https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Summer in Sweden means workplaces emptying for weeks on end and a flood of 'out of office' replies from colleagues and clients taking lengthy vacations. But have you ever wondered exactly how the four-week summer holiday became so entrenched in Swedish society? https://www.thelocal.com/20180605/so-why-do-the-swedes-take-such-long-summer-holidays Tue, 05 Jun 2018 13:05:30 +0200 so-why-do-the-swedes-take-such-long-summer-holidays One of the weirdest yet commonly observed traditions in Sweden is the Midsummer frog dance around the maypole, which begs the question... why, oh WHY? https://www.thelocal.com/20210622/why-do-swedes-like-to-pretend-theyre-little-frogs Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:09:10 +0200 why-do-swedes-like-to-pretend-theyre-little-frogs Midsummer's Eve is always celebrated in Sweden on the Friday between June 19th and 25th, despite the fact that the actual date of the midsummer solstice and the longest night of the year often falls on a different day. https://www.thelocal.com/20230620/why-is-midsummers-eve-celebrated-in-sweden Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:56:15 +0200 why-is-midsummers-eve-celebrated-in-sweden Been invited to a bonfire party on April 30th? Wondering what on earth is going on? Swedes are celebrating the arrival of spring. Valborg, or Walpurgis, takes place every year on the last day of April. Here's The Local's guide to the festivities. https://www.thelocal.com/20120430/40562 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0200 40562 The Local's Nordic Editor Richard Orange wonders in this opinion piece why he still feels so outraged by the peculiar way Easter egg hunts happen in Sweden. https://www.thelocal.com/20260331/all-must-have-prizes-what-easter-egg-socialism-says-about-sweden Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:52:00 +0200 all-must-have-prizes-what-easter-egg-socialism-says-about-sweden People in Denmark and Norway have the day off on Maundy Thursday, but people in Sweden still have to work. Why is this? https://www.thelocal.com/20240328/why-is-maundy-thursday-a-holiday-in-denmark-and-norway-but-not-sweden Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:40:01 +0100 why-is-maundy-thursday-a-holiday-in-denmark-and-norway-but-not-sweden Sweden is getting ready to celebrate Easter this weekend, although Swedes will be tucking into eggs and herring on Saturday, rather than celebrating on Sunday as Christians do in many other countries. But why is this? https://www.thelocal.com/20240325/why-do-swedes-celebrate-holidays-a-day-early Mon, 25 Mar 2024 13:20:40 +0100 why-do-swedes-celebrate-holidays-a-day-early Hej and welcome to the latest instalment of The Local's Fika Calendar, where we guide you through the most important cake, pastry and other food-related days in the Swedish year. https://www.thelocal.com/20250325/swedish-fika-calendar-what-do-waffles-have-to-do-with-the-virgin-mary Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:59:44 +0100 swedish-fika-calendar-what-do-waffles-have-to-do-with-the-virgin-mary When do Swedish children go trick or treating, and why isn't it always on October 31st as Halloween tradition dictates? https://www.thelocal.com/20141030/halloween-vs-all-saints-day-how-to-celebrate-in-sweden Thu, 30 Oct 2014 11:51:00 +0100 halloween-vs-all-saints-day-how-to-celebrate-in-sweden October 4th is Cinnamon Bun Day in Sweden, but what does your choice of cinnamon bun say about you? https://www.thelocal.com/20231004/swedish-personality-test-what-does-your-choice-of-cinnamon-bun-say-about-you Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:31:19 +0200 swedish-personality-test-what-does-your-choice-of-cinnamon-bun-say-about-you August is in full swing, and in Sweden that means it's crayfish party time. Whether you're new to the country or just haven't yet mastered crayfish etiquette, an invite can be an anxiety-inducing moment. https://www.thelocal.com/20160810/how-to-survive-a-swedish-crayfish-party Wed, 10 Aug 2016 08:59:00 +0200 how-to-survive-a-swedish-crayfish-party Wonder what that smell is, or where everyone went? You're probably a newcomer to the Swedish summer. https://www.thelocal.com/20160802/five-things-about-the-swedish-summer-that-confuse-newcomers Tue, 02 Aug 2016 14:55:30 +0200 five-things-about-the-swedish-summer-that-confuse-newcomers The question of why Sweden celebrates its National Day on June 6th is harder to answer than you might think. https://www.thelocal.com/20230605/why-do-swedes-celebrate-national-day-on-june-6th Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:18:22 +0200 why-do-swedes-celebrate-national-day-on-june-6th Have you ever wondered what's behind the Swedish fondness for the wooden butter knife? https://www.thelocal.com/20210526/why-do-swedes-care-so-much-about-butter-knives Wed, 26 May 2021 18:53:09 +0200 why-do-swedes-care-so-much-about-butter-knives We've watched it so you don't have to. Just kidding, your Swedish hosts will make you watch it whatever you say. https://www.thelocal.com/20161230/the-weirdest-swedish-new-years-eve-habit-explained-dinner-for-one-grevinnan-och-betjanten Fri, 30 Dec 2016 17:41:43 +0100 the-weirdest-swedish-new-years-eve-habit-explained-dinner-for-one-grevinnan-och-betjanten Swedes love traditional Lucia saffron buns (lussekatter) on December 13th. Food writer John Duxbury shares his favourite recipe with The Local. https://www.thelocal.com/20151211/how-to-make-your-own-saffron-buns Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:00:00 +0100 how-to-make-your-own-saffron-buns Whether you're just out of Sweden temporarily or you've moved away for good, you might find yourself missing the tradition of Lucia once December 13th rolls around. But how can you join in from abroad? https://www.thelocal.com/20241213/how-to-watch-swedish-lucia-celebrations-if-you-live-outside-of-sweden Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:04:49 +0100 how-to-watch-swedish-lucia-celebrations-if-you-live-outside-of-sweden Swedish lussekatter are truly one hell of a bun. https://www.thelocal.com/20181212/swedishchristmas-why-lussekatter-are-one-hell-of-a-bun-dec12 Wed, 12 Dec 2018 08:59:59 +0100 swedishchristmas-why-lussekatter-are-one-hell-of-a-bun-dec12 It's not just kanelbullar, Swedes put great spoonfuls of cinnamon in their porridge, in apple crumbles, in glögg wine, and even use it to jazz up their matjessill herring. What's the history of Swedes' love affair with the spice? https://www.thelocal.com/20240930/when-did-swedes-get-so-crazy-about-cinnamon Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:54:33 +0200 when-did-swedes-get-so-crazy-about-cinnamon The summer is drawing to a close. With that in mind, now is a good time to roll out some common Swedish autumn topics and phrases to help you navigate your way through the darker days. https://www.thelocal.com/20170823/six-keys-to-understanding-autumn-in-sweden Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:59:00 +0200 six-keys-to-understanding-autumn-in-sweden