Customs and Traditions

It is impossible to discuss Swedish traditions and customs without bringing up the Fika. Swedish people also enjoy a customary social break of coffee and cake with friends, similar to how English people enjoy their afternoon tea.

Fika plays a significant role in Swedish culture. In fact, a lot of Swedes believe that scheduling time for fika each day is practically mandatory. Let's go fika! is a phrase used by Swedes to refer to a fika session. Even in some large Swedish companies, taking a moment to halt is institutionalized, so the goal is to slow down and spend time with friends.

So, if you're asked to fika, take advantage of the opportunity to interact and perhaps even meet some new acquaintances. However, ordering decaf during fika, which is typically not available, is one among the dos and don'ts in Sweden. If you prefer tea instead of coffee, you can do so.