Discovering Sweden: History, Culture, and Traditions.

1. The Kingdom of Sweden The Kingdom of Sweden Mary Schuck Mary Schuck

2. Table of Contents Table of Contents Geography...3 Climate...4 Early History5 Recent History6 Population7 Native Population8 Language9 Speak Swedish10 Communication Styles11 Values12 Religion13 Beliefs14 Geography...3 Climate...4 Early History5 Recent History6 Population7 Native Population8 Language9 Speak Swedish10 Communication Styles11 Values12 Religion13 Beliefs14 Celebrating Spring and Summer15 Christian Celebrations16 Food17 Sports and Activities18 Family and Marriage19 Customs and Courtesies20 Comparison of Sweden and America21 References22 Celebrating Spring and Summer15 Christian Celebrations16 Food17 Sports and Activities18 Family and Marriage19 Customs and Courtesies20 Comparison of Sweden and America21 References22

3. Geography Geography Sweden: flat or gently rolling lowlands with mountains in the west where it borders Norway Sweden: flat or gently rolling lowlands with mountains in the west where it borders Norway Forests, snowcapped mountains, many lakes and seas. Forests, snowcapped mountains, many lakes and seas. Bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak Bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak Slightly larger than California Slightly larger than California Lies farther north than the USA Lies farther north than the USA

4. Climate Climate Cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers Cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers Subarctic in north Subarctic in north Fertile plains for farming Fertile plains for farming Reindeer herding in the North Reindeer herding in the North Summer sun stays up and winter sun never quite rises in the far north Summer sun stays up and winter sun never quite rises in the far north

5. Early History Early History Vikings: 800-1000 AD Vikings: 800-1000 AD Traders, settlers, plunderers, farmers, experienced sailors, craftsmen and shipbuilders Traders, settlers, plunderers, farmers, experienced sailors, craftsmen and shipbuilders Raided Central Europe for slaves, land and treasure Raided Central Europe for slaves, land and treasure Christianity & the Kingdom: 1000-2014 AD Christianity & the Kingdom: 1000-2014 AD Swedens Age of Greatness 1611-1721: Rule of the Baltic Sea, grand palaces built Swedens Age of Greatness 1611-1721: Rule of the Baltic Sea, grand palaces built Viking House and Ship

6. Recent history Recent history World War II: declared neutrality World War II: declared neutrality Joined EU in 1995; like Britian never adopted the Euro Joined EU in 1995; like Britian never adopted the Euro Currency: Krona, 10.5 Krona in a dollar Currency: Krona, 10.5 Krona in a dollar Parliamentary system Parliamentary system Emphasis on Equality Emphasis on Equality Welfare for everyone, Labor laws to protect jobs Welfare for everyone, Labor laws to protect jobs Taxes are 17% of GDP in the USA, 51.4% in Sweden Taxes are 17% of GDP in the USA, 51.4% in Sweden Royal Palace

7. Population Population 9,723,809 9,723,809 85% live in urban areas 85% live in urban areas People from Nordic countries: citizenship after 2 years People from Nordic countries: citizenship after 2 years Population growth: immigrants after World War II Population growth: immigrants after World War II Non-nordic immigrants: citizenship after 5 years Non-nordic immigrants: citizenship after 5 years Foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks Foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks

8. Native Population Native Population Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities Sami: 80-100,000, semi-nomadic population, northern Sweden, Reindeer herders, Sami: 80-100,000, semi-nomadic population, northern Sweden, Reindeer herders, Native Finn population: 300,000 Native Finn population: 300,000 Sami Reindeer Herders

9. Language Language Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities Swedish: Germanic, similar to English,evolved from Old Norse, closely related to Norwegian and Danish Swedish: Germanic, similar to English,evolved from Old Norse, closely related to Norwegian and Danish English: learning begins in elementary school English: learning begins in elementary school Minority languages: Finnish, Sami, Romani (language of the Roma) Yiddish (language of the Jewish) and Meankieli (related to Finnish.) Minority languages: Finnish, Sami, Romani (language of the Roma) Yiddish (language of the Jewish) and Meankieli (related to Finnish.)

