10 Things NOT to do in Sweden!
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- Moving to Sweden, taking a vacation or maybe you are just plain curious about Swedish culture? In this video I am talking 10 things NOT to do in Sweden, from the silly points to the more serious Jantelagen and Lagom.
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Additional Swedish Rule
* Don't make a ski slope in the cheese.
Very important indeed
This ☝️
@@robinviden9148 Wisdom from the sages
that is a good rule, although we are buying more and more pre-sliced cheese these days.
U prob be quatered dragged and hung for it....
Due to covid, the limit here now usually is 2 meters distance,
so then there was this joke where we are just waiting for covid to be over,
so we can go back to our regular 5-meter distance. ^ ^
🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂🤣😂😂🤣😂😂 that's a good one
Ha ha ! 🤣
Swedes in a nutshell....😁
Norwegians will just hide out in the stuga ! On a mountain top.... 🏔
Love from Norway 💖
oml yes
I have a bad sence of humour because that one still gets me to snicker XD
About the jantelag, Law of Jante, it's really quite simple although a lot of people have a hard time explaining it or grasping it. Some people think that it hinders people from doing their best, that it holds people back, but then they haven't really understood it.
You should separate the person and what the person is doing. You could be the very best in the world at something, no problem there, but that does not make you better than anyone else. Only better at that specific thing. So we have no problems at all celebrating excellent people, as long as they understand that they are just excellent at what they do, they are not better people in themselves.
And of course lagom exists when it comes to drinking. I often have a perfectly lagom amount of beers so that I can hardly move the next day. :)
A really nice explanation! Thanks for watching, take care!! 😊
I feel like depending on who you're talking to, it might be best to avoid mentioning the other Nordic countries at all, because if an "outsider" comes in and criticises one of our neighbours, you might get a "Hey, you can't call my little brother an idiot! Only I can call my little brother an idiot!" kind of reaction. 😂
🤣😂😂 that might well be true to!
I actually thought my sister left this comment at first, her name is also Anneli 😂 thanks for watching take care! 😊
Yeah, that’s a great tip. The sibling rivalry is reserved for people from the Nordic countries. Anyone else may compliment the Nordics in general, or the specific Nordic country that they’re in, but other than that, one may (if unlucky) soon find oneself on thin, cracking ice. 😄
The exception may be if a representative of that other Nordic country is present, because then you may get used as a weapon in the infighting. 😬
But also, yeah, Danes do sound like they speak with potatoes in their mouths. That’s more of a fact. 😁
@@robinviden9148 😂 poor Danes.
Yes you’re right, I’ve never ever experienced that but that is because it’s a joke and I would never insert a joke like that to someone I don’t know 😂😂😂
I can say though that when I do know sweds they are always up for banter with me but I can imagine the people that keep foreigners on the outside and aren’t every welcoming could well have an issue with it. To be fair, I think those people have an issue with most things foreigners to 😂
Thanks for watching take care.
Sweden and Danmark have nerver liked eathother. Becous if u look att swedish history Sweden did belong to Danmark för many years.
@@adamring5325 The southern parts (Skåne, Halland, Småland, Blekinge) did, but not all of Sweden. No, the rivalry has more to do with all the wars between the countries, going back and forth for centuries.
For dating, just treat each other like friends. That's the least embarrassing or awkward for everyone. Be subtle with your interest and let it take time or, if you're getting impatient, be bold and ask where it's going.
😄 that is how I played it with my partner, we were friends and then I told him I saw him as more than that... risky move I guess but 🤷♀️ you only love once ey 😂 Thanks for watching, take care! ☺
Terrible idea! You're just asking to be friendzoned or taken advantaged of, unless you're a girl.
Don't ask, just DO. Don't be afriad of being awkward! If you're being subtle, no one will ever catch on.
@@vertitis I think that is a great point. A good middle ground between just being friends and being pushy. I understand why people struggle to do that though, it's always scary incase you get rejected but usually I find it's not personal 😊 thanks for watching, take care! 🥰
@@YAYGOME It's scary for sure and alot of people take rejection extremely poorly. Some even take their lives.
I'll say this, never ever take advice from a Swede on dating. If anyone should learn how to date it's Swedes.
And do NOT submit to Jante, whatever you do, do not.
@@vertitis 😂 well thank you very much, I'm always happy to hear people advice. Im very lucky to already have my fiance, he is great so I don't need to worry about dating, thank goodness 😂 although to be fair I don't think I ever have, you just take it as it comes and if it is meant to be it will be 😂 I'm fairly relaxed to these things 🤭 you're the first person I've met that is so against jantelagen though, that is really interesting to me!
Lagom applies to drinking, until you get drunk:p
😂😂😂😂😂
you can be lagom drunk too, haha.
@@iGNONERA haha true😅
@@YAYGOME He is right tho. The idea with Systembolaget is lagom. And most Swedes share the general idea with this. “It’s a good thing”. But to drink modestly once you started drinking is another beast.
Well, This is the reason we have Systembolaget. We almost drank ourselves to death in the early 1900s and given the opportunity we still would.
"Don´t say Gothenburg smells like fish" xD The best comment I ever heard about Gothenburg. Gothenburg smells like fish, just like Dublin smells like a hangover.
🤣😂🤣😂😂 yea but ita not wise to say either in either place 🤣🤣😂😂 thanks for watching, take care! 😊
And London smells like despair lol.
Me as a Swede doesn’t even understand this? Why shouldn’t I say that
@@linkybee3778 It's a "Don't mention the war" 😅🤣
The thing about dating in Sweden is that people expect you to be yourself. Trying too hard or going out of your way in the moment might be seen as being false. It is not rocket science, rather the opposite. Be yourself as you are with your friends. If you match then great, if you don’t then that is fine.
Great advice! I totally agree. I personally just hate when men come on so strong and then give up after a month because in reality they are nothing like that. Really just a waste of everyones time right? hahaha 😂 Thanks for watching and take care!
