Answering the telephoneMost Swedes will answer their phone by saying either their first or last name or both. People rarely pick up and say hello without giving you any indication of where you have called.
That's pretty useful actually; it's always frustrating when you call companies or other workplaces in the UK for example and someones just answers "hello", and the first question you have to ask is "is this x?". Be on time!Swedes are neurotic about punctuality, agendas and timetables. It is considered very disrespectful to be late both professionally and privately. If you are late, do call and let the waiting person(s) know and you will be easily forgiven. Always apologise if you are late!
Good custom I think, except the obsession with numbering the weeks! "Yes, I can meet you Monday week 16." Que??Calling othersOn weekdays you can call people between 9am - 10pm. Do not call before 10am on weekends. It is also considered bad form not to introduce yourself even if the person answering is not the one you are looking for.
I would probably not call people before 8am or after 9pm, 10pm if it's a good friend. CondolencesIf someone loses a member of the family it is common to call and give your condolences. If it is not a close friend a written note sent home is an appreciated gesture and if you want to send flowers any kind will do.
First name basisSwedes are informal and rarely use titles when addressing one another.
A nice custom, why this Mr and Mrs and Ms in other countries!Gender roles and equalityMost women work outside the home both before and after marriage (
oh, my God, how could they?!). They also continue working after having children (
nah, it can't be true!), but after a maternity leave of 12-18 months (
hopefully it will soon be less than that, when more dads start taking more of their entitlement). Consequently men are expected to do a larger burden of the work within the home. However, most will agree that the domestic chores still largely fall under the woman's domain (
shouldn't be, but sadly it is so). Some traditional gestures are still upheld. For example, men often open doors for women and let them enter first. Men often propose marriage even though it is often a common decision between the two parties without involvement from the families.
LunchMost restaurants have daily lunch specials. It is reasonably priced and this is the main meal of the day for many Swedes.
Dagens rätt is an excellent invention!MonarchyAlthough the socialist party has governed Sweden for most of the past hundred years, the monarchy has not been threatened by public opinion. The Swedish monarch is down to earth and well linked and respected by most Sweden.
Yes, we're all buddies with the King. I think the "socialists" would prefer being called "social democrat" though. PeacekeepersSwedes shun conflicts. They prefer not to raise an uncomfortable issue if it means risking having to raise their voice.
But if we are peacekeepers I assume it means talking about difficult issues once in a while. PetsSwedes are fond of their animals. Cats and dogs are treated as family and live inside the home. However, there are regulations for how to keep your pet. They must not make noise that disturb the neighbours. When taking your dog for a walk you are expected to pick up your pet's disposal and bruing it to a rubbish bin. The pet should get the necessary shots. Nametags with address and phone numbers are helpful if the animals strays. It is fairly uncommon to neuter your dogs while it is more common with cats.
Didn't know that last thing about neutering. Queuing strategiesIn order to make queuing easier many places have a ticket machine by the entrance. Pull a number and then wait for your number to be shown on a display.
So efficient. Lets you do other things while you wait as well, and most importantly, prevents people from jumping the queue. Talk about the weatherAs the fall and winter months are so long in Sweden, Swedes are obsessed with the weather. One can say that it is a common denominator for all Swedes. Swedes love to talk about the weather. Talk about the weather is often used as an icebreaker.
We share this with the Brits (or at least the English) who are equally obsessed with the weather, but perhaps not due to long autumn and winter. Instead I tend to believe in the antropologist Kate Fox's explanation that we do it because we are a reserved people who really believe in personal integrity and the weather is almost the only neutral topic there is. She agrees that it is also used as an icebreaker. Thank YouSwedes like to say thank you many times through a conversation. It can be hard to end a telephone conversation before both parties have said thank you at least twice.
I have heard foreigners in Sweden say this also but I hadn't thought about it. It's true though. One example people give is when we thank the cashier for our change, money that is righfully ours. I guess we thank him/her for the action of handing it over rather than the money itself. But I can't imagine that this is unique to Sweden; other nationalities must do this too. UnderstatementsJantelagen is a term often used. It means that you should never think that you are better than anyone else. What Swedes consider bragging would in many countries only be to tell it like it is.
Another thing we share with the English although they take it to extremes - Kate Fox has many good examples in her book!Visiting friends and acquaintancesSwedes like to plan things (
no kidding!). If you want to visit someone, call in advance and ask them if it is convenient. A Swede might find it embarrassing if their home is not orderly or if they do not have anything to offer you when you come. A need of privacy can also be disturbed by a surprise visit.
At least we still entertain IN her our homes. The French for example, usually meet up with friends at restaurants. When it comes to kids though, usually they just ring the doorbell and ask if X wants to come out and play. This is different in e.g. the USA where "playdates" are the norm, set up by the parents.
