Swedish Fun facts, food, music, language and more…

Swedish food  – Most Common Swedish Dishes

Potatoes are the main side to nearly every Swedish meal year round. Pancakes, soups, casseroles, and even whole buttered or sugared potatoes can be found on the plate in any Swedish home. As the main dish, one may also find kalops, or meat stew with onions, vegetables, and spices. The meat of choice is typically deer but can be and is not limited to smaller yet tougher meat. Served with the meat and potatoes is blodpudding, or blood pudding that is eaten with lingongberry jam and bacon.

Yum! Swedish Desserts! Swedish food

Two eggs, 1 1/4 cups of flour, a teaspoon of salt, and a little bit of butter creates a Swedish sweet treat. Pannkakar, or real Swedish pancakes are loved by both adults and children alike. Pepparkakor is another family favorite. Also known as, traditional Scandinavian sugar and spice cookies, it takes about an hour to create this tasty dessert but one moment to enjoy.  Apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, flour and eggs creates a crustless Swedish apple pie. Children, parents, and their parents enjoy this dessert yearly as well.

Simple Swedish Recipes to Enjoy……

Real Swedish Pancakes

Ingredients: 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cup flour, 2-2 ½ cups of milk, 1 teaspoon of salt, butter

Directions: 1) mix eggs, flour, and salt

2) slowly add milk, beat batter smoothly

3) heat the skillet, add butter

4) fry pancakes on both sides

5) serve

Sugar Browned Potatoes

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 10 small peeled boiled potatoes,

½ teaspoon of salt

Directions: 1) melt butter in pan, stir in sugar

2) brown sugar to a golden color, do not burn

3) add potatoes, stir, sprinkle salt over caramel color potatoes

Swedish Rice Dessert

Ingredients: 2 cups mini marshmallows, 2 cups cooked/chilled rice, 1 (8 1/4 ounce) can of

Crushed pineapples, ½ cup of cherry halves, ½ cup toasted almonds, 1 cup of

Heavy cream, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla

Directions: 1) combine all ingredients except heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla

2) slowly add sugar and vanilla

3) whip the cream

4) add rice to the cream

5) refrigerate and enjoy

Fun Swedish Games for Youth – Swedish culture for kids

Three fun activities that are played in Sweden go by the name of “Maypole”, “Blindbock”, and “Kubb”. Although maypole is a game that is popular to let children play on “May Day” in Sweden, many kids still engage in the activity on a regular spring day. For this game, an adult must erect a pole outside in dirt or sand so that it is sticking out, and tie six or seven ribbon ends to the pole. Allow the children to dance around the pole to music until all of their ribbons are completely wrapped around the pole. The pole will then be decorated. Another jovial activity called kubb, is compared to bowling, yet different in which the object is to knock over blocks by tossing sticks at them. It’s simple, yet a Swedish childhood favorite. Blindbock is compared to “Marco Polo,” the difference is that this game is played on solid ground and nobody hides. One child blindfolds the other child and spins them around two times. The child then has to tap another child, but there’s a catch to it. The child is still blindfolded and can only find another child to tap by listening to the sound of their voices. It challenges the child’s attention and hearing capabilities, but in a fun way.

Children’s Day in Sweden 

Children’s Day is often celebrated on various days by many countries around the world, but it is universally celebrated on November 20th. Sweden does not have their own personal date to celebrate children’s day. This day promotes the children of the world through health, mental, and emotional welfare. It celebrates childhood and the understanding of children.

Important Swedish Celebrations – Holidays in Sweden

Celebrate!!!!  Among many other celebrations and holidays of Sweden, the three most notable are Advent, All Saints Day, and Swedish Midsommar. The mark of the holiday season, also known as Advent, is one of the most important celebrations of Sweden. On this day, Swedish citizens visit churches and sing yule-tide songs. This is the beginning of the new year, and called “The First Sunday”. Children and adults decorate the streets, and light a candle every Sunday until Christmas during that month. A holiday to honor the deceased, Swedish “All Saints Day” is a popular and well known celebration on the first Saturday after October 30th. Wreathes and flowers are laid on loved ones resting areas and candles are lit. The celebration of most festivities known as Midsommar (midsummer), this is the warmest time and the days are lengthier. June 24th is the celebration of St. John the Baptist, and the Mayday is celebrated on the morning of Midsummer’s Eve. Decorations, dancing, food, and even magic occupy this time and celebration.

Swedish Clothing, fashion

Modern fashion has taken a toll on culture internationally, and Sweden is no exception. Hennes and Mauritiz, also known as H&M is headquartered in Sweden for example. Yet, something that stands out in Sweden from everywhere else is that it is not uncommon the least bit to see a Swedish civilian wearing a hat with a propeller on the top.

Swedish Traditions – Swedish culture for kids

On December 24th at 3 p.m. of every year, it is a tradition for the Swedish to watch “Donald Duck and his Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas,” or “Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar en god jul.” June 6, 1916 began the first celebration of Swedish Flag Day. On this day, also called National Swedish Day, a boisterous celebration in which there is an array of blue and yellow flags as well as food, speeches, and activities are in the streets of Sweden. Crayfish happens to be one of the most sought out sea foods in Sweden during the month of August when the climate is warmer. At that time, it is tradition to have a “Crayfish Party.”

Sounds of Sweden 

Nordic folk dance music, polka, and polska are just three of many genres one may hear while listening to a Swedish radio station. Yet, they are the most popular of the culture, and with the music comes the instruments that creates it; the accordion, the clarinet, and the fiddle. These are the commonly used instruments of Sweden.

Places to See and Things to Do in Sweden for kids 

Take the Kids and Your Parents Too!

Become acquainted with the wildlife at Lycksele Djurpark. This outdoor zoo is a hit with the children. Another fun spot to visit is Pite Hausbad. Pite Hausbad is home to many of Sweden’s water slides, a long and beautiful sandy beach, spas and pools. There are camps, hotels, and cabins. Pite Hausbad is popular and a huge tourist attraction in Sweden. Located in Stockholm, Sweden, Aquaria Water Museum lets children enjoy deep sea imagery as they spend time in an Amazon rain forest. Children can also interact with the Nordic sea animals, and look at the tropical waters. The serene scene is exactly what parents need, and what their children will enjoy.

Sweden Fun Facts 

1) IKEA, a furniture making company that is internationally popular, was created in Sweden by a man named Ingvar Kamprod

2) The sun rises at 3:30 a.m. in the summer, and sets at 3:30 p.m. in the winter

3) On Easter, kids dress up as witches and go trick or treating

4) In Sweden, “a little” means “a lot”

5) There is no word in the Sweden language for “please”

6) Swedish is the most widely spoken of the Scandinavian languages

Swedish Epic Stories for Kids

Pippi Longstocking written by Astrid Lindgren is an advocate and heroine for young girls, and a rebel as well. She educates kids in her story on being themselves, and to believe that anything is possible. She challenges the strongest man in the world, “Mighty Adolph”, and can carry a horse all on her own. The story of Pippi Longstocking is a widely told tale in grade schools of Sweden.

Also an Astrid Lidgren classic, The Tomten is a widely enjoyed child story read in Sweden. In this story, it’s a cold and snowy winter night and the animals of Sweden are comforted by a small troll. The troll promises them that it will warm up and Spring will soon arrive. The troll brings unity and hope to the animals of the farm.

Swedish Culture for Children By DinoLingo Writer: La’Preea Smith.
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