Have to agree with this. My Swedish cultural reaction to someone who wants to pay for everything and is overly "polite" (or smarmy ...) is just "why are you doing this? What do you want from me? What are you hiding?" 😂
@@QueenMegaera 😂 yea I can see that.. but for me it's more the body language and general behaviour that makes me question their integrity rather than paying for the meal but I think because we generally take turns in England to pay it's not really that uncommon to have someone pay for you 😊
@@QueenMegaera This is a huge shock for me, If I were to ever NOT pay for everything on a date or hold the door for a lady in my homeland I would get cursed out, but in sweden you get scrutinized too damn.
Thank you all so much for checking out another one of my videos! Especially A big thanks to those that are sharing my videos I really appreciate your support!
You bring your videos with a lot of joy, which makes it really fun to watch.
There are a few channels that cover Sweden as a newcomer , but you really stand out.
@@TheExop aww thank you so much 🥰 what a lovely comment to wake up to!! Take care friend!!
Dating is difficult, some women wants you to buy drinks but most don't. Most Swedish women wants to be equal and independed. They don't want to feel that they owe you something
Be a friend, show that you are interested without exaggeration, use moderation.
I've read that a couple of times "be friends" but I would buy my friends drinks to so I'm not sure what the difference is 😂 so glad I'm not in the dating world, I'm way too blunt to manage the subtle game of dating 🤣😂 and even if I wasn't blunt, I have the worst case of blushing! I look like a real life emoji ☺😅
Okay, but how do you break the ice, in terms of meeting people?
@@bbmw9029 I think most things in life can be solved with a big smile. I suppose it depends on the situation if its a online friend you're meeting or a job interview.
Usually the standard way in Sweden is to stick your hand out and say your name 😂 how you follow that up usually depends on the situation 😅 I'm not being overly helpful here am I haha.
The reason why Göteborg smells like fish is because they used fish for isolation when they constructed all the buildings. In the rest of Sweden they were using wool but in Gothenburg they never had sheep so they used dried fish because that’s all they had. This changed in the 60s when they started to use synthetic fibres instead but many of the buildings in Gothenburg are older so the whole city smells of fish.
WOW, I didn't know that... here in Norway we used dry moss in between the timbers, i live in one of those houses. But they impregnated the outside panels with fish oil. Or they used tar
Thank you for a highly entertaining video! I have lived in several small villages/towns, and I have to say whether people say hi and small talk varies so much from one place to another. It does not seem to entirely depend on the size of the village/town either. For a number of years, I lived in a village where if you were taking a stroll, absolutely everyone would say hi and look you in the eyes and smile warmly at you, and several would start talking. After that, I moved to a village that wasn't much larger, and absolutely no one said hi or looked at you if you met. When I first moved there, I would greet everyone I met, while out for a walk, and people would just stare at me, as if they thought: "Who the hell are you?" and not say a word. So weirdly different from one place to another. Those villages are not so far apart geographically either. I guess it's just the local culture that has developed differently in one place, compared to the other place.
That's really interesting and a little odd 😂 I guess Sweden Sweden is quite a large country people have, like you say, developed their own mini cultures. Thanks for watching and take care!
As a native i've never been to a workplace where you take of your shoes, i personally switch to slippers in my office but most people walk with regular shoes inside. Guess it differs in different areas of sweden as well as different types of jobs, i know a lot of schools, specifically for younger children have a no-shoes inside policy
Oh interesting! I'm a game tester so yes maybe it's a developer officer type thing. What do you work with?
@@YAYGOME haha i'm a web developer :P i've heard alot of stories about weird practices at game development jobs tho. Is it in Stockholm?
The shoe thing is a home thing:) but it can be a work thing too, depending of job and climate
I work with electronic repairs so i have special antistatic slippers, but other areas of workplaces that i have ever worked at or even been to have never had you take off you shoes and we are talking over 30 years here, i guess it exists, but i doubt it is in any way common here. At home though it is pretty much always true that people take their shoes off.
@@Stefan- antistatic slippers... cool. Never heard of those before! 😀
I have never seen an office in Sweden where you take your shoes off. But you are expected to make sure your shoes dont leave a muddy trail. Only in laboratories, hospital and kindergartens and such do ppl change to indoor shoes. But in ppls homes definately!!
Ah well I'm a game tester and I've always had to. Maybe ita a tech company thing to
@@YAYGOME Most likely, I'm pretty sure the slippers go with the tech industry. You're also more likely to find things like pillow forts, indoor slides from one floor to another, and stuff like that in tech companies than anywhere else. I guess it's about "keeping an open mind" and "think outside the box"
@@maccifyme never had a slide but yes to pillow meeting rooms and also, always a pool table or a ping or pong table 😂
I would say that there are a lot of offices where you do take your shoes off and go into inside shoes, but, not mandatory but just that most people do it.
Well depending on definitions Sweden and Denmark have fought more wars against each other than any other two countries, so there's some historic tension. These days though I feel it's mostly gentle ribbing.
A gentle ribbing 😂 That is the best description I've ever heard 👌🏻🤭 Thanks for watching, take care! ☺️
And when it comes to norway, we have that lovely hate love relationship.
We have "norgehistorier" and they have "sverigehistorier". They are practically the same, but you switch out the person in them.
What I'ver herd is that the expression "LAGOM" derives from "Laget om" or "The crew around" which comes from the Viking sailors. When food was to be shared on board it was to be equally shared. No one in the crew high or low was to get more food than anyone else. An intelligent way to prevent muteny.
Oh damn that is cool! You know I started this channel because I love making videos but I have to admit, meeting new people and hearing interesting things like this really makes me love my channel even more! So interesting! Thanks for watching, take care! 😊
That’s a false folk etymology though. Lagom is from the old plural dative form of the Swedish noun lag (“law”, but back then also “right position, due place”), so it originally meant something like "with the laws" or “in the right positions”.
In Norway we have the word "passe", akkurat passe, eller "nok"! Finding the right balance
Regarding sarcasm, where in Sweden do you live? Somehow I got the feeling that you live on the west coast? There are I think pretty distinct differences in humour (and as an extention understanding sarcasm or not) between different parts of Sweden. Gothenburg is famous for their word plays while Stockholm humour is more sarcastic. I'm from Stockholm and don't know anyone who don't understand sarcasm. Maybe it could be that you're foreign too, so people are unsure whether your sarcasms are actually sarcasms or just something that is lost in translation a bit when you don't have a common no-sarcastic baseline?
