How long was it after you heard the word "IKEA" that you started studying Swedish? IKEA, like meatballs and beautiful nature, produces a strong image of Swedish culture and the Swedish people. When you study a language, it’s important to know about the culture of where that language is spoken. If you learn from dictionaries and textbooks alone, you’ll never get a sense of what life is like on the streets in that country; if you only watch YouTube street interviews, you’ll never know what the literature is like. How up-to-date or complete are your mental images of Sweden? On this page, you’ll get to know Swedish culture a bit better. This knowledge, in turn, will act as an important complement to your language studies now and in... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/SM9HcdbG-1M Witches, sorcerers, costumes, tricks, and superstition...no, it’s not Halloween! We’re talking about Valborgsmässoafton (Valborg or Walpurgis Night) in Sweden. While you might not associate the beginning of spring with witchcraft and sorcery, this correlation has some interesting roots in numerous European countries. In this article, you’ll learn about the origins of this mystical holiday and how it’s celebrated today.  Let’s go! 1. What is Walpurgis Night in Sweden? In Sweden, Walpurgis and May Day take place each year on the night of April 30 and day of May 1 respectively. This festival is also common in a number of other European countries, including Germany,... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/v7JhfNUmli4 What if I told you there was one day a year when you could eat all the waffles you could possibly want? Yes, I’m talking about Waffle Day (formerly known as Our Lady Day) in Sweden.  If you have a mighty sweet tooth on you (or just love pastries a lot), it’s your lucky day! We’ll discuss the origins of this holiday, get your mouth watering with some info on Swedish waffles, and cover some key vocabulary.  Let’s get started! 1. What is Waffle Day? In Sweden, Våffeldagen (Waffle Day) is a springtime holiday during which the general population can indulge in a feast of waffles! But despite the holiday’s festive and indulgent nature, it was originally celebrated as a... Show more

One day a year, in many countries around the world, there’s a holiday focusing on women—their rights, their achievements, and their future. In this article, you’ll learn about International Women’s Day in Sweden, the measures Sweden is taking to propel the cause for gender equality forward, and more. Let’s get started. 1. What is International Women’s Day? In several countries around the world, International Women’s Day is a special holiday dedicated to women. On this day, there’s a focus on celebrating women, honoring their achievements, and encouraging more gains for women’s rights. This is when people really uppmärksamma, or "pay attention to," particular issues that women face, such as the gender pay gap and other... Show more

On the Epiphany holiday, Sweden’s Christians celebrate the three wise men’s visit to Baby Jesus and the baptism of Jesus. In this article, you’ll learn more about this Christian holiday in Sweden, including why there’s currently some debate around it. At SwedishPod101.com, it’s our goal to ensure that every aspect of your language-learning journey is both fun and informative—starting with this article! Ready? Let’s dive in. 1. What is Epiphany? The Christian holiday of Epiphany celebrates two key events in the life of Jesus: the visitation of the "three wise men" (tre vise männen) to see the "Baby Jesus" (Jesusbarn) and Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist. The Epiphany holiday in Sweden is considered one of the "red... Show more

The Sweden All Saints’ Day holiday is, above all else, a day to remember and honor those who have passed away. This can be close friends or family members, though traditionally people were meant to remember all the dead saints who didn’t have their own special day. In this article, you’ll learn about All Saints’ Day in Sweden, from its history to how people observe it today. At SwedishPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative! 1. What is All Saints’ Day? All Saints' Day has roots in the 700s, but gained importance in Sweden during the 1900s and was inspired by the Catholic tradition. Looking at Sweden's Catholic Middle Ages we come across All Saints' Day for the... Show more

Around the time of the summer solstice, Sweden celebrates Midsummer. Midsummer Sweden celebrations and traditions, such as its Midsummer magic beliefs, offer a close look at Swedish culture as a whole. And as any successful language-learner can attest to, understanding a country’s culture is essential in mastering language! At SwedishPod101.com, we hope to make this learning journey both fun and informative for you, as we go over the details of the Midsummer festival Sweden celebrates each year. 1. What is Midsummer in Sweden? Midsummer is celebrated near the summer solstice, which is the date when the day is the longest and the night is the shortest. The origin of celebrating this day is really just to enjoy the longest day... Show more

Learn all the Swedish New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join SwedishPod101 for a special Swedish New Year celebration! Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated. So, how do you say Happy New Year in... Show more

Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Swedish? SwedishPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Swedish Christmas phrases! Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Swedish speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas... Show more