winters? Eller hur?!

My experience in a community Midsommar

This story is about a community outside Stockholm, where people came together to build a Midsommar festival. People of all ages and backgrounds came together all night celebrating. The community was a large group of friends and nearby villages and towns. In some ways, all of these people knew each other. It seemed like a big family of 100 people.

As a newbie in this community, everything seemed exciting. I lived on this farm as a wwoofer (organic farm volunteer) for a month. Then suddenly on a Wednesday night, the Swedish farm solitude changed. A group of people arrived to start preparations. At first, I felt confused by all the activity on the farm. I knew we would hold a Midsommar party, but the amount of work seemed like it was going to be larger than I expected. Indeed, it was.

The best lesson I had about Swedish social codex was that Midsommar is the day when rules don’t exist, I could approach anyone without any difficulties. At the party, I was busy with errands to help out as a volunteer. However, I still got to experience a very different Midsommar celebration from what I was used to in my home country.

The magical moment

In my home country Latvia, Midsommar is equally important as in Sweden, so in some ways, it wasn’t all new to me. Swedes love to explain what Midsommar is all about, so maybe I was the boring “foreigner” at the party who already knew what Summer Solstice was. The party itself was amazing. It was not just a big party, but a magical gathering of a community, all together sharing the happiness, smiling, laughing and dancing. People of this community enchanted me, I fell in love with Sweden. Looking back at this event, I have not experienced any other Midsommar like this ever again. It was one of a kind.

The morning after, Djs turned off the music, and people moved to the fields. Everyone laid down in the field of wildflowers to watch the sunrise. That’s one of the magical midsummer rituals. Stay awake until sunrise and experience that wonderful natural phenomenon of light. It was three days of fun, but it felt like one day. So, the goodbyes on Sunday morning were difficult, as I had met many new friends and we didn’t want to leave this little Midsommar “paradise” already.

Midsommer, 2013. Foto: Elina Nomad photography

How to find a party like this?

It’s not easy. I know for instance this farm doesn’t create a festival like this anymore. If it’s your first year in Sweden, try to find a village or town in the countryside where they create a traditional Midsommar party open to the public. Afterwards, it becomes more of private, but one good idea – rent a cottage with friends or go camping, and create your own version of Swedish midsommer. Midsommar, after all, is all about being outdoors in nature.

Just put on a wildflower crown and you are already fully ready for a midsummer party!

If interested to see more the full story: elinanomad-adventurediary.

Written by Elina Nomad

“The queen of the roads in Sweden”, that’s how my newly met Swedish friends called me. To Sweden, I came as a hitchhiker, a nomad with a smartphone capturing my moments. During my exploring, I met a “different Sweden” which is not written about in tourist guides yet. I became curious and fascinated by “Swedishness” which I also explored in academic studies a bit. Currently, I am more or less off the road as a freelance photographer and community manager, and content creator. Occasionally I am a house sitter in the Skåne countryside. About my adventures, I keep a diary blog and Instagram. Hope my stories inspire you to explore Sweden more!

 

Sweden’s sweet holidays

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Sweden is most known for its sweet treats, in various kinds and all forms and flavours. Swedish fika is an essential part of every day’s (and everyone’s) life and you should not miss it out by any chance. For some sweets, however, there is a special day in the year or even more often.

Fettisagen – eating semlor

At the beginning of the year, the ‘semla‘ (plural: semlor) or ‘fettisdagsbulle‘ has its big launch. That occasion will only happen once a year. Right before Lent, on the so-called Fat-Tuesday, Swedes trade their cinnamon bun for these buns. The semla is a cardamom-spiced bun with a cut-off top. It is filled with almond paste and topped with whipped cream.

Semlor captured by Dani on Unsplash

Vaffeldagen – eating vafflor

On March 25th, there will be waffles all around. This tradition refers to Christian Carfrudagen, which indeed slightly sounds like Vaffeldagen but is no longer linked to religion. Nowadays it marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Waffles captured by Sheelah Brennan on Unsplash

Pannkakordagen – eating pancakes

Then we have the Swedish Pancake Day – wich happens every Thursday all year long, to be more precisely.  Here in Sweden, the beloved ‘pannkaka‘ (plural: pannkakor) is not part of Sunday’s brunch. It is a special treat on the afternoon, or right after lunch – as a kind of dessert. Traditionally, you will have it with whipped cream and jam. Also, you will notice that the pancake itself is rather savory than sweet.