I'd say it's probably the language barrier - people here on the west coast are very sarcastic as well ;)
But of course it is difficult to undersans subtle tones in a non-native language.
Yea I would agree but all my friends speak English so maybe its the other way around (hard for them to get sarcasm at first and use it in English?). Honestly I think so because usually they laugh a lot when I point out I was being sarcastic and the more I am around them the more sarcastic they are.. Which I find very funny!!
Sorry I only just saw your comment!! But yes I am west coast ish... A bit more inland but yea 😉good guess
A friend of mine on the west coast is the most sarcastic person you'd ever know, followed closely by another friend from about as north as you get without freezing all year round lol. The Swedes in my experience have sarcasm down to the same kind of level as us Brits, which is why I think we get on so very well. We're culturally similar in other ways too like personal space in public and not liking it when strangers sit close to us on public transport or speak to us lol. Then there's queuing.
@@TalesOfWar I completely agree on the cultural similarities of Brits and Swedes. We have always been fond of British humour. The differences in humour withing Sweden isn't huge, and they were probably bigger before.
Many of the not to do applies to Finland as well, different language but kinda similar society.
Good to know! I would love to go there some day! Thanks for watching, take crlare ☺😊
Is there a word for “small talk” even i Finnish?!🤔
@@Soundbrigade not exactly "rupatella" similar to "chat"
@@YAYGOME The rest of the world thinks Swedes are to quiet. Finns wonder why we talk so much all the time.
@@borjesvensson8661 Once you get through the shell (or get a few drinks in them lol) they're the most chatty people in the world haha.
Lagom: Not too little. Not too much. Just perfect!
👌😁
but the funny thing is that every person has there own definition of Lagom.
Great vlog very informative about Sweden 🇸🇪😊👍
Thank you so much!! So sorry I am so slow to reply, I was in hospital, but thank you!! 🥰 Take care!
I’m pretty sure noone outside Gothenburg minds if you say it smells like fish. In fact, most people in Stockholm would agree. 😃
😂😂😂😂😂
I mean. It kind of does smell like fish lol.
Lagom actually does apply to drinking, but in a way most people completly miss.
It applies in such a way that everyone should have their fill - however when out drinking and the supply is far more than what is enough polish everyone off then the limits never enters into play. Try it sometime (once it is safe), meet up with four swedish friends and bring a six-pack, you'll probably find the sixth can left unopened or discussed (or two of the cans if one is driving).
Yea I can see how that makes sense! I guess most people just don't follow it ey 😂 Thanks for watching, take care!☺️
Try breaking some of the rules, especially the small talk rule. I find it so easy to end up in a loooooong talk with people I haven’t met before, learning a lot, so I think that rule maybe just goes for stockholmare. But I live just a stone throw from Alingsås.
The word lagom is much about not over-doing something, being spending to much time/effort keeping your car in good shape, worktime for the company, paying money for a new TV and of corse food and drink. It’s said that lagom only exists in Swedish language, but you’ll translations in most language.
I love to see another person’s view of this country, and you’re absolutely charming, too. ^^ As for the chivalry, I’d personally be delighted if someone held a door for me. 😁
Thank you so much! And I agree, it’s very polite and kind. Thanks for watching, take care 🥰
I think dating really depends on the person as well, how they want to be treated. For example in my case, i was going to the movies with this guy and he bought the movie tickets and after we went to a cafè which i paid for everything. So it´s really give and take, but there is also people that like to be treated to things and not to pay for it or have the door open for them.
It really depends tho, if you're in a crowded place then it is completely normal but it is usually pretty quiet on trains (coming from a loud person lol) . 5:33
Anxiety is a big problem in Sweden that's where the booze comes in after few drinks the anxiety subsides. Mind you it comes back 10 times worse the next day.
Wow so it is actually a thing! I had a few friends in Sweden with huge anxiety issues and I was surprised but make sense! (Although they don't drink - maybe that is the problem? 😂). Thanks for watching, take care! ☺️
Thats why you drink for two days
I never worked where you have to change shows. I do so in the winter but only because it get warm with winterboots.
Yea it seems not everywhere does, changing to slippers from winter boots is such a cosy feeling 🥰 thanks for watching, take care! 😊
What kind of workplaces have you visit? Unless it's primary school or something, at all workplaces I know people wear shoes? (Truck drivers seem to take their shoes off in the truck but apart from that...)
Software mostly. I’m a game tester so maybe it’s just that industry 😊
@@YAYGOME I test embedded SW. Perhaps games are special :-)
Lagom is usually applied to everyday things. Because there's a tradition of not wasting. So while the everyday ideal is that there's just the right amount, for special occasions excess is kinda the name of the game.
Which brings us to how everyday drinking more than a small amount was relatively rare historically (for a myriad of reasons, social and economical), whereas the big holidays (Easter, Walpurgis, Midsummer, and Christmas) were usually where it was considered ok to imbide to your heart's content.
Then over time it's gotten to the point where anything that can in any way be seen as a "party" is fair game for excess, and if alcohol is involved in such an occasion, then excess of it is kinda up to each individual.
Or as the classical university-student joke goes "Do you know who Moderation is? Cause apparently I have to find the bugger and drink with him..." ;)
😂😂 both interesting and funny! Thanks for watching, take care 😊
Good video. Hover, as far as I know, in Sweden we usually have our outdoor shoos on in offices. I never ever heard anything else. I lived in the Stockholm area, so I guess you were not refereeing to Stockholm...? Some other things you could add to your list: Do not tip the hair dresser. And at the supermarket, do not put your basket on the band.
