Swedish Holidays, Traditions and Customs

There are many books that go into great detail about Swedish holidays, traditions, special foods and drinks. You can pick them up at book stores or libraries. To start with, here is a list of the official holidays which are called "röda dagar" ("red days"):

	January 1 - New Year's Day	Nyårsdagen
	January 6 - Epiphany	Trettondagen
	Good Friday	Långfredagen
	Easter Eve	Påskafton
	Easter Sunday	Påskdagen
	Easter Monday	Annandag Påsk
	May 1- Labor Day	Första Maj
	Ascension Day	Kristi Himmelsfärdsdag
	Whit Sunday	Pingst
	June 6 - Sweden's National Day	Nationaldagen
	Midsummer's Eve	Midsommarafton
	Midsummer	Midsommardagen
	December 24 - Christmas Eve	Julafton
	December 25 - Christmas Day	Juldagen
	December 26 - Boxing Day	Annandag Jul

Swedes celebrate on the "eve" of the holiday for Easter, Midsummer and Christmas.  One could also say that all of July is a holiday. This is the time of the traditional industrial vacation. The whole nation seems to be on vacation. August is a month when Swedes have special parties to celebrate the crayfish. December 13 is Saint Lucia Day. A day of celebration starting with an early morning visit from Saint Lucia with saffron buns (lussekatter) and hot spiced wine (glögg).

Here’s a short essay that, although written describing German ways, could even be helpful in Sweden ("Sweden" is substituted for "Germany"):

While America is a nation of immigrants, Sweden is not. In order to survive in the foreign surroundings, immigrants to the U.S. had to develop forms of behavior that allowed them to quickly get aquainted with all kinds of strangers from vastly different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Swedes and all Europeans have never gone through this experience of amalgamation. They more or less stayed where they were; in a given region with a given set of traditions and manners that allow them to get along with a relatively close circle of neighbors, co-workers and friends. As a result, their language and customs did not develop the forms that help Americans to overcome the distance between strangers so easily and quickly.

When meeting a stranger or a foreigner, the average Swede will be friendly, but he will not make a special effort to overcome the distance and the feeling of strangeness. Don’t mistake this behavior as coldness or lack of good will. The distance is seen by him as the most natural thing in the world, not as a barrier that must be overcome as quickly as possible.

- from These Strange German Ways, an Atlantik-Brucke Publication

The following customs aren't obligatory, but can be good to know about:

"Tack för senast"- can be said the next time you meet someone who had entertained you. You are basically saying, "Thank you for a nice time".

"Var så god"- this is a more general expression, here are a few examples of when you can use it; you can say it when you want people to begin eating the dinner you are serving, or sweets, when someone is at the front door that you want to welcome in, or when you give away a present.

At more formal events and dinners, you shouldn't drink from your glass until the host/hostess has toasted you welcome.  "Skål!" is the Swedish equivalent for "Cheers!"

On your birthday, you may have to make your own birthday cake!! Some Swedes have a sort of open house on their birthdays where friends and relatives are welcome to drop in during the day. It is also customary to bring a cake to your workplace on your birthday. A big deal is especially made for 5- and 10-year birthdays (30, 35, 40, etc.).

Here are just a few links to interesting places on the web in this category:

• United States and Swedish Holidays 2006

• The Swedish Kitchen

• The Sweden Information Smorgasbord: Swedish Festivals

• Swedish Traditions from VisitSweden.com

• Who is on holiday? List of public holidays around the world