Pancakes captured by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash

Kanelbullardagen – eating banelbullar

Last but not least, the most famous pastry in Sweden also has its own special day during the year. The ‘kanelbulle’ (plural: kanelbullar) is celebrated on October 4th. On this special day, you will not find any other bullar than this one. However, you can eat cinnamon buns all year long. You will probably find it difficult to survive without at least one bun a week. 🙂

Cinnamon bun captured by Anjeli Lundblad on Unsplash

Have you tried any of these delicious Swedish pastries? Do you have a favorite one? 🙂

Written by Lara Siebert
Hejsan! I am Lara, a German Newbie to Sweden and recent business studies and German graduate from Mannheim University. Since my semester abroad in Växjö nearly two years ago, Sweden did not let me go, as I always wanted to come back. And now, I finally will: having a bachelor’s degree in my pocket and a bucket list filled with adventures, my first stop will be a three months lasting internship in Gothenburg. As much as I am looking forward to gathering experiences in working life, I am also excited about exploring this great city with all its culture, nature and people. I hope you enjoy my impressions as much as I do. Vi hörs!

Settle in Sweden within 1 year

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Written by Teenie Fung

Have you considered moving to Sweden alone? Are you worried about the language, culture, job opportunities, cost of living etc? It can be extremely daunting to move from one place to another. However, life is short but remember that preparation is key and adaptation comes next. 

Do your homework, measure the risk and reward. If the risk is too high to lose, have a backup plan or improve your current situation before rushing for relocation. Nothing is impossible! Here’s how I relocated and settled in Sweden within one year. I hope you can find it useful!

Before relocation

Savings are essential to buffer unforeseen risks of relocation. Once you have a work contract, you will need to apply for a work visa from your home country. The waiting time can go from four months to one year depending on the job/ employer. There are jobs that are prioritized in the application process, be sure to check first with ‘Migrationsverket‘ before applying for any jobs.

1. Learn the culture

  • Think long-term. ‘The sense of belonging’ is crucial when you move to a new country. Do you also have special connection to Sweden?
  • Make some friends from Sweden in the country you are currently residing in. Join activities organized by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and other Swedish-related organizations/meet-ups. Get to know the Swedish community!
  • Learn the Swedish history and traditions! Sweden is full of heritage and rich culture. You will enjoy more Sweden if you know more about it.
  • Buy a book to learn basic Swedish!
  • Visit Sweden during short holiday breaks and meet up with your Swedish friends!

E-learning courses

Feel a bit overwhelmed about all the stuff you need to learn and do before, during and after your move to Sweden? We’ve got you covered with some of our great and affordable digital courses:

2. Line up job interviews

  • The worst thing when coming to Sweden is to have no income and waiting for a miracle to happen. If you haven’t already done your homework, 70% of the population in Sweden are Swedes. The majority of jobs in Sweden require a very good level of the Swedish language.
  • The best strategy is to prepare for multiple job interviews and be as prepared as possible.
  • Set goals and stay motivated.

How to land job offers in Sweden?

Work out every possibility you can think of. Just do it! Don’t only submit your CV to Arbetsförmedlingen if you are a young professional with work experience and a university degree.

  • Get referrals from your current network, don’t be afraid to ask! Network, network and network. This is how I got my first job in Sweden!
  • Check if your current employers have offices in Sweden. If so, you can try to request a transfer wherever appropriate.
  • Leverage your skill sets: Focus your job search on the industry that you have the longest work experience in (at least 2 years). Think from the employer’s point of view. Why they should hire someone from outside Sweden when they can hire someone close to them with the same skill set? Know your strengths. Apply to jobs where you are in a more advantageous position compared to a local.
  • Apply to companies with international business exposure. They are the ones who are most likely to hire foreigners. Know the hiring season in Sweden. June to Aug and Nov-Jan are holiday seasons in Sweden. Job opportunities during these months are extremely low, hence it’s best that you don’t end up in Sweden without a job especially at this time of the year. The best way is to relocate just before the hiring season. Meeting employers in person will hugely increase your chances of getting hired than a Skype/phone interview.
  • Create a long list of companies you want to work for on excel. Do your research on them and mark down your application status.
  • Find jobs that don’t require Swedish in the job description. Don’t waste time applying for jobs where the Swedish language is a must.
  • Try connecting with employees of the companies you want to work for on Linkedin by sending a short note to express interests and ask constructive questions. Speak to Headhunters if possible.
  • Make international cold calls: Sweden is a very open and transparent country. You will easily find a phone number and email address on many company websites. Be brave and make a call to a decision maker for a job interview. Make sure you prepare before the call! Buy an unlimited monthly plan on Skype for 75 KR/ month (much cheaper than using roaming or calling cards) and get a Swedish phone number  It shows that you have interests in moving to Sweden.
  • Go to Career Fairs in universities (e.g. Stockholm School of Economics) and meet employers in person. Bring your CV. You can do that during your short holiday trip.
    First day of work in Stockholm!
    The first day of work in Stockholm!

Most importantly…

  • Know the visa process from head to toe. Call ‘Migrationsverket‘ and ask all the questions you can think of. The queue on the telephone line is extremely long, but it’s worth it! Consult them about the work visa process and your nationality. Most employers don’t know the process. Knowing the process will get you one step closer to landing an offer.