Yea I'm being ganged up on by the swedes for the shoe one 😂 I admit defeat, sadly my white flag is still in France..🤭
Thanks for watching, take care! 😊
One of the finer things I learned about communicating here I only learned in my early 20ies. But I find it holds true very good. And most Swedes do not know it but if you tell them about it they will most likely confirm or agree with it. And that is if you meet someone you know and they go "Hej, hej" that means they for some reason do not want to talk. If they go "Hej" then they are open for conversation. If you most people working as cashiers will do the double greeting. The same goes for almost al the people begging for money outside places. They go "Hej, hej" as well because that is people great them. It is a pretty interesting thing al in all. =) And yes lived in Sweden al my life.
😂 it’s fun all the little u spoken things we have in languages. The kind of stuff you can’t read from a textbook. Thanks for watching, take care 😊
Love it. Good point of view.
Aww you're so kind! Thanks for watching, take care! 😊
Yay I will follow you b/c I will get important things from you like this video because I am also a new comer to Sweden. Nice to meet you Yay.
@@tedrosmhreteab2741 thank you! So glad you get some information 😊
Small talk is a function of habitation. As in, if you live in your own house, away from others, you are more open to interact when you meet people out and about. Conversely, people living in cities, always close to others, have less alone time and less interest in small talk.
You can put this to the test if you ever go to the countryside by trying the "bonnavink" on all cars, tractors, cyclists, horseback riders and elderly with walkers. Just give a quick wave with your hand (palm facing them), a small smile and some eye contact and you will get the same back. And thus, the ice is broken and you can get to chatting or just continue along on your merry way.
I always thought that was how it is to but I have a few other comments saying its a real mix from village to village in the countryside. 🤷♀️ At least in England it is very much like you described. Thanks for watching, take care ☺️
i remember this from another who moved to sweden's vid, he said "put the stuff on the conveyorbelt dont just keep it in the uhhh... (why tf cant i remember the name XD)" we always place the stuff we're buying on the coveyorbelt and most of the time rotate it to the code bar is facing the right way for the cashier and make their job a little easier, its just one of those nice thigs you can do :)
as a swede i can confirm Lagom can be explaind almost perfectly with "just the right ammoun" thats kinda what it means tbh, i cant exactly answer why it doesnt apply to drinking but idk who cares really, i can say this tho, it applies to food cause we dont liek to waste food and always say "start with little and take more if youre still hungry" so that we dont throw anything away :)
i have honsetly never heard of Jantelagen, i feel like its something thats just common sense here in swedon so you never really think much of it.
I'm glad you agree with me on the lagom translation 😊 thanks for watching, take care and have a lovely weekend 😊
@@YAYGOME same to you :)
Dating work the best (according to me) in two ways. Either your into a shy typical Swede, then you play the safe card. Treat that person as an equal, pay 50/50 on the bill, etc, and move slowly.
You can also just try the direct move as said about sarcasm. Just go straight forward hey, i like you. Swedes generally like to be honest and upfront.
But yes, buying drinks, food, and other stuff can be seen in Sweden as buying affection which we don't appreciate.
Great advice!
And I totally agree, I can see how that is seen as buying affection. I hope foreigners that don't quite understand why people don't like having things brought for them see this comment because it makes a lot of sense! Thanks for watching, take care! ☺️
Great vid. Good info. Cute lady! Tack 👍
You're too kind!!! 🥰 thanks for watching and take care!!
It's considered polite, particularly in grocery store queues, to offer your place in the line to someone behind you who has just got a couple of items when you got a decent cart/basket full. But don't ever ask to advance the line if you're the one with the one or two items! It must be initiated by the person in front. =)
I've heard this mentioned before but never seen it in the years I have been living here.. Maybe is more of a thing in certain areas? Thanks for watching, take care ☺️
This especially applies if the person with only a couple of groceries is buying ice cream. It's courteous to let them pass in front of you so that their ice cream doesn't melt.
@@MadSwedishGamer Yup, or a warm lunch to-go.
love it
Have you eaten Surstromming?
You forgot something that is VERY important:
ALWAYS take the ludd out of the torktumlare in the tvättstuga!
And ALWAYS put your kaffekopp in the diskmaskin at your work (because your morsa does not work there).
One of the most important rules may be to always offer your guests coffee (unless you’re absolutely sure they don’t drink it)! If they decline the offer, then you may offer them tea or something else to drink. But the offer is expected.
“Would you like some coffee?” is usually one of the very first lines after “Welcome!”. 😄
😂 Not in my house!! "Would you like any tea or coffee" is what people get here.. Actually now that I think of it, that is what I have had at every swedish home I have been to 🤔 Maybe you are a Teaist? 😂
That's a very British thing too, though at least in my part of the world (Manchester) it's "would you like a brew?' rather than specifically tea or coffee.
Yes you are so "spot on"
Thank you!! 😊
I would guess that the sarcastic part is kind of a conflict. It could be a lack of understanding but I generally get Brits sarcasm (even though you use it more than we) but I have noticed that some people do not know how to react. I do not know if it is understanding or just being diplomatic and not knowing where it is ok to laugh. Swedes do not want to offend in general and they are careful (probably to careful sometimes) and especially when there is someone from another culture a Swede could go in to hyper mode off not offending.
Oh yea for sure! No doubt there are people just unsure of laughing but I think if you don't really know how to respond that is also part of lacking the experience or understanding of sarcasm. But generally I am thinking more of the times where I've used a very sarcastic tone and said like "oh wow that's the best news I've had all day, amazing..." to some really shitty news. And the response was like "what, really?! It's bad news though" 😂😂 and then we talk and they tell me then don't understand sarcasm lol. It's all good fun though! Sweds usually love to learn other cultures in my experience and they're always up for a laugh about it 😊 thanks for watching and take care!
Regarding drinking lagom. We do drink lagom. There is even a biological mechanism that ensures it. When we have had a suitable amount of alcohol we pass out and do not drink any more.
😂😂😂😂🙈
The facade of being a gentleman always backfire in 0.1 seconds flat. Being polite and straightforward is way more important than making an effort to be a gentleman but it can work if it's really natural for you. On casual coffe date type meetups though you need to tone it down and just be level with them.
If that is your experience and works for you that's lovely. I actually don't know a single woman who doesn't appreciate a man being gentlemanly but that is my point in this video. It's hard to know how to behave before you know the person 😄 thanks for watching.
