In the early 19th century there was a variety of large turnip called Swedish Turnip which gave rise to the Swedish phrase which translates to; Land Swede-basher meaning a country bumpkin or rustic person.
From snowy, wild Laplands to urbane Stockholm & picturesque small town islands dotting it's beautiful coastline Sweden has a bit of everything all while being the most affordable of the Scandinavian countries.
@ a glance essentials:
...
Language:
Swedish
-
Most Locals can speak English.
Swedish Krona
Water safety
Safe to Drink
Currency:
SEK
Local Transport
Metro, Bus, Tram & Trains are sufficient for the cities. Remote areas require a car
................................................... If you're a comic book fan you may be familiar with the expression Vid Odens Skägg! = By Odin’s Beard! But did you know you can also swear by Odin's glans, (ollon) or his son Balder's balls; Balders Balle! the devils d**k; Satfläsk! the more generalized Kukens Vrede! = The Wrath of the D**k!
Creative Local Curses -
Inhabited since 12,000 BC, later Germanic peoples migrating to (future) southern Sweden developed into the Geats (Götar or Goths) and Swedes (Svear), tribes of the sea-faring peoples known as Norsemen. Much of Sweden’s history from the 8c on is shaped by these Vikings who raided as far south as Baghdad & Constantinople. (The Byzantine Emperor Theophilos was so impressed by the Norseman warriors he used them as his personal Body Guard.)
Although Swedes have ruled the general territory of Sweden since at least 98 AD (when they are recorded in Tacitus,) feudalism never truly developed in the region, like it did in the rest of Europe, and the Swedish state🔍 proper, which included much of present day Finland, wasn't established until the 10c AD.
a bit of background...
CHECK OUT THE:
...................Swedish Vikings were called Rus or Ruotsi (Finnic), from the Old Norse rōþer = relating to rowing. Over the centuries many of the Rus settled outside of Sweden along the river routes they had traveled while going a viking and the people evolved into, and gave their name to, Russia and Belarus.
FUN FACT:
Starting in 1397, Sweden was united with Norway & Denmark in the Kalmar Union, with Sweden ruled by the Norwegian king, until it separated itself in 1521 and began expanding it’s territory as a Swedish Empire. In 1809 it lost what would become Finland to Russia, but was rejoined with Norway after the Napoleonic wars (1814) until in 1905 a peaceful separation of the two was negotiated creating the modern day state.
Sweden was one of the first countries I traveled to when I began to travel full time, and lived there longer than any other country in continental Europe because I enjoyed it so much. Both the people and environments are inviting and beautiful and I would gladly return anytime the opportunity arises.
Must Try Local Cuisine:
Swedish Meatballs w/ Lingonberry Jam ∞ Pickled Herring ∞ Västerbottenpaj (Cheese Pie)
Rårakor (Swedish hash-brown) ∞ Pea Soup & Pancakes (Thursday tradition in schools, & the military)
Knäckebröd — (original Swedish crispbread) ∞ Lutfisk (gelatinous fish pickled in lye)
Glögg (mulled wine & spirits) ∞ Smörgåstårta (salmon/ seafood sandwich the size of a cake)
Kaffeost - coffee ☕ brewed with cheese for a rich, creamy texture
➿➰➿
SEE
DO TRY
&
VISIT
What to Where to Why . . .
Surprising Finds:
📍 The Tunnelbana/ subway 📸 in Stockholm is the world’s longest art gallery (110 km,) over 90% of the stations are
adorned with art installations, sculptures, mosaics & paintings by 150 artists. Kungsträdgården station is also
Stockholm's deepest and contains an entire unique self-sufficient ecosystem
📍 Among winding cobblestones of Stockholm's Gamla Stan (Old Town, founded 1252) are the
Källargränd Urinoar 📸 - a 130-year-old urinal, the oldest of Stockholm and the
Uppland Runic Inscription 53 📸 - a Viking runestone hidden in plain view
📍 The city of Malmö's Trash Cans congratulate you for throwing out you trash 📸
My Favorite Spots:
📍 The small islands, like Brännö, 📸 just a ferry ride from Gothenburg (Göteborg)
📍 Unique Cemeteries🔍 like Skogskyrkogården - Woodland Cemetery, resting place
of Greta Garbo 📸 or Gamla Kyrkogården - in Malmö's city center. 📸
📍 Beautiful Churches🔍 like Riddarholmskyrkan 📸 & Storkyrkan 📸 (13c Stockholm
churches) or Sankt Petri 📸 - Malmö's oldest building (early 14c)
📍 Falu Red (falu rödfärg) Painted Wooden Homes 📸 - dotting pastural small towns
📍 Drottningholm - 17c Palace & Theater 📸 The Royal Court Theatre still uses it's 18c stage mechanics
Most Known For:
♦️ Stockholm - with fascinating museums like The Vasa 📸 - 1628 sunken ship
and nearby historic university town of Uppsala with historic churches & ancient runes
🔸 Visby, reconstruction of a historic Viking village on the Island of Gotland
♦️ Saunas & Swedish Massage - which, funnily enough, is not Swedish at all!
🔸 Arctic🔍 Lapland with the 🔎Northern Lights, Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel, Dogsledding🛷, the
Sámi people, 🦌 Reindeer, and Abisko National Park
♦️ Coastal town of Malmö - with Sweden's oldest castle/ fortress
🔸 Prehistoric Rock Carvings | Tanum
♦️ Liseberg, the biggest amusement park in Scandinavia, in Gothenburg
† Sweden was the 1st country in the world to establish a national parks system
👀 NOTABLE SWEDISH:
🎭 Greta Garbo | Actress ✏️ August Strindberg | Writer 🎬 Ingmar Bergman | Film Director
🎶 ABBA 🧨 Alfred Nobel | Inventor 🎭 Ingrid Bergman | Actress 👧 Pippi Longstocking†
🌡️ Anders Celsius | Astronomer/ Physist ⚔️ Ragnar Lothbrock
& sons; Bjorn Ironside & Ivan the Boneless | Vikings
📱 PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg)
† ✏️ Astrid Lindgren | Author
👣
🌀 Midsommar - 📸 longest day of the year. (Midsummer Eve is always a Friday between June 19th & 25th)
People often begin the day picking flowers to make wreaths for headpieces and the maypole.
Some popular places to celebrate are...
Dalarna county - a beautiful countryside region and birth place of the famous wooden folk craft Dala Horses
Sigtuna - one of Sweden's oldest town, and the former 'capitol' of Viking Sweden
Uppsala - college town filled with Viking history & runestones
🌀 Valborg - a festival celebrating the arrival of spring with bonfires & revelry
🌀 Lucia Day (December 13th) - festival of light w/ a procession by 'Saint Lucia,' represented by a young girl
dressed in white w/ a crown of candles, leading children w/ candles through the town
🌀 Swedish Lapland celebrates an Ice Festival & the 410-year-old indigenous Sámi market in Jokkmokk
🌀 The Noble Prize Ceremony - held in Stockholm every December
Site Key:
Five Star Recommend
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