Understand that Sweden is not as international as big cities like London, Hong Kong, Paris and New York. Yet, Stockholm is one of the most innovative cities in the world. The Swedish economy survives by exporting,  so there will always be jobs here for foreigners. Locals are very welcoming despite the recent immigration problem. You just need to find like-minded people as everywhere else in the world!

Ring the bell with me in Nasdaq Stockholm when you are ready!

3. Accommodations:

Watch out for scams! There are many scams online if you try to find accommodation before visiting the flat in person.

  • Ask your friends and new colleagues for short term stay accommodation. Stay in a hotel or Airbnb.
  • Find rental apartments on Blocket and visit the apartment.
  • It’s great to experience living in different areas in Stockholm as an expat. Later on, you may want to buy an apartment to cope with the endless moving.

How to identify scams

The so-called ‘landlord’ might pretend to get to know about you. You may have even Skyped with the person. They might create multiple fake ‘flatmates’ to email you and try to ‘get to know you’. But this person can still be fake.

  • Ask the person for a personal number and full name (This is a unique number given to all Swedish citizens). You can search the person’s information online on hitta.se as there’s no secrets in Sweden! If you don’t find a matching name, personal number and address of this person and its property, then it is a fake. If they refuse to provide you with their personal number, they are likely to be scams no matter what excuses they give.
  • They only want you to send money to a bank account outside Sweden e.g. Spain. That’s because they want to cover up their traces in Sweden in case you reach out to the police.
  • The person disregards you right away when you insist to visit the flat first in person. That’s because they don’t really have one!
  • The contract is too simple – google “scam contract” and check if you have the same copy. Google what terms there should be on a normal contract.

Check for other warnings here on another newbie post.

After relocation: First year in Sweden

1. Welcome to Sweden! Now, get yourself into the happy circle of Sweden!

  • Reconnect with your Swedish friends from the country you previously live in. Make new friends through group hangouts!
  • Go to events organized by Meetup and Eventbrite
  • It’s a modern world. Use different apps on your phone to enlarge your network of friends, but be safe!
  • As everyone says, the fastest way to learn Swedish is to be in contact with a Swedish. And the best way to fall in love with Sweden! I met my boyfriend, John, in Sweden coincidently soon after I started my new life here. He’s a great person with a lovely family!
  • Buy warm clothes! As the Swedish say: “Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder.” Appreciate the darkness and snow. Get candles and make your home a nice and cozy place.

2. Register for SFI and attend as many classes as possible.

I work full time and I attend Swedish classes every Monday and Wednesday after work from 17.30 to 20.30.

  • You need Swedish to live in Sweden. Everything is in Swedish except the airport and the main train station. Respect local culture and learn the language like you would also want others to respect your own when they are in your country. Eventually, this will open many doors you have never believed possible before. When you finish SFI, you can do this.
  • You will meet like-minded friends with a similar background. They will most likely become your lifelong friends in Sweden.
  • You are more likely to pass SFI exams when you set a goal with your classmates. Study with your friends and help each other even outside the course.

3. Travel to as many places as possible in/near Sweden.

  • Take a trip to Sälen for skiing, Båstad for the beach, Visby for the medieval week, Copenhagen for city exploration and the 10,000 Swedish islands on the archipelago!

Skiing in Sälen
Skiing in Sälen
Beach life in Båstad, Sweden
Beach life in Båstad, Sweden

 

Parliament in Copenhagen
Parliament in Copenhagen

And here you go! You will settle in in no time! Lycka till! (Good luck)

 

About the author

Teenie is a Stockholm-based investment advisor and tech enthusiast. Inspired by the gigantic potential of Stockholm aka ‘Unicorn Factory’, Teenie left her job from a top-tier bank in Hong Kong and moved to Sweden in 2017. She’s also the creator of an online activewear brand (yogafriday.com) and the founder of a fashion community that is still active today in England. At present, Teenie continues to seek for emerging technologies in pursuit of improving everyday living and a better future.

Swedish Summer Berries

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Written by Sara Costa

Swedish forests are abundant in berries at this time of the year, which is actually one of my favorite things about the Swedish summer. I love the variety and the versatility that berries offer. One can make jams, drinks, pies, crumbles, cakes, sorbets or eat them fresh. However, not all types of berries fit all types of cooking/eating. Plus, there are so many different kinds that it might be difficult to recognize them, both in the bush or in the supermarket. Don’t worry though… here is a crash course in Swedish berries.

Svarta vinbär (blackcurrant)

Dark berries, black on the outside and dark red on the inside, with quite an intense tart flavour. They might not be the best to eat fresh but they make great jams, sorbets and juices.