Not having your shoes on at work is surely not a general thing. Everywhere I have been working, we've had our shoes on indoors, in our office space. Well mostly I have changed my shoes to working shoes in 50% of the jobs I've had. But it's not that common to not have your shoes on.
When you visit other peoples homes you always take off your shoes.
I'm Swedish and I drink lagom, which in my case is the same thing as not at all.
haha, I also don't drink much! Rare = lagoon for me 😂 Thanks for watching, take care! ☺️
New fan ❤️
Hello Instagram friend 😂 🥰
Us nordics have a long-standing sibling rivalry going on.
It's a kind of love-hate relationship; we'll jump at the chance to rib eachother but if an outsider goes after one of us we'll jump THEM.
It's kind of like Sweden being the elder brother, Denmark being the youngest and Norway being the middle child.
Us and the Danes are always stepping on eachothers toes with the Norwegians trying to make everyone in the boat get along.
Then us and the Danes will go sulk at opposite ends of the boat while throwing pickled herrings at eachother when Norway isn't looking.
Until another non-nordic country rocks up in their boat trying to start trouble, then we're all a united family of vikings again!
😂😂😂 and of course the danes will day they’re the older brother not Sweden and more pickled herrings are throw 😂😂😂👏
The thing about "Jantelagen" is that it is about not being a braggart. There is a lot of people who kind of have questioned this notion because it also lead to a lot of problems. .I mean.. you SHOULD be allowed to have achievements and actually enjoy them. Jantelagen wasn't REALLY suppsoed to be against this, but.. it is.. about "Lagom". Which is a word which most nations understand what it means if we say "moderation", but reality is that it isn't just an upper limit. Lagom ALSO means that.. you ARE allowed to partake.. that.. you have at least the same right as OTHERS to enjoy things.. so.. saying it means "just about right" is a good way to express it, because it is about avoiding excesses, but also.. about avoiding selfdeprecation. . and Jantelagen (The literal "Law" is: "Du ska inte tro du är någon".. which in english would literally be translated to "You shouldn't think you are someone.. ".. and.. and.. it's unfortunate as it only point out the problems with being full of yourself without putting any form of.. "floor" where you shouldn't go UNDER either.. to remember that you ARE ~someone~.. just not better than others).. When it comes to alcohol.. Sweden is actually a very diverse nation (as you noticed when it comes to different cities having different cultures when it comes to small-talk), but that is also very much the truth when it comes to alcohol. I tend to ramble on for way too long, but I think that Swedish alcohol-culture has become rather.. polarized, and it isn't a new thing. It kind of started during industrialization where the actual owner of the "factory" usually owned the store (hey, gotta love the song "16 tons", and also usually he owned a distillery, so.. MOST people who worked in factories had their actual salary, but ALSO got part of their payment in booze. This lead to a lot of socio-cultural revolution with various churches or even non-religious organizations starting up talking about alcohol as being a "scourge".. which lead to "Systembolaget" and a very ambivalent view on alcohol. Mashing all this together we'll find that we are a nation that enjoys our drink, and hate ourselves for it. SOME people are completely sober. .some drink WAY too much, because they feel like they aren't allowed to just. ."drink".. they need an excuse.. It's.. a birthday. .it's.. saturday.. you need a "hook" that you can hang your drinking on to excuse it.. but when you ARE allowed then you are allowed, hence.. instead of moderating our own behaviour it tend to become a wild-man's land WHEN we drink.. but yeah; That is the most.. "visible" part of Swedish alcohol culture and I think pretty much every Swede REALLY would say that "Lagom DO apply to alcohol consumption aswell, it is just not those people that are out on a satur day night drinking, it is the ones who go to a restaurant and have a couple of glasses with dinner.. and then go home and drink nothing else.. so.. There are probably MORE Swedes that drink in moderation (at least MOST of the year, the office Christmas party is kind of a situation where it's close to MANDATORY to drink).. But the people who drink in moderation are the people that you won't even see; But seriously.. ALL different ideologies when it comes to alcohol consumption exists over here.
Lagon does apply to drinking, lagom drunk is totaly wasted
😂
"Lagom" not applying to alcohol actually goes well with how you explained Jantelagen. Alcohol is a poison, so there's no "right amount". Which, of course, doesn't mean you should not take said poison xD We Swedes do "enyoy" our drinks.
Lagom alkohol = salongsberusad
😂 You swedes do make me giggle!
What did you study i.e: what was your degree in and what job/work do you do in Sweden?
P.S: Really enjoy your videos.
I have a weird education, I went to a girls school then went to sixth form were I studied law, psychology, English literature, biology and general studies 🤔 I think that was it 😂 then I went to uni and studied psychology and teaching with specialisation in special needs children but switch early on to teaching and visual arts. Then inwas in a car accident had to drop out on uni, took my love of gaming and got an intern game tester job and worked my way up as a game tester, teaching myself everything as I went 😄 thanks so much for watching! And thanks I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed my videos 😊 take care!
@@YAYGOME Thanks for taking the time out to respond. Wish you all the best in the future.
Holding the door open for a girl is usually done either as a friendly joke or as outright post-dating flirting - not during the initial dating phase. It's never really intended in any way other than ironic. It's related very much to the equality movement in the 60's-70's, where old-fashioned, conservative traditions were tossed out (for the better, IMO). This is everything from casual sexism (assuming a woman can't handle a door or chair) to classism (we replaced the formal "ni" with the colloquial, casual "du"). Basically, never assume a man or woman will behave like in more conservative countries. We still have our own issues with sexism and silly traditions, but we're working on it.
Thanks for this comment! I know a lot of foreigners come looking for advice on how best to act so I’m sure people will read this and find it helpful! ☺️ thanks for watching and take care!
If someone is going through the same door I just past through I hold up the door for he/she/them. Just being polite.
You are correct, Im the smaller towns people are more friendly and curious. In the bigger cities people are more egoistic.
