19 WEIRD THINGS Swedish people do ( that YOU SHOULD do too ) 🇸🇪

What are some things from your country that you think the world would be better off if we adopted them? ❤🌍

In my opinion, the kindness toward children is the real story here. Growing up with constant screaming and anger in home and at school left me with serious lifelong anxiety and psych problems

Back in the late seventies, I went to work for a father-and-son carpentry outfit. They were from Sweden, but had been living in America for a number of years. I was in my early twenties, and this was only my second carpentry job, so I had alot to learn. They showed great patience while I learned how to frame houses with them for several years. For those who don't know, framing houses is hard and physical work, and you also need to be intelligent and have good math skills. We worked throughout the year, in summer heat and frigid cold. Looking back, I am impressed by their honesty and tremendous work ethic! They always treated their employees with respect and patience, and I will always be grateful to them for inspiring me to develop a good work ethic. I really was quite fortunate to have met them and had them leave such a long-lasting impression on me! I don't know if either of them are still alive, but if they are, I'd like to say "Thank You" to Joel and Roger Sandholm. You were two of the most decent and respectable people that I worked for in my more than 40 years in carpentry! They certainly made a good impression of Swedish people on me!

”Whole and clean” dont mean ”always represent yourself at your best”. It means that clothing are optional as long as you are washed and don’t show up in clothes that is broken or really in bad shape. It’s a old saying but something we can still use if someone asks if there is a dress code. For a party or even a funeral. That gives the person the freedom to choose whatever clothes they want to wear.

I practice several of these, & I'm a southern American, but have felt different from other Americans. No Swedish background, just logical😊

I'm Canadian and a few years ago we went on a trip through Estonia, Finland and Sweden. There were lots of families in the areas we were in and yet we never heard any parents and children bickering. Several times we heard kids ask for things or ask questions but the parents calmly answered yes or no and explained what the children wanted to know. The kids might ask follow-up questions and time was made for that as well. And then the kids would accept whatever was said even if it wasn't what they had wanted. It was awesome! When we got back to Canada, we didn't make it out of the airport before hearing parents barking at kids who are whining trying to get their attention to ask a question. #7 is something that we absolutely should adopt here!

My Swedish father was indeed quite humble and never complained about anyone or anything. He was quiet, but was a very nice person to be around.🇸🇪

Yes, "from scratch" thing is so confusing. I love cooking videos and use to get really upset about "Ah I mix this can with this jar and add some bag to this". In my country store-bought canned food are for students and camping(ers?), not for everyday adult life.

Norwegian here - grew up with duvets, and "hate" the top sheet & blanket thing. Such a messy bed by morning, because I can't sleep in the tight cocoon of the sheet thing.

I'm surprised you left out the hand towels in the bathroom! That was something I grew to respect very quickly and brought home to my family in Canada. Every family member having their OWN hand towel/towel hook AND and extra one labelled for guest. This just makes so much sense!

My spouse and I have used separate duvets for our entire 20 year marriage and it's one of the secrets of our success! We have very different temperature and texture needs. I run hot at night and usually only use one very cool cotton sheet even in winter, whereas he likes to be cosy with a heavier and warmer blanket. Even if you perfectly match your spouse in temperature needs, having separate duvets means you never fight over who gets more of it. Highly recommend for every married couple.

My father was Swedish. I love learning more about Sweden. Thank you.

My Morfar came from a village called Garsas near Mora. My Mormor came from Sandviken. I loved all the Viking stories I was told. All the holiday traditions. All the wonderful things my Mormor cooked. I am very proud of my Swedish heritage. I was fortunate to go to Sweden with my Morfar and my Mom.

One thing you didn’t mention: no small talk! We hosted a Swedish exchange student for 2 years, and he was most surprised by the amount of casual/short and even cheap conversations. He was always happy to talk, but he would patiently talk at length. Sweden sounds like a wonderful country to live, especially the Fika! ❤

German here - it seems we have a lot in common! Separate duvets, duvet covers, respect for children, loving the outdoors, never having to fill in forms about race.... there are some differences but a lot of things sound really familiar to me.

Polish here. Sleeping in fresh cotton duvet covers prepared for me by my grandmother when I slept over at her place was like a paradise experience when I was a kid. Ahhhh.... just heaven.

Back in the early 2000s I spent 6 summers (and a short winter stay) mostly in central Sweden: Dalarna, Härjedalen, and Jämtland, preparing for and participating in Uppdansningen för polskdansmärke (known in the U.S. as “medal testing”) and hanging out with fellow folk dancers and musicians. Those of us from the U.S. generally stayed with local dancers or in cabins here and there, and the hospitality was truly heart-warming. One “weird” Swedish practice that I thought characteristic and well-intentioned (though prone to being taken rapacious advantage of by various European visitors) was allemansrätten—the right of free access anywhere in the countryside, even on private property, for camping and even picking berries, with proper respect for ownership (some wild stories there about violations of respect—and their consequences). It’s not just Swedish—the same can be found in Norway (with similar tales and outcomes). That might merit further explanation, Johanna. And another, minor bit: the ubiquity of the brightly colored dalahästar or “Dalarna horses” in many people’s homes.

I'm half Swedish, half American and brought up in London, UK. One thing we should learn from other countries is talking to your neighbours and strangers. You might have seen the memes "Waiting for the bus like a Swede." that kind of scepsis towards other people is real. While when I'm abroad people actually talk to eachother on the train, they invite you to their table in pubs, say good morning on the street etc. It's very easy to feel unseen or lonely in Sweden.

I totally believe in treating children as human beings that deserve respect. ❤ I agree with all of the points about children.

I lived in Sweden, near Växjö for 7 and a half years. There are many good things about Sweden but one of the most common complaints that I heard among other immigrants was what we referred to as "Svensplaining." Unfortunately, it's very common for Swedish people to think that their way is the right way but also the only way. I have been stopped by strangers and told how to: 1. Walk my dog 2. How to dress my children 3. How to dispose of the trash 4. What color to paint my home. 5. How to walk in the mall (not kidding). I could go on, the list is endless. What you feel after a while is that no matter how hard you try, Swedish people by and large will tolerate you but never accept you as you are not "correct," or rather plainly, Swedish.