10. Speak Swedish! Speak Swedish! Hello- Hej (hay) Hello- Hej (hay) Good bye- Hej da (hey do) Good bye- Hej da (hey do) Yes/No- Ja/Ney (yah/nay) Yes/No- Ja/Ney (yah/nay) Please- Varsagod (vahrshawgood) Please- Varsagod (vahrshawgood) Thank you- Tack Thank you- Tack What is your name?- Jag heter du?(Yah hay-ter dew?) What is your name?- Jag heter du?(Yah hay-ter dew?) My name is- Jag heter (Yah hay-ter) My name is- Jag heter (Yah hay-ter)

11. Communication Styles/Patterns Communication Styles/Patterns Abhor loudness and rudeness Abhor loudness and rudeness Dont show discomfort for fear of being rude themselves Dont show discomfort for fear of being rude themselves Live quiet and peaceful lives Live quiet and peaceful lives Low Context Culture: like North America, information provided verbally Low Context Culture: like North America, information provided verbally

12. Values Values A strong sense of fairness A strong sense of fairness Favor a quieter life and homecooked meals Favor a quieter life and homecooked meals Love of nature Love of nature Dont like to waste time Dont like to waste time Expect timeliness Expect timeliness

13. Religion Religion Swedens religious roots: in ancient Norse religions. Swedens religious roots: in ancient Norse religions. Norse religions gods: Thor, Odin and Freyr. Norse religions gods: Thor, Odin and Freyr. First Christian missionary in 829 AD First Christian missionary in 829 AD 87% of modern Swedes: nominally Lutheran, with Islam as the second largest religious group. 87% of modern Swedes: nominally Lutheran, with Islam as the second largest religious group. 13%: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist 13%: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist Thor

14. Beliefs Beliefs Religion in Sweden: traditional, cultural and functional rather than spiritual Religion in Sweden: traditional, cultural and functional rather than spiritual Church of Sweden: Lutheran Church of Sweden: Lutheran Two thirds of Swedens population: members of the Church of Sweden Two thirds of Swedens population: members of the Church of Sweden 15% believe in Jesus Christ 15% believe in Jesus Christ 15% are Athiests (believe in no God) 15% are Athiests (believe in no God) 25% are Agnostics (believe that we cant know if there is a God) 25% are Agnostics (believe that we cant know if there is a God)

15. Celebrating Summer and Spring Celebrating Summer and Spring Music festivals Music festivals Fiddle, Nyckelharpa (key harp) and dancing Fiddle, Nyckelharpa (key harp) and dancing Popular: singing in choirs Popular: singing in choirs Midsummers Eve: beginning of summer, traditions of dancing around the maypole, eating pickled herring, new potatoes with dill and a strawberry dessert Midsummers Eve: beginning of summer, traditions of dancing around the maypole, eating pickled herring, new potatoes with dill and a strawberry dessert

16. Christian Celebrations Christian Celebrations Christmas: celebration of Jesus Christs birth Christmas: celebration of Jesus Christs birth Glogg: hot sugared wine drunk with gingerbread around Advent (the weeks leading up to Christmas) Glogg: hot sugared wine drunk with gingerbread around Advent (the weeks leading up to Christmas) Lucia Day: honors St. Lucia. One girl is chosen as Lucia and she leads a nighttime procession Lucia Day: honors St. Lucia. One girl is chosen as Lucia and she leads a nighttime procession Easter: celebration of Jesus Christ rising from the dead Easter: celebration of Jesus Christ rising from the dead Easter Traditions: painting eggs and decorating the house with willow and birch twigs, bunches of colored feathers, figures of farm animals or witches. Easter Traditions: painting eggs and decorating the house with willow and birch twigs, bunches of colored feathers, figures of farm animals or witches. St. Lucias Procession