OMG the Danish and potato in the throat would go down amazingly for those(including me) who doesn't understand Danish XDD Great first impression(if that person has humour) Otherwise it might be "You're insulting my neighbour?? How rude!" ^^;;; Also where the hell have you worked at?? o__o Slippers at work?? I've worked since I was 16(14 years now) and every workplace I've been at we've had our shoes on inside(and I have worked at many different places over the years) xDD
Also I love your queueing thing in England! I lived in Colchester for some time and when going on the bus to town, litterally EVERYONE who came to the stop queued behind each other in the order theý arrived! I was so shocked but at the same time impressed^^
😂😂😂 I used to work in Colchester!! Just before I moved to Sweden! My grandparents live between there and Ipswich but I grew up around that area (mostly Ipswich and bury) 🥰 damn rare I hear people mention my home area 😂 did you ever go to Colchester swimming pool? It wasobe of the best places in the world to me as a kid 😂😂😂😂
@@YAYGOME Sadly I didn't, I worked for a family in Colchester as a Au pair and didn't get much money or private time ^^;; But I liked the town, it was very friendly and cozy^^
@@Sasulove 😂 wow I’m surprised. Usually people think Colchester is a total poop hole 😂🤣😂
Shame your job didn’t work out well there 😕 maybe when I finally get back to England and do some video you will recognise it though 😃
I have Danish and Swedish friends who rib each other all of the time with this haha. It's confusing until they actually speak in Danish then it's like "... yep, potato". They're the first to admit it too which is great haha.
Weird thing about jantelagen: The word was actually invented by a Danish author, to describe how people in the fictional Danish small town Jante were intolerant of outsiders, and unwilling to learn anything from outsiders, and of course hostile to anyone who wasn't self-deprecating. You may think of this as racism, but outsiders are also people from other Danish towns.Apparently a British thing called tall poppy syndrome exists, which is kind of similar to Jantelagen. Tall poppies get cut down.
Regarding dating, I think I've had girls and women pick me up more times than I've picked up a woman. Maybe it's just me being awful at flirting, but it kind of mirrors something I've heard about women visiting Sweden, with dreams of having a handsome Swede in bed. They go to a bar, expecting guys to approach them, and absolutely no one does, not even the weirdos. Th root cause seems to be that Swedish guys often don't really know if it's ok to approach women or not, and then not doing it fels like the safe option.
oh I have not heard of the tall poppy thing in England but it certainly sounds similar!
I honestly laughed way more than I should have to the "not even the weirdos" 😂 why did that tickle me so much!
Interesting point though, I think the mix of response in regards to dating this is probably the most common " Swedish guys often don't really know if it's ok to approach women or not".
I certainly don't envy anyone dating 🙈 sounds like hassle lol! Thanks for watching, take care!
Which country you from
England ☺️
@@YAYGOME England is beautiful country I from Bangladesh
@@shuvohussein4076 it certainly is! I miss it a lot ☺️ especially the countryside with all the cute little cottages and pubs!
My experience of foreigners and tourists trying to flirt with me is awful, they walk up to me in the middle of the night when I am just getting off work, even though I clearly have headphones in and ask me to walk home with them and "at least give me a hug" or they try to convince me to cheat on my partner telling me I am the most beautiful girl. It's some of the creepiest shit I have experienced.
That is next level disgusting. I don’t think that is flirting I think that is harassment tbh. 😬 sorry you had to experience that. Hopefully someone just offers to buy you a drink next time lol
Oh, and BTW, welcome to Sweden. I hope your stay will be ... how shall I put this... nice.
😂 thank you!! That doesn’t sound at all intimidating or ominous 😂😂😂 thanks for watching and take care! ☺️
Jantelagen is a old law that have adapted with the time.. But to my understanding due to the fact that it's so old and our partiets at the parlament only serve for a 4year period until next voting many partiets mean that the period to edit, change or remove things will have a process so long that they just leave it.. Imo a really bad explaination and a insult for the system....
Can't be quoted on it though -but it's what popped up in my head.
🤔 intriguing point! Thanks for watching, take care! ☺️
I enjoyed watching this and I think I might fit in well in Sweden even though I do quite like small talk. I could adjust 🤓. Is that fermented fish a Göteborg delicacy by any chance? By the way, Danish must be one of the most unphonetic languages on this planet.
😂 poor Danish haha.
Fermented fish is really all over. I've not yet been to the North of sweden but I hear that is mostly where is comes from. I hope soon I can afford to travel a little more for the channel to find out and share more things with everyone! Thanks for watching and take care 😊
@@YAYGOME It's not all over. It's a northern thing. I have had it twice as my brother-in-law is from up north.
It's not from Gothenburg at all. You can buy it everywhere and many times Swedes troll foreigners to try it, as a joke.
I am from west Sweden and the tradition is herring, sill, picked. We fry it and it's still called sill.
@@starvictory7079 🙄 you can get it all over sweden and I said its more a northen thing
Goodness me, don't get your knickers in a knot dear. You're saying the same thing I am.
@@YAYGOME I think you misunderstand me. I wasn't trying to be nasty. I am sorry if it came across as nasty! I didn't mean it like that. I just meant really as a reply that it's not a Gothenburg thing or a thing all over Sweden.
The first time I tried it I was like 38 lol. Oh man, the smell! My dad had never had it either and he is 75 now...so err maths 68? Never mind.
I promise you I didn't mean to nitpick or be nasty.
I think it is true though that it is something a lot of foreigners hear about Sweden (you obviously know more because you live here) and it's portrayed as this really Swedish thing everyone has or eats.
Have a lovely weekend! I will subscribe to show I am sincere.
@@starvictory7079 aww bless you, thank you for taking the time to reply and clarify. I think it's just a culture clash, the way we write a correction in English is typically in a very round about way (if you're trying to be polite of course) but swedes are much more direct which doesn't always translate well since it comes across a little like " just no, that is not correct at all you muppet" 😂😂. But it is me that should apologies because I know this about Swedish and English but I am honestly just overly tired and stressed at the moment and didn't take the time to think that was probably all you meant, so I am sorry for that.
