10 Wonderful Facts About Sweden

Sweden gets a bad rap in North America: we also do not know where this country is, often confusing it with Switzerland, or we assume that everyone sounds like Swedish Chef from Muppets, eating meatballs and shops at IKEA. While some may be true, Sweden is an exciting country with a long history, unique culture and many experimental ideas that make Sweden a great place to live, work, play or visit. Here are 10 things to know about Scandinavian densely populated countries:

1. Little Something for Everyone

Although Sweden does not list the top 10 destinations for many travelers, there are variations in the country that offer little something for everyone. In the southern part of the country, there are many pleasant beaches that are less crowded than the more popular areas such as Spain and France. The country is full of lakes and forests, wild stretch of wild tundra at the north end and even mountains to offer adventure in the form of outdoor activities you like best-summer or winter. Not out? It's fine-downtown Stockholm and cosmopolitan in the south and west of the country offers exciting nightlife, great shopping and delicious food. Historical enthusiasts can enjoy museum tours, castles and cathedrals and even ordinary tourists will enjoy seeing the country's viking heritage. No matter your interests, Sweden has something on tap.

2. Land of Innovation

Given that we have been talking about Sweden with a strong social welfare state and an interest in environmental policy, it is not surprising to know that Sweden is often on the cutting edge of green technology or vice versa. Volvo, a Swedish car company, invented a seat belt, a tool that has saved many lives. Ericsson, the telecommunications giant, headquartered in Sweden and more recently, innovations such as "invisible helmet bikes" have put Sweden on the map for ingenuity. Fashion and music are also referred to as innovative industries in Sweden, although we can expect more creativity from the arts and culture industries. What may be surprising is that Sweden holds a number of patents - most of the countries of the world. They may not all be a good idea, but Swedes will want to dream of technology that will help make the future better.

3. 6 Hours Work Days

Okay, okay, 6 hours of unusual work in Sweden. In fact, some companies have just started experimenting with shorter work days, based on a recent study that suggests workers in the knowledge industry are only productive for about 6 hours, which means the company gets as much done in 6 hours as they do at 8. Nevertheless In fact, Sweden is a country where companies have begun experimenting with shorter working days is not much of a surprise: countries that have a history of strong labor rights and union legislation are still very prominent today. Workers' rights are also made for a very strong unemployment safety net - including the benefits of good job loss, other employment help and strong leave and holiday policies - that keep workers protected from the current market turmoil. Although Sweden has been cutting in recent years, Swedish workers still enjoy some of the best benefits on the planet.

4. More than Meatballs

When someone mentions Swedish cuisine, "meatball" is the only thing that matters to most people. To be honest, Swedish cuisine is rather bland at first; less spices and plates tend to be potato varieties and potatoes that are usually associated with English cuisine-may be symptomatic inhabiting the northern regions. Swedish cuisine, in many ways, focuses on locally available food: deer and deer feature on meat dishes, while fish are also commonly consumed. Root vegetables such as radishes and radishes are a frequent ingredient, and people will enter the forest to pick their own mushrooms. Lingon berries are used to make sauce and cloudberi, which grow on the northern tip, considered a delicacy. Bread is a staple food every meal and pastry is usually enjoyed with a cup of coffee. Maybe not glamorous, but tasty Swedish cuisine!

5. A Green Nation

The Swedish neighborhood is well regarded by the people who live there; Many people still live in rural areas and even those who do not enjoy escaping to the countryside. Outdoor activities are very popular in all seasons, which means Swedes have good reason to keep their lakes and rivers clean and forests clean. Sweden has become one of the most environmentally-minded countries. By 2015, it was announced that the country will make efforts to eliminate fossil fuels altogether, making Sweden the first country to be free of fossil fuels. Another important initiative is burning waste to generate power. Although it involves a fairly complicated sorting system, Swedes managed to divert most of their waste into recycling and composting efforts or into incinerators, rather than landfills. In recent years, Sweden has to buy waste from neighboring countries such as Norway.

6. Take Fika

It's hard to translate a word like "fika," but basically, it's like a coffee break. But fika is more than a coffee break (kaffepaus); In Sweden, fika is essentially a cultural institution. Swedes drink more coffee than any other country except Finland, and one of the reasons is that fika is about social interactions like coffee and cinnamon buns. Instead of going out for a drink after work, Swedish workers will have a fika. The Swedish father who received the mandatory paternity leave they would meet in the coffee shop for fika. Anyone can be fika, anytime after breakfast, as much as you want. And if a Swede asks if you want to have a fika, the answer is "yes" -because it means your Swedish friend wants to have fika. Usually this means drinking coffee and pastries, although you can drink tea if you want.

7. Summer Celebration

Although Swedes tend to do the best cold weather, they still love summer weather. A brief summer in Sweden, which means Swedes know how to make the best sunlight between May and August. The summer solstice is usually the most important holiday on the Swedish calendar, which is celebrated on the closest weekend to June 21st. Many are using their long weekend to start their summer vacation, most of whom will be 5 weeks or older. Many businesses just close for a few weeks in the summer while their staff spend a lot of time to rest. Swedes love to spend time in the countryside, enjoying the natural beauty that their country offers. Outdoor activities such as swimming, canoeing, hiking and camping are also popular.

8. Grab Your Skis and Get to Work

Sweden is a northern country; the capital city of Stockholm lies in the 59th parallel. Thus, it is not entirely unexpected that the country gets very bad winter weather. Just as winter can be long and cold, many Swedes enjoy being out and active even in snowy weather. And while we may think of skiing as something we do for fun on weekends, many Swedes see it as another driving mode. Some will ski to train stations or bus stops; Public transport is equipped with ski storage space. If someone lives close enough, they can even ski directly to the office. Of course, it does not work everywhere; some urban areas use underground heating to melt snow from city sidewalks, so skiers still have to go to the countryside to get weekend powder.

9. Language Ties

Knowing how to speak Swedish may not be so important; After all, Sweden is only a country of 9 million. But Sweden, which developed from the Old Norse, is closely related to Norway and Denmark. In fact, the languages ​​are so close, Norwegian and Swedish are mutually understandable. Sweden has a bit more trouble with the Danish accent, but the languages ​​are quite similar so that the Swedes can understand Danish and vice versa. Do not worry if you do not speak Swedish; Almost all Swedes study English at school and many of them are very interested in the opportunity to practice their English skills (especially with native speakers). This is especially true for young people and those living in large urban areas. Things like train schedules are often printed in Swedish and English, which is a relief for travelers who have little familiarity with Scandinavian languages.

10. Music is One of Sweden’s Biggest Exports

While ABBA may be a household name, not many people can name many other Swedish bands. Nevertheless, the music industry in Sweden is huge, so much so that music is actually one of the country's biggest exports. In recent years, artists like Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and Icona Pop have given more visibility to Swedish music, but songwriters, musicians and producers are also an important part of the Swedish music scene. Chances are, if you've listened to the Top 40 last year, you've heard a song that has a relationship with the Swedish music industry - and you've probably heard it if you've listened to it longer. The notion of why Swedes tend to tend to be different, with some suggesting that the language has a rhythmic quality that lends to musical talent, while others point to the Swedish state-run music school system for children and adolescents who help people develop their talents from a young age.