52 Interesting Facts About Sweden

Last updated on December 1st, 2021

47. Sweden is far enough north that during its winter months it experiences the phenomenon of the ‘midnight sun‘ where the sun doesn’t ever completely set and there are 24 hours of daylight. Of course in winter the days are darker for longer as one goes north.

48. Another Swedish cultural export is the sauna. This involves sitting in a wooden room at high temperature (up to 90 degrees Celsius) where there is a lot of steam. This allows the body to release its toxins and is followed by cooling down in a pool or (more traditionally) throwing oneself into the snow outside.

49. You can actually go to the beach in Sweden! The southern parts of the country feature picturesque, clean beaches and in summer the water is warm enough to swim in.

50. Did you know that Julmust is the festive drink that famously outsells Coca-Cola every year in Sweden? It is estimated that Swedes consume approximately 50 million litres of julmust, a sweet, slightly spicy, non-alcoholic, carbonated beverage, every year around Christmastime.

51. While being part of the EU Sweden has retained its own currency the krona.

52. Ice hockey and football (soccer) are Sweden’s main sports, other popular sports include handball, golf, gymnastics, athletics and cross country skiing.

10 Facts About Swedish Food

Lingonberries complement anything

Like mustard and ketchup, lingonberry jam is commonly used to complement various dishes, including meatballs, black pudding, and pancakes. Despite its sweetness, it is rarely used on bread. Thanks to allemansratten which offers everyone the freedom to wander and enjoy nature.

Lordagsgodis (Saturday sweets)

With two adults and two kids, the middle-class Swedish family consumes one and a half kilos of lordagsgodis every week, mostly on Saturdays. Mainly maintained to protect people’s teeth or prevent dental cavities, the once-a-week custom is historically connected to dodgy medical practices.

Pancakes and pea soup

Most Swedes have grown up eating pancakes and pea soup every Thursday. Swedish Armed Forces have maintained this tradition since World War II. Despite its true origin being widely debated about Catholics not eating meat on Fridays, the tradition has well and truly remained.

Prinsesstarta-a royal quenching

Comprising a bright sugar rose finish, prinsesstarta has been an all-time favorite for coloring the bakeries’ window displays throughout Sweden. The cake is sealed with a thin layer of sweet green marzipan with a yellow sponge cake lined with vanilla custard and a finish of whipped cream topping.

Raksmorgas and other agape sandwiches

After ordering a sandwich, don’t be surprised if it includes only a single slab of bread. It is a Swedish norm of open sandwiches since the 1400s when thick slices of bread were used as plates. However, the shrimp sandwich remains the choice fit for a king in Sweden.

Soused herring- the smorgasbord center

You may swap meatballs for mini sausages or take cured salmon rather than smoked, but your buffet won’t be complete without soused herring. This delicacy remains the basis of every Swedish buffer. With many herring in the North and Baltic Seas, Swedes have been sousing since the Middle Ages.

Crazy for crayfish

Crayfish parties are popular in August when hot weather evenings are spent feasting on these little red freshwater or saltwater shellfishes on balconies or in gardens all over Sweden. Consumed only by Sweden’s aristocracy and upper-class citizens in the 1500s, crayfish has become a national dish enjoyed by all.

A calendar of sweet delights

Swedish always find an excuse to feast on something sweet. There are specific days set aside for the celebration of a sugary dish. Cinnamon Bun Day is reserved for October 4th. Buns topped with almond paste or cream are eaten on Shrove Tuesday, while waffles are celebrated on March 25th.

Blood pudding- a dish you want to take milk for

Blood pudding can be a room divider. It is either you love it, or its name will deter you. Despite its ingredients milk, pork blood, onions, sugar syrup, and rye flour, this is a typical recipe at both schools and restaurants.

Crispbread-your favorite topping

Besides butter and bread, you will often find a crispbread served with your main meal. Once regarded as a poor man’s dish, crispbread has been baked in Sweden for over 500 years, and it can last up to one year when kept properly.

About Swedish People

1. Swedish Svenska, also known as the Swedish Language, is the official language of Sweden and is also one of the two official languages in Finland. Swedish Svenska was also spoken in parts of Latvia and Estonia before World War II. Still, in spite of having such a unique language as its official language, most Swedes speak English at a very high level. Visitors to Sweden can even get away with not learning one word of Swedish and still have a great time and make their way around with no problems.

2. Swedish men and women are very organized and orderly in their daily lives and functions. So much so that ticketing systems and forming lines are par for the course when doing business or entering places of public services.

3. Swedes rank among the most avid coffee drinkers in the world. This is due in large part to the fact that a significant part of Swedish culture is their daily Fika traditions.

4. Tubed food to Swedish people is what canned and bottled foods are to Americans and many other parts of the western world. Instead of the mayonnaise or mustard in a bottle or jar that you may be used to, you are likely to see this item packaged using a squeeze tube in Sweden. Even caviar is squeezed through tubes onto some of your other favorite foods. Yum!

5. Holidays are serious business in Sweden. The Swedes are known for enjoying an average of four to six weeks of holidays, typically during the month of July. Even restaurants and stores will shut down for an entire month while their owners go on weeks of vacation.

Sweden – Quick facts and statistics