Page 30 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

28  INTRODUCING SWEDEN

Traditions, Customs and Folklore
Since the late 20th century, globalization and the gradual
erosion of regional identity have had a major impact on
Swedish traditions and lifestyle. Much of the formerly rigid
etiquette has been relaxed and today Swedes are more
informal when it comes to dress and manners. However,
despite this culture shift, Swedes still hold onto their roots,
local customs, history and traditions. They are passionate
about their little red cottages, the countryside, eating herring Sami in traditional costume for a
at Midsummer and enjoying the first fresh strawberries. celebratory occasion
Dress and Etiquette
bonfires, and songs and
Feasts and Festivities speeches welcome spring. Those who own a folk costume
Celebrating the high points of Lucia Day, in December, is an take it out for Midsummer, folk
the year within the family has intricate mix of pagan and dances, weddings and other
again become increasingly Christian, a festival of light at formal occasions. Each region
important, after a dismissive the onslaught of darkness, has its own historic style and
attitude towards tradition in which has adopted a Christian there is also a national dress
the 1960s and 70s. martyr as its symbol of hope (see p20). The Sami have their
Many traditions have pagan and bringer of light. Every own elaborate costumes.
origins, most of them related school, office and church has a At weddings people are
to the coming and going of Lucia, a girl dressed in white expected to dress up, as
seasons, and are an excuse to with a red ribbon around her specified on the invitation
eat special treats and play waist symbolizing the martyr’s (white tie, black tie or suit).
games. The most important is blood, and a crown of candles In everyday life, style is more
Midsummer, the summer on her head (see p35). casual, especially in summer.
solstice feast. Along with Easter also has elements of Although Swedes are more
dancing and games around old folk beliefs. Maundy easy-going these days, they
the maypole, the light, short Thursday is the day witches fly are still fond of etiquette. It is
night (when all sorts of magic to Blåkulla (see p158) to dance important to know how to
is in the air) can be marked by with the devil. Today, children “skål”. Swedes first raise their
watching the sun set and rise dress up, broomsticks and all, glass to their female partner
a few hours apart (or hardly at and give handmade Easter at the table, and then to the
all in the north). For those who greetings cards in exchange for hostess. People look each
go to bed it is the custom to sweets. Christmas is preceded other in the eye while raising
pick seven different flowers in by the hectic run-up of Advent, their glass and saying “skål”,
silence and place them under when Swedes go partying and looking down as they drink
their pillow; their future partner consume vast quantities of and then re-establishing eye
will appear in their dreams. glögg (mulled wine usually contact before putting down
Walpurgis night, 30 April, is mixed with cognac or vodka), their glass. If the skål is comm-
when the last day of winter is lussebullar (saffron buns) and unal, everyone has to look each
chased away with huge pepparkakor (ginger snaps). person around the table in the
eye before drinking.
Despite this interest in
etiquette, Swedes tend not to
observe minor courtesies such
as holding open doors or
apologizing when they bump
into someone. They are very
informal when addressing one
another; everyone is on first
name terms from the start,
even when doing business.

Singers and Musicians
More than half a million Swedes
sing in a choir, and their passion
Midsummer celebrations with games and dancing round the maypole for song is reflected not just in

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