Cultural Treasures
Perhaps the crown jewel of Swedish cultural treasures is Fika. Fika is basically the term for a coffee or tea break. It is a time for friends to take a rest from school or work and fellowship over coffee, tea, (or water or lemonade) and usually small snacks as well like breads or pastries. Fika is ritual in Sweden. On a Sunday morning at a church I visited one week, the congregation took three fika breaks during the service! Fika is common during school as well. There are many times throughout the day that teachers have free time without classes and are encouraged to take Fika in the staff spaces amongst their colleagues. Some companies and corporations even make Fika mandatory at least twice a day during work hours! I love a good snack break and Fika is a wonderful way to promote the building of relationships and the value of breaks as a way to manage and enjoy life's obligations.
The other most obvious cultural treasure I discovered while living in Sweden was the serence silence everywhere and at all times. This was a cultural norm that I observed across all of the cities I visited in Sweden, Stockholm, Linköping, and Gothenburg, as well as in neighboring countries such as the Netherlands. I am quite used to Southern Hospitality so it was odd to me when people stared blankly back at me for waving at them as we passed on the roads or sidewalks. Of course in the school hallways you will see socialization happening all around, but outside of school is a completely different story. Even on the rare occasion you do see individuals or a group of friends having a conversation on the sidewalk, you certainly will not hear them. I talked to many of my teachers about this and they shared with me that a reserved personality is definitely a Swedish trait. I noticed from day one that in this country, the "Social Contract" is strong. People are careful not to disrupt each other and take pride in leading a quiet lifestyle. On the weekends in the center of the city this is especially shocking. You never hear muffled music coming from a busy restaurant or bar and there aren't any loud groups talking or laughing on their way home. While the quiet is peaceful, there is nothing like Southern American friendliness.