17. Food Food Fresh foods: fruits, berries, mushrooms, vegetables, wild game and farm animals. Fresh foods: fruits, berries, mushrooms, vegetables, wild game and farm animals. National dish: meatballs National dish: meatballs Smorgasbord: up to 100 cold and hot dishes spread out on the table Smorgasbord: up to 100 cold and hot dishes spread out on the table Special occasion cake: Princess cake Special occasion cake: Princess cake Traditional foods: lingonberries from the forest, crisp bread with cheese and meat or butter and shrimp sandwiches. Traditional foods: lingonberries from the forest, crisp bread with cheese and meat or butter and shrimp sandwiches. Fika: daily coffee break Fika: daily coffee break Princess Cake

18. Sports and Activities Sports and Activities Primary sports: Ice Hockey, Soccer, Skiing, Tennis, Golf and Soccer Primary sports: Ice Hockey, Soccer, Skiing, Tennis, Golf and Soccer Legal on any private land: Cycling, Swimming and camping Legal on any private land: Cycling, Swimming and camping Lakes and rivers: Fishing, canoeing, kayaking and rafting Lakes and rivers: Fishing, canoeing, kayaking and rafting Winter Activities: Snowmobiling, ice-skating, hockey, cross country and downhill skiing Winter Activities: Snowmobiling, ice-skating, hockey, cross country and downhill skiing

19. Work Work 70% of Swedes: work in the service sector, banks, hospitals, retail stores, etc 70% of Swedes: work in the service sector, banks, hospitals, retail stores, etc Emphasize teamwork and creativity more than the U.S Emphasize teamwork and creativity more than the U.S 20th century change: from agriculture to industrial 20th century change: from agriculture to industrial Resources for foreign trade: timber, hydropower, and iron ore Resources for foreign trade: timber, hydropower, and iron ore

20. Family and Marriage Family and Marriage Average household: 2 children and parents Average household: 2 children and parents Unmarried couples: commonly live together and have children Unmarried couples: commonly live together and have children Sambolagen: a law which gives equal rights to unmarried couples Sambolagen: a law which gives equal rights to unmarried couples High divorce rate High divorce rate Students at University receive government aid Students at University receive government aid Youth more like to live alone with a group of friends Youth more like to live alone with a group of friends

21. Customs and Courtesies Customs and Courtesies Nordic Ancestry: 85% of Swedens population descendents Nordic Ancestry: 85% of Swedens population descendents Tall and blond, with blue eyes and fair skin Tall and blond, with blue eyes and fair skin Guests: bring gifts to hosts home and would never wear shoes inside Guests: bring gifts to hosts home and would never wear shoes inside Swedes: characterized as people who enjoy shopping but dislike showiness Swedes: characterized as people who enjoy shopping but dislike showiness Goods are of high quality, but more expensive Goods are of high quality, but more expensive

22. Resources Resources Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States department of Labor, Oct 2013. Web. 26 Oct 2014. Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States department of Labor, Oct 2013. Web. 26 Oct 2014. Heinrichs, Ann. Sweden . New York: Scholastic Inc, 2014. Print. Heinrichs, Ann. Sweden . New York: Scholastic Inc, 2014. Print. Johansson, Ulf, Neppenstrom, Mona and Sandell, Kaj. Sweden. New York: DK Publishing, 2014. Print. Johansson, Ulf, Neppenstrom, Mona and Sandell, Kaj. Sweden. New York: DK Publishing, 2014. Print. Klopf, Donald, McCroskey, James. Intercultural Communication Encounters . USA: Pearson Education Inc,2007. Print. Klopf, Donald, McCroskey, James. Intercultural Communication Encounters . USA: Pearson Education Inc,2007. Print. Porterfield, Jason. Sweden . New York: Rosen Publishing Group Inc, 2004. Print. CIA World Factbook . CIA, n.d. Web. 26 Oct 2014. < https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sw.html > Porterfield, Jason. Sweden . New York: Rosen Publishing Group Inc, 2004. Print. CIA World Factbook . CIA, n.d. Web. 26 Oct 2014. < https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sw.html > Quickfacts . United States Census Bureau, 08 July 2014. Web. 26 Oct 2014. Quickfacts . United States Census Bureau, 08 July 2014. Web. 26 Oct 2014.