In Sweden, a country marked by significant north-south contrasts, the landscape transforms from forests gradually fading into frozen terrain in the north, where traditions and folklore hold deep influence. In the milder climate and more fertile soil of the south, European continental customs predominantly prevail.
Sweden, a land of many legends in the daily lives of its people.
Diverse customs prevail over the vast distances!
Similarly, Sweden boasts a multitude of intriguing customs and traditions.
Swedes place great importance on environmental conservation and have a profound love for nature. This sentiment is closely tied to Sweden’s distinct four seasons, with winter occupying nearly half of the year. The scarcity of certain elements tends to foster a deep appreciation for them among the people.
Employees in Sweden enjoy five weeks of statutory paid leave each year, working five days a week, accumulating a total of 1500 hours annually.
Outside of the winter season, when Swedes have leisure time, they often engage in outdoor activities. This includes hiking in forests and fields, picking blueberries, and heading to lakes or the sea for activities like swimming, boating, and fishing.
Swedes enjoy prosperity with a per capita GDP of $54,112 in 2018. Affluent and with ample leisure time, they have a penchant for appreciating flowers, birds, and other wildlife. Sweden is also among the countries with the highest number of outbound tourists globally.
Traditional Swedish folk costumes for men typically include a short jacket and vest on the upper body, paired with tight-fitting trousers on the lower body. Young girls usually do not wear hats, while married women may don various styles of headscarves.
Sweden is known for gender equality, and it has long been touted as a feminist model, with a high status for women.
In Sweden, it is not uncommon for the husband to take the wife’s last name after marriage. Scenes of fathers pushing strollers and caring for children are a common sight on the streets.
In the history of the Nordic region, women have been known for their strength and resilience, with the Shieldmaidens of Viking pirates being particularly famous. In ancient Norse society, women were warriors.
According to records, in the year 750 AD, 300 Shieldmaidens participated in a battle initiated by the Viking pirate leader Ragnar. Shieldmaiden Lagertha, in a critical moment, led the Shieldmaidens in a solo flank assault, turning the tide of the battle.
Swedes are very moderate and do not like to stand out, which is also why Sweden became a permanently neutral country.
The moderate nature of the Swedish people has traditional roots. In the Swedish language, there is a word called “lagom,” derived from the Viking era’s “laget om,” which referred to the practice of sharing a drink among a group of people. When it was each person’s turn, you were supposed to take an amount that was not too much, not too little, but just right, so everyone gets an equal share.