Blackcurrant berries
Blackcurrant berries (Photo: Sara Costa)

Lingon (lingonberries)

Lingonberries are one of the most common and versatile berries at the Swedish table. Small bright red berries with a sour taste. They can be used to make drinks (saft or cocktails), jam (lingonsylt) and as a compliment in savoury or sweet dishes. In savoury dishes you will probably find them on the side of meat, such as steak, meatballs, or pannbiff.

Source: Pixabay

Blåbär (blueberries)

Blueberries are small blue berries, very juicy and not too sweet, but not really sour either (if matured anyway). One can use them in nearly everything, from pies and cakes to jams and even a sweet soup. Warm blueberry soup is traditionally consumed during Vasaloppet, a 90 Km long ski race. However, my favourite way to eat these berries is fresh with some yogurt and granola.

Source: Pixabay

Röda vinbär (redcurrant)

They are like blackcurrants but in vibrant red and with a slightly more intense flavour. Their looks are quite attractive and therefore, are often used to decorate cakes and tarts. Redcurrant juice is also delicious. Do not mix these with lingonberries, both are red and about the same size but the taste is different.

Redcurrant crumble, my favourite! (Photo: Sara Costa)

Hallon (raspberries)

Raspberries are red, juicy and sweet. Just as blueberries, the best way to eat them is fresh with yogurt, vanilla ice cream or cream. They also make delicious jams and they brighten up any cake.

Photo: Sara Costa

Krusbär (gooseberries)

Gooseberries exist in several varieties, cultivated or wild, they can be green, yellow or red. They are sour if picked too early and have a somewhat special taste when mature. If the taste is too strong when fresh, try to use them in desserts. They are delicious in cakes, crumbles and other desserts.

 

Gooseberries
Photo: Sara Costa

Nypon (Rose hips)

Orange berries, slightly larger in size than others, they are most commonly used to make soup (nypon soup). Don’t be fooled – Nypon soup is served in desserts, with ice cream or with cream.

Photo: Sara Costa

Hjortron (cloudberries)

Some call it the king of all berries, probably because the taste is so special and hard to describe. They look like orange/yellowish raspberries, although their taste is very different. They can be eaten fresh with some vanilla ice cream and they make a great jam. The jam is best on top of baked/grilled camembert cheese.

Source: Pixabay

Björnbär

Similar looking to raspberries but black. They are sweet when matured and grow mostly wild in the forest. They taste great fresh, in jams or in crumbles.

Source: Pixabay

Smultron (wild strawberries)

Smultron is just like a strawberry, but smaller and they usually grow wild. Strawberries are not actually berries, but I included these here because they are quite popular in Sweden. The flavour is sweeter and more intense than regular strawberries, so eat them fresh off the bush.

Wild strawberries
Photo: Sara Costa

The list is endless and I could continue but I think I covered the most common ones. Keep in mind that berries are very nutritious as they are loaded with vitamins. There’s a lot to choose from, so pick your favourites and enjoy the berry season!
About the Author 
Hej! I’m a Portuguese Newbie in Sweden. I have also lived in Brazil, Poland and the Czech Republic. It’s been fun to be a foreigner in so many different countries and I enjoy learning about other cultures. I’m a fan of sports, some to watch and some to practise, my favourite being running. I also love food, reading and blogging. I hope you enjoy my posts!

Schools Out for Sommar! Celebrating the skolavslutning in Sweden.

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It’s that time of year again when schools begin to wind down towards the summer break, and students of all ages begin to dream of the long holidays ahead.

Waffles served at a preschool avslutning

In Sweden, there is one important tradition to take part in before children and teens can bid their classes farewell and head for the beach: the skolavslutning.

The skolavslutning is the end of term ceremony which takes place in schools all over Sweden both at Christmas (julavslutning) and in the summer (sommaravslutning). Pupils and staff gather together for speeches, songs and fika (maybe even a bbq or a picnic), dressed in their smartest clothes and accompanied by their parents.

Well known for their love of seasonal songs, the Swedes have several much-loved tunes which are often heard at sommaravslutningar. Den blomstertid nu kommer is an old psalm heralding the arrival of the sun and summer flowers, it remains popular to this day. Amongst younger children, Astrid Lindgren’s summer songs are popular – either Idas sommarvisa or Pippi Longstocking’s Sommaren är min (see text below), which revels in all that summer brings with it, from freckled cheeks to sweet smelling hay.

 Och nu så vill jag sjunga
att sommaren är skön
och träden är så fina
och marken är så grön.
Och blommorna är vackra
och höet luktar gott
och solen är så solig
och vattnet är så vått.
Och lilla fågeln flyger
i boet ut och in
och därför vill jag sjunga
att sommaren är min.

Och jag vill också sjunga
att fjärilar är bra
och alla söta myggor
dom vill jag också ha
och jag är brun om bena
precis som det ska va
och därför vill jag sjunga
att bruna ben är bra.
Och jag har nya fräknar
och prickigt sommarskin
och därför vill jag sjunga
att sommaren är min.

