Category Archives: Swedish traditions & culture

Swedish traditions & culture

Fredagsmys

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Say the word Fredagsmys and every Swede knows what you are talking about. An easy Friday evening get-together, to mark the end of the work/school week and the beginning of the weekend. Family or friends, easy cooking, snack and a TV-screen are ususally involved.  It could also include a board game. Tacos is a classic, as well as chips/crisps and dip; at least that´s what the commercials want us to believe. Veggies and fruit works too. Fredagsmys is part of our modern culture, probably substituting the Sunday dinner family gathering. The location and activity does not have to follow the description above; the importance of the matter is that it includes “mys”.

Swedish traditions & culture

Week numbers

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In Sweden we are very fond of speaking in terms of weeks rather than dates. This can be rather confusing if you are not used to it.

“Vi åker bort vecka 10.” – we are leaving week 10

“Provet är vecka 5.” – the test is week 5

“Veckobrev v.35” – weekly letter of week 35

“Affären är stängd v. 29-31” – the store is closed week 29 through 31

I use a separate app to keep track of what week it is since it is not in my regular calendar.

Swedish traditions & culture, Tips for learning Swedish

Lagom

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Lagom

Outside of Sweden the word “lagom” seems to be trending this year. It takes over the Danish “hygge” and I expect to see books to be written on the subject. Or, wait; could really that much be squeezed out of the word lagom? To fill an entire book? Well, if hygge could …

Lagom is not trending in Sweden. It’s always around, always with us.

The urban legend has it that lagom derives from the Vikings; sharing the meal and the mead between themselves, using the same bowl. The words supposed to have been spoken were to not eat or drink more than that it would last “laget om” – the team around. Laget om then became lagom. Alas lagom means ”just the right amount, not too little not too much”. Lagom is a balance of things. Wether used for water temperature, amount of miles travelled during holiday, how much pick-and-mix candy the kids are allowed or how many guests are to be invited lagom is the answer.

A few examples in English and in Swedish:

Is it time to leave? Yes, it’s probably (the right) time. // Är det dags att gå? Ja, det är nog lagom.

Isn’t it too cold to swim? No, it’s just about right/perfect.// Är det inte för kallt för att bada? Nej, det är lagom varmt.

Does the blouse fit you (refering to size) Yes, it’s good! // Passar blusen? Ja, den är lagom!

Is it lots to do at work at the moment? No, it’s pretty ok/the right amount of work. // Är det mycket att göra på jobbet just nu? Nej, det är ganska lagom.

Swedish traditions & culture

Smultronställe

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During summer the word “smultronställe” keeps popping up in Sweden; in conversations but especially in magazines. There are few interviews or portraits that leave out the question “where is your smultronställe?” You also find headlines and articles on the subject “top 25 smultronställen in …”

Ett smultronställe is a noun meaning that special place treasured or yet to be discovered. It could be an idyllic opening in the forest, a quiet beach, a small village, your childhood summer farm, a charming café or just about anyplace that is special to you, that you cherish and that has a special place in your heart.

“Smultron” is the sweetest of berries and translates to wild strawberry in English.

“Ställe” means place in Swedish.

 

ett smultron, två smultron
ett ställe, två ställen
ett smultronställe, två smultronställen

Swedish traditions & culture

Vacuum cleaner – a delicious Swedish pastry

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This delicious pastry is commonly known as “dammsugare” in Swedish (=vacuum cleaner) referring to the look of old vacuum cleaners. The official name is Punch-roll. It’s covered with marzipan, the interior made of yesterdays crushed cookies and cakes (as if there would be leftovers…) butter, cacao and … flavored with punch liqueur. The “dammsugare” is usually made of green marzipan but I found a pink one with a #botanical pattern.
Wordlist / ordlista

marsipan

en punchrulle – the pastry mentioned

en dammsugare

damm = dust

att dammsuga = to vacuum

en dammråtta = a dustbunny

Swedish traditions & culture, Tips for learning Swedish

Att bo i Sverige – lägenheter och hus

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Vill du bo i Sverige? Söker du efter någonstans att bo?

Det finns olika bostadsformer i Sverige. Du måste känna till dessa.

Det finns t.ex. hyresrätt och bostadsrätt. Kan du skillnaden mellan hyresrätt och bostadsrätt?

Vad ingår i en hyra? Måste du betala extra för elektricitet? Det finns många frågor.

Finansinspektionen har gjort ett studiematerial. Här kan du lära dig om boende. Du kan samtidigt öva svenska. Det finns filmer, text (faktablad) och övningar.

Materialet passar för att öva svenska även om du inte letar efter ett hus eller lägenhet! Du kan öva ord, att lyssna och att läsa en text. Du kan svara på frågor.

Filmer

Boendeformer 1.1
Boendeformer 1.2
Boendeformer 1.3
https://youtu.be/beup3hUNGaA

https://youtu.be/vnJ7H-d3iMs

https://youtu.be/rzd9wG1_bXc

Läs Faktablad

Läs och svara på frågor http://www.sfiekonomi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Övningar_Kapitel_1.pdf