Usually in English we use punctuation to make a point. For example, short sentences to make something really stand out. If I may use your point as an example, a English person would more likely say "it's not really all over, it's mostly a northern thing from my experience". See it is very around about and much less direct and a longer sentence. I hope that makes sense 🙈 anyway, sorry again for assuming and being an actual muppet. Thank you for not being an arse and kindly explaining what you meant 🥰 take care and I hope you have a really lovely weekend to!
I definitely think you can have lagom amount of alcohol. Seriously fellow Swedes, you don't have to get wasted and vomit in the gutter every weekend. Just have a couple of beers or whatever, get tipsy and then go home. Though thinking about it, this might have something to do with the dating thing as well... Easier to hook up when you're drunk I guess?
I have never met anyone who would pass up a free drink, that might just be a norrland thing were we like our alcohol even more then in southern Sweden :D
I'm in agreement! I would never said no to a free drink (Unless maybe the person looked like they had done something to it! Can't be too careful with those dodgey nightclub pervs haha!!). Take care! :D
Sweds don’t small talk BUT we can stare, sometimes i wonder how many people we scared off because of it...
Yeah, Jantelagen basically means that everyone is the same, no one is better then the other.
😂 That is so funny! I know what you mean, I used to think people really looked at my like ... Well I talk about it a little in my Culture Shock Video 😂 Still haven't managed to scare me off... Yet 🤣 Thanks for watching, take care!
I've never been to Sweden but have found that Norwegians are similar to the Swedes you describe, Us English would do well to behave the same way.
Intressant
One thought about 'jantelagen'. Personal one. I think it's generally accepted to be good and bold too, but only if you're humble about it. In other words, success, achievements and so on can be just fine as long as you're not being an *ss about it. There's only one exception to that rule though and it's spelled Zlatan. ;)
🤣😂😂 completely agree! 😊 thanks for watching take care!
The whole swedish vs danish thing is more of brotherly banter thing, same with norway. Cheers
You forgot about mentioning saying that everyone is named Glenn in Gothemburg
Glenn?! I thought it was Gustav?? 🙈 Well at least I know everyone is called peterson by last name 😂😂 thanks for watching, take care!
@@YAYGOME You too
Shoes off at your workplace??? I never heard about that or experienced that myself.
Maybe it depends what you work with. I'm a game tester 🤔 pretty common from what I've experienced so far. 🤷♀️
@@YAYGOME Ah ok that explains it. I would guess there is a special corporate culture in Silicon Valley also for example.
In hospitals you generally have plastic over your shoes. Is that something they have in Britain?
@@hurmur9528 nah not really, in certain areas yes but generally no. Mostly I've had to wear those little blue shoe covers in viewings for rentals and houses you know 😂 kind of a waste of plastic if you ask me! Lol
Hi Jay.I just wanted to point out that in the original Swedish Jante law there is absolutely nothing said about any migrants,just to let you now,and i´m Swedish so i now the Jante law very well,just saying.
Hi. You have not understood the video. I am saying to forigners to be careful when they Google jante law in English as they will likely find misinformation that does NOT represent what many swedish people think or feel. Of course, very sadly, there are always people that are racist and write these kinds of things to manipulate what jantelagen 'truly' means... in reality the important thing is to accept one another, be kind to all and not presume to know better but because someone is or isn't from a particular place.
@@YAYGOME Don't think you're better than anyone else. That's Jantelagen in a nutshell.
"Dating" in sweden is basically a new thing for the past generation. That's why it's so weird to you, because we call it dating but basically we just fall in love with someone we already know, pretend that the other person is a normal friend and treat them like a friend until one day you hook up basically. Mostly after going out for drinks hahaha
Once I did skipped the que to the que machine.
😂 I've never seen a queue to the queue ticket machine thing... 😄 thanks for watching, take care
Being a gentleman is not sexist imo. But I'd be uncomfortable if someone treated me like that xD
Feels a little bit manipulative kinda? Personally I'd probably only date someone I'm already friends with and it would be kinda weird if they started treating me differently
Thing to do in Sweden:
Start a YT-channel.
Oh yea? Are there are a lot of people starting channels? (I think I have missed some fun here haha) Thanks for watching and take care!
@@YAYGOME I estimate that 32% of English speaking expats living in Sweden have YT-channels!
And us Swedes being total suckers for hearing about ourselves in English, it's the thing to do! 😊
@@beorlingo 32% My goodness! 😂🤣
.... 😳 that is quite the competition! I hope you're subscribed! I'm going against the odds here!! 😂 Im just kidding...
It's funny you say that though, 64% of my audience are Swedish Hahaha!!
I do want to point out, Swedes (at least the Swedes I tend to hang out with) are usually VERY loud, but when they are drunk. Agree we Swedes aren't that loud unless we are drunk.
Also, we love small talk when we are with friends we are close with.
Yea I have to say, my Swedish friends are great at weather small talk 😂 and yes, totally agree, sweds know how to party and party hard haha. Thanks for watching, take care!
Swede here. Number 2: I will happily admit that the Finns are better at organization and schools and a lot of other stuff, and the Norwegians are smart with their oil-money and better at wintersports (except hockey). And both of them were tough as nails during the second world war.
The Danes on the other hand...
😉
As a Norwegian, I'll just respond with this little tune:.. 😂🤣😂
🎵 Vi kan kjøpe hele Sverige om vi vil,
Vi kan kjøpe hele Sverige om vi vil!
Vi kan kjøpe hele Sverige,
vi kan kjøpe hele Sverige,
Vi kan kjøpe hele Sverige om vi vil 🎶
[In English; 'We can buy the whole of Sweden if we want'] 🤣😂🤣
The holding the door part I wouldn't find sexist. I wouldn't expect someone to hold the door for me but if they did I would say thank you. Open a car door would just take to long for me, I'm out of the car at the same time the hand break locks 😂
😂 Yea I don't honestly get the car door thing, I mean.. Its less inconvenient for me to just open it than wait lol! I thing the problem is the Gentlemanly behaviour often is seen as sexist but to be just because you have that doesn't mean you can do the same behaviour as a lady and be ladylike... I dunno I think it goes both ways, I just appreciate nice manners overall 😂 Thanks for watching, Take care! ☺️
@@YAYGOME I hold doors for whoever happens to be right behind me, though I have had a couple of very snarky women say they don't need a man to hold a door for them before. I just let it go in those situations and said "OK".