Härligt, vad? But don’t be fooled into thinking that the end of school in Sweden is a serene celebration.

 

Watch out in early June for the students celebrating their graduation from high school (gymnasiet) – once the avslutning is over, the party starts. Students are unmissable in their suits and white dresses, accompanied by the student cap, and decorated with medals, trinkets and Swedish flags.

In many places students hire and decorate flatbed trucks and are driven around the town, music blaring and champagne corks popping, whilst their adoring parents look on and wave giant commemorative posters with the student’s graduation date and a cute baby picture.

Make no mistake, the Swedes sure know how to mark the end of school, and they certainly know how to make the most of the beautiful summers. Glad sommar!

 

Featured Image:

Mats Fallqvist, Länsmuseet Gävleborg

Written by Sarah Campbell

Hej! I’m Sarah. I’m from the UK and I live in Uppsala with my husband and our two children. I am a language teacher and freelance writer, and my husband is a researcher. It was his work with moss (yes, moss!) which brought us to this beautiful country, and we absolutely love it here! Highlights of our life here so far include experiencing the midnight sun in Abisko during an epic Arctic Circle roadtrip, blissful summers in Dalarna, and meeting Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria (along with Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge!) in Stockholm’s historic Gamla Stan.

Champagne, rafting and bonfires – Celebrating Valborg in Uppsala

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Have you celebrated Walpurgis Night in Sweden yet?  Or Valborg, as it is known in Swedish?

Each year on the 30th April, crowds gather in many Swedish cities to celebrate Valborg, an ancient festival heralding the arrival of spring and commemorating St Walburga, an 8th Century Christian missionary known for fighting witchcraft.  Valborg in Uppsala (Sweden’s fourth city) is a particularly big and popular celebration.

With a whole programme of events for students and non-students alike, a visit to Uppsala on the last day of April, sista april, is a great way to celebrate like a true Swede!

The day starts with the annual river rafting race – not an ancient tradition, but one which has been established for over 40 years.

Navigating the rapids!

Groups of students build elaborate themed polystyrene rafts, which they race down the Fyris River.  They dodge water pistols and water balloons before attempting to tackle the river’s mighty rapids.  Great fun for competitors and spectators alike, this is one event you won’t want to miss during Valborg in Uppsala.

Teams build elaborate themed rafts.

A traditional herring lunch is a feature of most people’s day.

Many dine at Uppsala’s eyecatching concert hall, UKK, or in one of the student unions, aka nations.  After lunch the crowds head to the university’s historic Carolina Rediviva library, located between Uppsala Castle and the beautiful cathedral, Uppsala Domkyrka.  There students gather for the ceremonial donning of their university caps, led by Uppsala University’s vice chancellor.  Then comes the Champagne Gallop.  This is a bubble fuelled race down the hill from the Carolina Rediviva, signifying the start of the day’s partying for many!

The clock counts down to the donning of the caps outside Uppsala’s Carolina Rediviva.

For those not continuing with the champagne celebrations, the evening brings with it the traditional Valborg bonfires.

Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) is an ancient settlement with important historical and archeological significance.  It is home to one of the city’s largest Valborg bonfires.  Each year, a huge bonfire or majbrasa is lit on the iconic Royal Mounds there.  This tradition dates back centuries to when the bonfire used to scare away predators threatening pasturing animals.

Gamla Uppsala
The Royal Mounds at Gamla Uppsala

Combining ancient traditions with modern, and with an activity to suit all ages and interests, Valborg in Uppsala is a celebration not to be missed! Vi ses i Uppsala!

Written by Sarah Campbell

Hej! I’m Sarah. I’m from the UK and I live in Uppsala with my husband and our two children. I am a language teacher and freelance writer, and my husband is a researcher. It was his work with moss (yes, moss!) which brought us to this beautiful country, and we absolutely love it here! Highlights of our life here so far include experiencing the midnight sun in Abisko during an epic Arctic Circle roadtrip, blissful summers in Dalarna, and meeting Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria (along with Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge!) in Stockholm’s historic Gamla Stan.

Mastering the art of fika

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Written by Sara Costa

Fika is much more than just a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. At work, fika is a social event, in which one gets not only to relax and take a break but also to know the colleagues a little better. The art of fika doesn’t rely on the quality of the coffee, as one might think, but instead on the quality of the conversation. In fact, a bad coffee is a very good conversation starter.

As a Newbie is not always easy to blend in and be a part of something that others seem to do so naturally. Especially if the conversation is in Swedish, a language that you might not master yet. Here are some tips that might help, based on my own experience.

Observe the masters

I dare say that every group has at least one fika master, that is someone that can initiate, carry and lead a conversation so well and naturally, that it is never boring to sit around them. Fika masters can turn the most trivial subject into something interesting and worth to discuss. They are usually great story tellers and have good social skills.

Tip: Identify the fika masters and observe them. You will not only improve the art of conversation but also have fun.

