30+ Fun facts about life in Sweden

Sweden has gifted the world with the renowned Volvo car brand, the cheap and stylish furniture store IKEA and the famous computer games Minecraft and Battlefield. According to the HSBC ranking, the country ranks 20th in terms of attractiveness for expatriates from around the world. Free education, quality of life, clean air and exuberant nature are some of the reasons that attract thousands of new citizens to Sweden.

we, from awesome.club, we decided to gather the opinions of people who moved to Sweden — some recently, others a few years ago — and we discovered a lot of amazing details about life in this Nordic country. Check out!

Sweden ranks first in the European Union in terms of the number of patents granted. They pay special attention to digital technologies, but among the inventions that came out of there are the three-point seat belt, the pacemaker, oat milk, the adjustable wrench and the walker. The Swedes are very committed to the environmental situation of the planet. Only 1% of waste ends up in landfills, while 52% is used for power generation and 47% is recycled. Sweden is so good at disposing of waste that it even has to import waste from other countries to keep its power plant facilities that use waste as fuel working properly.

Swedish society is almost devoid of hierarchy. It is common to refer to another person by name, regardless of position and social status. Students, when talking to a teacher, omit any title he holds, including the word “teacher”. Honesty and sincerity are above all for the inhabitants of the country. It is better to admit any infraction that has been committed immediately, that way there is the probability that you will not suffer any penalty from the authorities. Also, if you offer food to your friends, hear a “no” and insist, or worse, force it, that is considered the height of rudeness. Respect for personal space is essential. Bringing up a conversation with a passenger on public transport or asking how the supermarket cashier is doing can be uncomfortable for some Swedes.

It is not customary to ask personal questions about family, previous work, etc. Generally speaking, Swedes are very shy. If some situation bothers them, they will likely resolve the situation through text messages and not in person. Another thing is that some of them don’t like small talk. Even on a friendly date there can be that awkward long pause. And they are in no hurry to end the silence from the table.

If you want to move to the country, the process is quite simple. However, be warned: making friends can be very difficult. Many expats complain that even after months, or even years, their ties with locals haven’t progressed beyond “hello” and “goodbye”. Swedes can be very strict about the people in their inner circle. It often takes a lot of time and patience to earn their trust. The best way to make friends is to choose a hobby and join various activity-related groups. There are many on any social network. Another option is to choose to play a sport that you enjoy. Swedes devote a lot of time to physical activity. In addition, flexible working hours allow you to do such activities.

Finding an apartment or house can be a problem for foreigners. The worst situation is in the capital Stockholm, where it is almost impossible to find suitable apartments in the central areas. Some people even wait in line for years in the hope of finding a place that meets their needs. In smaller cities, the situation is better, and although property prices are high, most are in excellent condition. The Swedes say that each person’s life goals consist of three “Vs”: a country house, a Volvo and a puppy (Villa, Volvo, Vovve, respectively in the local language). And that goal is easier to accomplish than having your own washer and dryer. Yes, almost everyone uses public laundries. But before doing laundry, it is advisable to take a look at the rules of the place. Some prohibit the use of machines after a certain time. However, the main thing is to clean the filter and drum after the final wash cycle. Otherwise, you may receive angry messages from your neighbors.

Paper money is a thing of the past. It is customary to pay for anything in the country using a card. Some establishments do not even accept cash, which is only used in special vending machines. Banks and shops are open until a certain time. And in the summer, which takes place between July and August, most are closed, including cafes and restaurants, because it is the holiday season. Therefore, it is better not to plan a move, renovation or any other serious matter during this period.

Many Swedes have a special butter knife. It can be made of wood or plastic and is considered a common utensil on any table. So picking up the knife when it’s not your turn, or worse, putting it on your plate, can be considered a terrible “offense.” Also according to this practice, using it for any other food or trying to eat butter with your own knife can also be considered an offense. The last bagel, sandwich, piece of cake or cookie should be left on the table, as many Swedes think that no one should consider themselves as deserving of having the last piece. But if after 15 minutes no one has picked it up, you can ask if anyone still intends to eat it. Know, however, that you may become known as that “inconvenient foreign friend”.

Lingonberry jam goes with literally just about everything, but it’s not common to spread it over toast. The queue is a sacred thing that organizes any local from the supermarket to the pharmacy. She is inviolable, silent and patient. If you try to bore her, talk to her, or get annoyed at the delay, it’s considered impolite. If these rules are violated, probably no one will say anything, because, surprise… many Swedes don’t like to talk to strangers.

Do not raise your voice or shout at all. Even if you’re in a heated argument and you’ve found that perfect argument. If you do, the Swede may think you hate him. It is customary to leave shoes at the door. Walking around the house in your shoes is a serious violation of house rules. Therefore, the color and condition of stockings are taken more seriously there than choosing a dress.

Arriving late or, on the contrary, before the appointed time, is considered a terrible mistake. Also, this rule affects every aspect of life, from business meetings to meeting friends. Swedes are very punctual and expect the same from others. Planning is the foundation of everything for them. Most have a calendar where all events are planned several months in advance. Business meetings, business trips, visits to relatives, meetings with friends — everything is included in this schedule. Ask a Swede what he will be doing on Wednesday at 5pm in a few weeks and he will probably answer easily.

At the office, everyone, including the company’s management, participates in the daily routine, including cleaning. Therefore, it should not be surprising if someone arrives and says: “Sorry, the director couldn’t come, today it’s your turn to wash the dishes”. Swedes love to hold business meetings. Any team member can present their ideas, including criticisms, at these meetings. The open exchange of views and information is welcome and encouraged. Phone number and email address are easily provided. If you need the contact of a specific person, any employee will be happy to provide it without any paperwork.

The workday usually ends at 5 pm and the office is immediately empty. Parents can leave early to pick up their children from school or kindergarten, and there is no need to notify anyone about this. It is almost a sacred tradition the coffee break, known as Fika in Swedish. It’s not advisable to drink a soda or refuse to take a break with colleagues — Swedes just won’t understand why you don’t want to take a break. In addition, it is not common to answer business calls or respond to emails during this interval.

Any couple is entitled to 480 days of leave when they have a child. Each one can spend 3 months with the child, and the rest of the days are divided and used according to the needs of the little one until he turns 8 years old. Neglecting parental leave is generally condemned. By law, parents can use parental leave for any period of time and continue to receive 80% of their salary. Everyone on the team understands this very well.

Most workers in the country have an average of 33 days off per year and at least 4 weeks. Typically, vacations are taken during the summer, in July or August. However, asking your boss for a break on September weekdays can be a big mistake. Family time is very important for Swedes. And that’s why they try not to dedicate more than 6 hours a day to work. Physical punishment of children has been legally prohibited in the country since 1979. And it is an extremely strict law.

Playgrounds were created for children to play. No one will forbid them to hang upside down from bars, climb trees, scream and run.

Swedes in general are fanatical about sweets: a family of 4 eats about 1.2 kg of chocolate per week. This happens mostly on Saturdays. In the 1940s, scholars in the country decided to do an experiment on what would happen if sweets were consumed only once a week. The end result recommended consumption only once a week, and this became the tradition of consuming this type of delicacy on Saturdays. Before you can definitively name a child, it must be approved by a special inspection agency within 3 months of the child’s birth. Options like Ikea or Metallica, for the luck of newborns, are prohibited.

Swedes love to relax outdoors. And Fridays are usually a shorter day at the office, when workers run to their country houses or to take walks through the woods. All areas, except those close to private property, such as houses, or intended…