Category: Interesting facts

Our native Swedish teacher told us about one of their sweet treats:

“Semla is something we eat in Sweden before Lent. It is a sweet bun filled with an almond paste with a lot of whipped cream. This rich, extravagant treat is meant to be the feast before fasting (though most of us who eat these don´t continue with the fasting part….). So, the Swedish celebrate Lent with a Hungarian-looking pastry (képviselő fánk) with a German name – a nice symbol for how intertwined we are with other countries.”

Our Swedish teacher told us about another interesting fact, which is about the concept of “Fredagsmys”, or Swedish “cosy Friday”.
Fredagsmys is about embracing a softer end to the working week, by heading home early to enjoy a feel-good, no-frills meal, followed by crisps or sweets on the sofa. Families usually watch TV or a movie together, with blankets and candles brought in as essential accessories during the long, dark winter.
For the past three decades, supermarket-bought taco shell or tortilla kits have been a go-to Friday night dish in Sweden, which is one of the biggest consumers of Mexican food in Europe. And tacos have become the core symbol of a much-loved Nordic ‘cosy Friday’ concept.
Fredagsmys has become a deep-rooted ritual that affords Swedes a weekly treat, while upholding the country’s strong family values and obsession with work-life balance.