Keep it neutral… at first

The themes during a conversation during fika break can vary quite a lot, from trivial everyday life things, like I need to buy a new bag/bike/whatever, to what are your plans for the weekend. As a newbie (not in Sweden but in the group) it will be frowned upon if you start asking personal questions right from the beginning. Instead, keep it neutral until someone asks you a more personal question. This might take a few (or a lot) of fikas, depending on the group, but it will happen.

Tip: You can also show them that you are open to more personal subjects by telling something about yourself without anyone asking. For instance, saying “I saw this movie with my girfriend/boyfriend” instead of just saying “I saw this movie”, will tell your colleagues something about your personal life without actually saying too much. Sometimes that’s the green light they need.

Find conversational themes

A lot can be said during a fika break. Comments about the weather are a good start but they run out quite fast. The best is to engage in a theme in which anyone can and is happy to participate. That theme should be more or less neutral, not related to work and of interest to everyone… That’s a tough one! Actually not. Movies, sports, travelling and current events seem to work pretty well.

Tip: Keep yourself updated on what’s happening in Sweden. Have a look at the news, check how it’s going for the local teams, see which events are about to happen in your city.

Dare, be patient and never give up

I remember my first fika at work. I had just completed the first level of SAS at school and thought I could understand quite a lot and speak reasonably well if given some time to think. The real world proved to be quite different though. The fika room was full of people, many talking simoultaneously, using slang and speaking in different tones and dialects. It was loud and confusing and I felt lost and out of place, but I didn’t give up. I kept going and trying every day. A couple of months after I could not only contribute to the conversation, but I had also improved my conversational swedish more than ever. Nowadays, I still can’t follow every conversation but I can sit comfortably in the fika room without feeling like an alien.

Tip: Remember that listening is also a part of it, so you don’t have to feel forced to participate. Laugh along, smile and be there until you feel like one of them.

Happy fika!

About the Author 
Hej! I’m a Portuguese Newbie in Sweden. I have also lived in Brazil, Poland and the Czech Republic. It’s been fun to be a foreigner in so many different countries and I enjoy learning about other cultures. I’m a fan of sports, some to watch and some to practise, my favourite being running. I also love food, reading and blogging. I hope you enjoy my posts!

Foreigner faux-pas

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There are things that are just not done in Sweden and things that you definitely do. Here are a few I have picked up on… mostly the hard way.

Recycling

Swedes are very environmentally conscious, and recycling is a huge ordeal. My first week, I remember lugging all my recyclables down the street to the recycling bin. I stood in front of massive bins with labels like ‘white plastics’ and ‘green and brown glass’, shocked at how carefully people here sort their rubbish! Related to recycling, Swedes often bring their own reusable bags to grocery stores. Every plastic or paper bag you need because you “forgot yours at home” will cost you!

Dressing for the weather

Don’t be fooled by the sliver of sunshine you can see out of your window in October, it’s probably way too cold to wear that skirt! Always check the temperature before stepping out, and LAYER. Most buildings, stores and transportation is warm inside, so layering your clothes is useful, when you get too warm or too cold you always have something you can take off or put on. Swedes are extremely practical when it comes to how they dress, most people dress like they care more about being warm than being fashionable.:-)

Fika

Don’t fight the power of Fika. Certain hours of the day, offices and streets are less full because everyone is having a coffee and cinnamon bun! Don’t expect a table at a full café to open anytime soon because people tend to take their time when having Fika. Efficiency is definitely important in business and life in Sweden, just not during Fika! Once you embrace the daily tradition, you’ll definitely find yourself craving a kanelbulle at 3pm.

Grocery shopping

Don’t assume that tube you picked up is toothpaste, it could be anything! Swedes package a lot of food and pastes in tubes that look just like toothpaste tubes. Don’t assume that carton of “milk” you quickly grabbed from the dairy section is actually milk. Swedes sell a thicker more yogurt like version in cartons that look identical to milk cartons. Don’t try to decipher pictures on labels, that jam that you think is raspberry could be almost any flavor. When in doubt, ask!

Small talk

I walked past many local Swedes on my very first day, suitcase in hand, smiling at everyone. I was surprised to not see anyone smile back, let alone even make eye contact. I remember thinking about how rude people must be. While most people are extremely willing to help you with directions or identify the name of something, small talk is almost non-existent between strangers in Sweden.

Written by Ritika Maltani
Ritika Maltani is a Singaporean citizen. She lived all over the world. She graduated from the University of Miami, and she hopes to pursue a career in teaching or law. She took a gap year to travel and decided to live in Stockholm with her boyfriend for a while. She loves reading, writing, great food and trying new things.

St.Lucia – Discover A Swedish Winter Tradition

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On December 13th, all over Sweden, the day of Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucia) is celebrated.  There are costumes, candles, lights, buns, drinks, and singing. 

