Swedish Traditions, Culture, Society

Autumn:-

Alla helgons dag - All Hallows Day.  (Halloween).

Not the USA version however.  This is a day set aside to remember those who have departed - friends and relatives. Today its common to see many lit candles on gravestones where people have visited and shared some time with lost loved ones.

Halloween is becoming popular with the younger Swedish children, but still not as popular as in other countries.

There are a great many traditions kept as part of Swedish Culture and passed on through the generations.  Very slowly, new and other countries' influences are beginning to be seen in today's Sweden, but still relatively small affairs.

Swedes take great pride in their country and their heritage and customs so the least an immigrant can do is learn about them and take part in them.  Nothing would offend a Swede more than if you ridiculed his traditions. - understandably and especially since Swedes are so very tolerant of others and allowing them to live their lives in how they see fit, as long as it doesn't impede on others.

Underneath the somewhat cool and dour exterior of a Swede lies a likeable, affable, friendly and warm persona - you will find this out in time, esp. if you adopt their philosophy of "ta det lugn" roughly meaning "take it easy".

Are there any pitfalls to Swedish Society/Culture?

During your initial "new time" here, you will undoubtedly and as well as struggling with the language, customs etc, be finding your feet in society as well.  As will all societies, there is an unwritten do and don't list that everyone seems to know except you and no-one is ever in a position to explain it to you .  However, don't let it get to you!

Something that can be fairly irritating to non-Swedes is their total and unwavering way of following the rules. Beaurocracy is firmly embedded here at all levels and you might as well go bang your head against a brick wall, as try to get someone to do something "outside their box" . It just won't happen.

The same goes for asking someone to bend the rules - if anything is liable to put a pained silence around the coffee table its asking this!

Basic concepts to grasp (from what I have gathered so far) are these:

Never just tell it like it is. Ever.

Never contradict someone, even in a debate or where you can specifically prove you are right they are wrong.

Never try to show you are better than someone else, but at the same time don't undersell yourself esp. in job interviews.  If you say you can do something better than others or are not sure you could do something - you probably won't get the job!

A very useful taboo not to break is for those using a shared utility.  apartments here in Sweden have purpose-built tvättstuga (washing rooms) to do laundry in.  Never ever, on pain of death or at the very list silence from the whole building - leave the filter in the tumble dryer full of fluff!  An absolute cardinal sin.  A neighbour will have no compulsion about knocking on your door and providing you with the evidence of your "sin".

Of course, this is very light-hearted and is meant to be - but Swedish people are sticklers for rules and working within beaurocracy.  It is always best to bear this in mind, especially when you are dealing with the minefield of forms and red tape you will encounter when you move here.  18 months down the line I can look back and laugh, but at the time, I was so frustrated I could have screamed.