Sweden is the first country in the world to ban physical punishment of children //Photo Imagebank.sweden.se
1. They plan everything and everyone
Swedes are tireless planners. For peace of mind, it is important to be prepared for a situation and to know in advance down to the smallest details what will happen. Vacations are planned six months in advance, parties a month or two in advance. In almost every company, planning takes up most of the working time.
If you invite a Swede over just a couple of days in advance, they will most likely refuse. A visit to grandma in Malmö or a trip to the vet with the cat was scheduled five weeks ago, and it cannot be rescheduled: grandma and the cat wouldn't understand.
2. They love to bask in the sun
The northern climate and long months without sun take their toll: Swedes are obsessed with being outdoors and preferably in the sun. From mid-spring to early autumn, you can't lure Swedes indoors unless it's raining hail. As soon as the May sun timidly peeks out, the lawns are packed – they are already occupied by blissful Swedes in shorts and T-shirts with picnic sets.
On such an occasion, it's not a sin to take time off work: who knows, maybe this is the last sunny day of the year?
3. They avoid strangers
Only something extraordinary will force a Swede to talk to a stranger on the street. Unless their phone breaks or GPS fails. Or all acquaintances who could ask are out of reach. Pathologically polite Swedes find it difficult to cross the boundaries of someone else's personal space. A winning strategy is to speak to a Swede first, friendly and respectfully keeping distance.
4. They adore 'fika'
'Fika' – this word resonates with sweet excitement in every Swedish heart. The meaning of 'fika' (from the word 'coffee', with syllables swapped) is to drink coffee and chat, as well as to consume favorite cinnamon buns, cookies, and all kinds of pastries. This is done strictly in company.
Fika works wonders on Swedes: they become more relaxed and easier to approach. At work, fika happens several times a week, if not every day. Missing fika, from a Swede's point of view, is bad form: after all, it's not work that can be postponed.
5. They count the days until vacation
A Swede lives from vacation to vacation. Thoughts of cherished vacation days help while away long winter evenings. In spring, as the big day approaches, imagination already paints sunny sea landscapes. Then, of course, work is out of the question. No higher power will make Swedes do business in the summer.
For public sector employees, vacation can even reach 35 working days. From the end of June to mid-August, the country shuts down for holidays – the streets are extremely deserted, and random passersby busily hurry with suitcases to the airport, train station, or the nearest ferry terminal.
6. They don't punish children
It is not customary in Sweden to pull up children, especially others' children. Parents make remarks to their child in a friendly manner – and only when absolutely necessary. They only reason with words. Any spanking is out of the question: Sweden was the first country in the world to ban physical punishment of children.
Here it is not customary to strictly tell children how they should behave in society. It is believed that future citizens should gradually understand for themselves what is appropriate and what is not. Until then, adults are ready to give hints – and practice patience.
7. They eat sweets on Saturdays
Every Saturday, in the family circle in front of the TV, both adults and children gorge themselves on sweets: the average Swedish family eats 1.2 kg of sweets per week!
Why does the main peak fall on Saturday? Apparently, to somehow limit the insatiable craving for sweets.
8. They follow rules
If the sign says 'Keep off the grass', a Swede's foot will under no circumstances step onto the forbidden area. If it says that paper packaging must be thrown into a special bin, no one will think of throwing a cigarette butt or bottle there. And if a company works from 8:00 to 16:30 with a 45-minute lunch break, Swedes will spend exactly 45 minutes on lunch and not a minute more.
After all, rules are rules to be followed. Even the thought of violating some regulation or, God forbid, the law – that's out of the question.
9. They discuss the weather
Swedes are ready to talk endlessly about the weather. You can remark that today is a beautiful sunny day like there hasn't been for a long time: hardly anyone among the interlocutors will dispute this fact. If the weather is terrible, then that too must be emphasized and noted with satisfaction that everyone agrees with you. A more convenient topic of conversation cannot be imagined.
If you start a conversation on a topic that does not imply unanimity, you will most likely hear uncertain interjections instead of an answer. Swedes avoid discussing issues where opinions may diverge, unless there is an urgent need. God forbid you bring up political leanings or income. Eventually, someone present will change the subject and definitely start talking about the weather.
10. They respect gender equality
All people are equal regardless of gender – Swedes hear this mantra from kindergarten. Therefore, both boys and girls in school learn to sew and knit, bake buns, do carpentry, and forge iron.
Most Swedish fathers eagerly take parental leave to babysit the infant and change diapers while mom goes to work. They also happily bake saffron buns and grow geraniums in pots. Who said that's not men's work? It doesn't interfere with going to a football match or a motorcycle race – and mom, by the way, also enjoys participating in that.
Read the continuation of the article:
THESE STRANGE SWEDES (part 2)