So who is Sankta Lucia?

Along with the celebration of midsummer, the celebration of St.Lucia is very popular cultural tradition here in Sweden. The idea behind this mythical character is that she has the role of bearing light in the long, cold, dark, winters.  St Lucia was originally a young Christian lady betrothed  to a pagan gentleman.  She cut off their engagement, and he was not too happy, so he made the Roman authorities aware she was a Christian.  Consequently she was sentenced to death and became a martyr, and the saint of light.

How to celebrate Sankta Lucia

Lucia is a big thing in Sweden and if you have kids in daycare or school, it is almost a guarantee that there will be celebrations that you will somewhat be part of:-) So here is a bit of preparation for how to celebrate Lucia, either with your kids or for yourself.

Dress up

The children are dressed in white gowns, with red sashes, and a wreath of candles is placed upon their heads.  There is often great competition for the role of St.Lucia, and whilst a lot of costumes will now involve electric candles, the main St.Lucia of the celebration is still known to have real candles on her head in most places.  She is accompanied by her handmaidens (tärnor) who wear white gowns and have tinsel in their hair.  She is also accompanied by star boys (stjärngossar), who wear white robes, cone shaped hats, and carry golden stars on sticks.  The processions now often include tomtar (santa like elves) and gingerbread people.  My double trouble are going to be tomtar this year.

Photograph: Sonia Cave

Food

No celebration would be truly Swedish without having a special bun or cake made for the occasion!  On this day you eat lussekatter.  They are made with saffron, so have a peculiar flavour to them, but are very tasty. Also on offer are the pepparkakor (small thin ginger biscuits), all swallowed down with some glögg!  Or if you are a child, the incredibly sweet drink of Julmust, or maybe just a coffee if you are driving.

Photograph: Sonia Cave

Photograph: Sonia Cave

Photograph: Sonia Cave

Sing Songs

Most of these songs have a similar theme about the dark and about candles, but singing is a big part of the celebration.

We will be enjoying a little St.Lucia celebration in my twins class one evening around this time as they sing us some songs.  They are going to be a couple of tomtar 🙂  Comment and let me know your thoughts on this Swedish tradition and if you’ve enjoyed reading about it below.

How to bake your own birthday cake

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Did you know that there is a tradition in Sweden that you bring your own cake on your birthday to your friends\colleagues? That’s new (and also a little strange) to me, since in my culture it is vice versa – generally people get YOU a birthday cake!

It is not an actual must. But if you don’t bring one, chances are that you won’t get any cake from others 🙂 So it is either no cake or the cake you bring! But don’t get upset! Probably you will have a fika to celebrate your birthday even without a cake 😉

Princesstårta reminds me of the birthdays and celebrations of my childhood. Today, I will share the recipe and how to bake it – and let me tell you – this one passed Swedish tasters test and got comments like it tastes better than most of the cakes you buy.

Let me know in the comments what your experience is with Swedish birthdays and recipes! And maybe you want to share some pictures of your recipes too?

The truth is Swedish recipes can be tricky. You can find many different recipes and there is not much consistency among them. So if you want to cook a Swedish recipe – check multiple recipes, get the main idea and then cook it as you wish. Don’t overthink the details 🙂

One more thing before the recipe: there is a question that’s kept my mind busy for some time now. Why do most Swedish recipes use dl as measurement even for flour or sugar? For me dl is a measurement for fluids. Recently I had an enlightenment and I think I now know the answer! dl measurement indicates the measurement spoons. So when they say dl, just use a measuring spoon. Fluid or not you will measure the right amount. Some might think this is totally obvious but for me it was a real mystery 🙂

Traditional Swedish Princesstårta – I know, I know… That chocolate heart doesn’t seem much tasty 🙂

Recipe for princesstårta

Here is the recipe. As main source, I used this recipe with some differences in the method.

For the cake:

  • 200 g of eggs
  • 110 g of sugar
  • 120 g of flour
  • 50 g butter, melted

Beat the eggs, add sugar and whisk until it gets a little fluffy. Add the flour slowly while you keep whisking. Finally add the butter and mix it all together. Put the mix in a 20 cm diameter cake mold and bake for 25-30 min at 180 degrees. Every oven is different so check the cake occasionally to be sure it doesn’t burn.

You can just bake one cake and cut it into two to put the cream inside. However, since we didn’t put any baking powder to make the cake fluffy, the layers might be too thin but it is still ok. Yet, I personally prefer to bake two of them to make the cake look bigger.

Vanilla Cream:

  • 500 g of milk
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 120 g of egg yolks
  • 125 g of sugar
  • 40 g corn starch
  • 50 g butter

Boil the milk, half of the sugar and vanilla extract. Remove from the stove and let it rest for 5 minutes while you occasionally keep stirring.

Beat the eggs, add the other half of the sugar and corn starch – mix well. Then add to the milk mixture and boil again until it gets creamy and thick.