@@TalesOfWar wow that’s rude though. Maybe you hold the door for everyone. She’s the one being sexist to assume 😂😂😂
I also hold the doors open for everyone behind me, gladly I’ve never had anyone make a snarky remark, I don’t think I would manage an okay back 😂
As a person who doesn't drink myself but have lived my entire life in sweden around people who get absolutely smashed whenever they get an opportunity: I''ve understood it as people here are normally quite.. withdrawn? repressed? and as such once the alcohol starts flowing you can really let loose and the more you drink the more you can let loose and not really be blamed for it, if you're boisterous or wild when sober you're a weirdo but if you do it when drunk then it's normal, so drink and revel whilst you can because tomorrow we go back to being quiet and 6 ft apart :P that's at least how i've interpreted it
That's a really interesting point of view, and kind of a shame? Like maybe people can't be themselves 😔 it makes sense though knowing how people don't like to stand out in Sweden. Thanks for watching, take care!
@@YAYGOME yeah i belive that outroverts specifically can have a hard time here, as an introvert the swedish culturre fits me perfectly, no need for needless human interaction but i know several extroverts all whom which go all out whenever there's a chance for alcohol consumption, could be a coincidence tho, i'm no expert :P
Sweden seams to have joke/pretend hate for the closest Nordic country, like gothenburg joke about Norway, stockholm jokes about Finland, and malmö jokes about danmark.
As you mention Danmark, can it be that you live closer to malmö/danmark?
Yes I think it's all just good fun generally. I actually don't, I live about an hour from gothenburg 😊 thanks for watching, take care!
Nah you got it all wrong, in Sweden we pretend that a country called Danmark exists, but we all know its just an amusement park with drunk people :)
On a country road, say hi, on a city one, dont. We talk to folk... When it comes natural.
Smiling at everyone is my natural state though, so you can see my issue 😂
I do agree though, country people are much friendlier generally, it's the same in England. Thanks for watching, take care!
There's one rule, and one rule alone when you are north of Dalälven, and that is "köpekagor". When you plan to visit your neighbours or friends, you, bring, the, fikabröd!! And that is equal!
We get your sarcasm. We only give it back 🤪😜…
Maybe you do but I don’t think it’s wise to speak for everyone 😂
I hope you know that Swedes normally are more social and sit nearer on public transport when there is no covid.
I haven't been on public transport since covid so all my experienced are pre covid anyway 😊 thanks for watching take care!
Really? Not if you don't have to...
You can definitely say another Nordic country is better as long as you can motivate why :P
😂 yea of course. I really really want to go to Norway, I've heard so many great things about it!
@@YAYGOME unfortunately for Sweden, Norway arguably is the most beautiful country in all of Europe. Skip Oslo though and head for Bergen and the mountainous coast. The Norwegian krona has depreciated and now 1 SEK = 1 NOK, but even so the prices are still higher there.
@@k.j.hulander2204 Thank you so much for the tips 🥰 I'm waiting for the day I can finally afford to go for a youtube video. It's my dream to be able to record all the beautiful views. It keeps me going through the crazy days 😂 take care! 😊
@@k.j.hulander2204 I would say, Norway is the most beautiful country in the world, their fjords and mountains are the best/Finnish girl living in Sweden
First and only rule. Do not annoy Michael May.
If you can manage that, I'll fight a village for disrespecting your honour.
😳 noted for when I find that one village that pisses me off.. 😂
Jante law is just "be humble, don't brag. Don't be arrogant"
Jantelagen is Norwegian :-D You got some things right, but you got a lot wrong as well. Have you been to the north of Sweden? Different from the south...
Also, we hold the door open for anyone, we're polite,!
Sorry you felt I did things wrong. Everything is based of my own experiences and those of swedish friends around me. I'm lucky to live south of sweden and have several friends from the North so I hope I cover most people's view. My videos are mostly just for fun though so please don't take them too seriously 😂 thanks for watching. Take care.
Jantelagen may be written by a norweigan/danish author but Jantelagen is very much considered a Swedish thing.
Chatty? I would say Gothenburg is quite chatty and Alingsås is close to it.
I’m from Gothenburg but i now live on a tiny burg in Småland and it is like another country . Make eye contact and say ”hi” here and they look at you as if you where naked....in the non good way. 🕺🏻
😂😂😂 Sounds like that could be quite fun!! You might see me there this weekend just saying "hi" to people for my own amusement 🤭 Thanks for watching, take care! ☺️
... And Lagom doesn't applies to younger and alcoholics. When you get wiser you will have learned your limits.
Yea I never understood that, I've never drunk so much I've passed out or been sick etc. I guess I'm just riskaverse 😂 Thanks for watching, take care! ☺
Jantelagen is more like "actions speaks louder than words" combined with "don´t brag"
Yea I agree! Thanks for watching, take care! 😊
@@YAYGOME Tack detsamma och välkommen till svenneland :) Cheers and wellcome to the land of the swedes! :)
We don't drink except to get fall down drunk, sober 5 days and fall down drunk 2 is the way it works and no, we don't know why.
We used to drink 8 days a week (and yes, we used to have 8 days in a week a long time ago) starting with beer and vodka and moving up to stronger vodka or "brännvin" which is vodka.
It's the idea that more is better which ... well it's booze and sex on weekends and misery the rest of the week.
Ten thousand Swedes ran through the weeds, chased by ten Norwegians.
We dont like Denmark, because they are happier than us.
We dont like Norway, because they are richer than us.
But we like Finland, because they are tougher than us. But we hate that when they beat us in hockey.
You're like 4 brothers 😂 thanks for watching, take care!
wait so Chivalry is sexist? weird in the States and many western nations that's explicitly not sexist. it seen as adding to the convenience of a lady in a proper manner. interesting.
Interesting about the shoes. No worrying about wearing high heels in the office. wear tennis shoes to place in those cubby holes instead. ha
always insult Denmark if you want friends especially when we are "drunk"
coffee ☕ 😅