Student’s Blog

Upon my arrival in Stockholm this August, I was immediately enthralled with many things- the archipelago and the islands on which Stockholm is situated make it absolutely beautiful, with opportunities for water sports everywhere (within the first two weeks I was in a kayak in downtown Stockholm); the Swedish obsession with candles, making everything cozy and warm; and the unbelievable friendliness of the Swedes, to name a few. However nothing quite compares with the tradition of the fika.
Fika is a word that basically translates to “coffee break.” Traditionally, it means that you take a few minutes out of your busy day to sit and have a coffee and a cardamom bun with friends. Most of the time, this is what a fika is, although these breaks are taken quite frequently (up to four or five times a day, I’m told) and can range from anything from having a cardamom bun and coffee to having a soda with a sandwich. Fikas also provide an inescapable opportunity to test all the delicious treats in a Swedish bakery- so far my favorite are the chocolate balls (basically chocolate cookie-dough covered in coconut or sugar-yum!). Fikas are a time for Swedes to talk with friends and co-workers, and rest while sipping something hot. The importance of the fika in Sweden cannot be underestimated, and it is a wonderful tradition. I fully plan on continuing my fikas when back in the States, as a way to remind myself that there is always time to rest and have a chocolate ball.

- Willa Oddleifson, Scripps College

Director’s Blog

The semester has reached its mid-point. And we just rewinded the time – back to “wintertime” as we say in Sweden. It is nice to get the light back in the morning, however it is amazing how quickly you forget that darkness arrives so much earlier in the day. So far the Fall has been unusual in terms of sun and warmth. Right now we have more than 5 degrees warmer than normal. Feels even stranger when reading about the snow fall on the American East coast. Very few Swedes consider November a favorite month. Nevertheless, the month of November offers a lot of things no other month of the year can match. One can, for instance, visit the Stockholmsmässan in Älvsjö, where the Scandinavian Boat Fair, the largest Nordic food Fair, and The Winter Show will take place in mid-November.

Allahelgonadagen (All Saints Day) is still an important day for many Swedes. It has its’ roots in the roman-catholic church, but abandoned after the Reformation. November first was, during medieval times, also considered the first day of winter. Today the holiday is focused on the memory of lost family members and friends. The tradition is to visit the cemeteries and light candles on the graves. In Stockholm, the Woodland Cemetery (A Unesco World Heritage site) has become a place for people to visit. It is a fantastic sight to arrive there late afternoon and see all the candles burning. The Woodland Cemetery was created in the early 20th century and one of the ideas was to make the architecture blend with nature. The creators did indeed succeed – I think all students taking the Art and Architecture class think the same – it is one of the sites visited during the course.

Lastly, November is a very cozy month. This is the time when most people move inside again. We (well many do) buy an awful lot of candles and allow ourselves an extra fika (a delicious and very traditional Swedish bun).