Remove from the heat, add the butter and keep stirring. Now you should have a proper, thick vanilla cream.

If something is wrong, try to add either more milk or some flour.

Other ingredients:

  • 1000 g whipping cream
  • 300 g of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries (I prefer fresh but frozen also work)
  • 500 g marzipan
  • Icing sugar

Put whipping cream in a bowl and mix with a mixer until it gets fluffy and thick.

Princesstårta
Princesstårta – just about to be eaten:-)

Cut your cake into three pieces. Inside the first layer, put the vanilla cream outer edges. Then put lots of fruit inside the circle. And mix the remaining vanilla cream with one or two full spoon of whipping cream and put it on top of  the fruits. So in the first layer, there should be vanilla cream, fruit and whipping cream.

On the second layer, there is just the whipping cream. But you can also put fruits or vanilla cream also if you want – it’s your birthday cake after all 🙂

And on the last layer, we put the remaining whipping cream all over the cake including the sides and cover all the visible sides of the cake with cream.

Now we need to cover our cake with marzipan (that green thing that makes a princesstårta a princesstårta!)

I prefer ready-to-use marzipan because it is a lot more convenient to roll out (rolling out marzipan properly requires a good amount of strength and effort and sometimes I prefer to take the easy way) But there are also marzipans which you can buy and roll out yourself at home.

Cover the cake with marzipan and try to make it look as smooth as possible (it is really hard for me to make it look good) And you can sprinkle icing sugar on it or put some edible ornaments.

And that’s how you can put a lot effort to bake a cake while you’re preparing for your birthday! Still, it is fun to do if you’re into baking like me 🙂

Written by Busra Zenging

Hej! I am a Newbie who is close to become an Oldbie in Sweden! I’ve been in Stockholm nearly for six months, I already did so many “fika”, swam in cold waters of Sweden, walked barefoot in Stockholm’s parks during the summer and, of course, had too many interactions with the Swedish bureaucracy 🙂 So far so good! My next challenge is job hunting – we’ll see how this will go 😉

Is Sweden religious after all?

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An American friend landed at Arlanda airport in Stockholm and jumped into a taxi towards the city. On the road, he looked out of the window and watched the Swedish countryside pass by. When I met him later in the day, he looked confused. I asked him what the issue was and he said – ‘on the way into town I saw lots of churches. I didn’t think Sweden was religious, so it really surprised me!’

Sure, one of the stereotypes of Sweden is that nobody here is religious. Of course, like any stereotype – this is flawed – Sweden is a secular country but there are of course religious people here, and historically the church played an important role in people’s lives. However, in modern day Sweden, the majority of Swedes do call themselves atheist or agnostic.

Unlike many countries around the world, the church and the state are separated and the religious leaders have no influence over constitutional rights or lawmaking in the country.

So this time of the year, it can seem hypocritical when the secular Swedes start to celebrate advent – a period of highly religious significance leading up  to the birth of Christ. But I would say, for most Swedes, advent isn’t about the arrival of the Christian saviour – it is more about the custom of lighting up the dark, and being cosy.

Throughout the country, on the first Sunday of advent – four weeks before Christmas – Swedes put electrical candlesticks (known as ‘adventljusstake’) in their windows, hang fairy lights around their balcony rails and arrange lights on trees in the garden. They also light a candle every Sunday leading up to the big day.

Lighting up the environment is almost as important as the traditional eating and drinking. Since the Middle Ages, Swedes have loved their mulled wine (glögg) and in today’s Sweden it comes ready-mixed in a bottle. This is the time of year they crack open the said bottle, heat the mulled wine in the microwave, chuck in some almonds and raisins and swig it down with a gingerbread biscuit. Glögg is usually sickly sweet and often very alcoholic – so a treacherous advent buzz is not usually too far away.

The popularity of the beverage is so large that the Swedish alcohol monopoly launches a new flavour of glögg every year. This is heavily anticipated by many Swedes and, once purchased, pictures of the bottle start appearing on social media feeds up and down the country. This year the flavour is inspired by India and infused with cardamom, ginger, cloves, cumin, and chili.

So, be not deceived. For most people in Sweden, advent has no religious connotation, so it’s not hypocritical. Advent is less about the coming of Christ and more about the lead up to the Christmas holiday and the small traditions that help us get through this darkest period of the year.

Written by: Neil Shipley

My name’s Neil Shipley and I have lived in Sweden for over 20 years. I work as a trainer, lecturer and coach in Intercultural competence and communication from my Stockholm-based company. I am also of one of the few people in Sweden to have a Master’s degree in Intercultural competence.

From my English perspective, I observe Swedish society and the Swedes – everything from the special to the sublime, the scary to the surprising. This is my blog of my observations.

I can be employed to provide training, lectures, seminars. Check out my company: Key Training