15 Intriguing Curiosities About Sweden. A Country That Has Very Unusual Habits

The remote and cold Scandinavian countries astonish us with many things - from politics to lifestyle. Sweden belongs to this intriguing group and hides a lot of interesting things. And remember that the full name of this country is the Kingdom of Sweden.

Swedish cities are full of greenery and the citizens themselves pay great attention to the environment. Ecology is inseparable not only from the point of view of the state but also of social life. It is the first country in the world to start using biofuel instead of gasoline. The Swedish system of zero waste production and recycling is a perfect example for the rest of the world.

In Sweden, you can pay for practically everything and everywhere by card. Public toilet, shopping or renting a bike. The Swedes have practically got used to the physical form of money.

A surprising tradition at the Swedish table. Well, the last sandwich or piece of cake should remain on the table. Even if it stays alone on a giant plate.

The Swedes have developed a number of different principles that guide them in public life. For example, when standing in a queue, one should be calm and not complain about its length or the obligation to wait. The Swedes also have a sacred rule that they don't talk to strangers, and it can take several months to move from "know someone by the sight of them" to "familiar faces". The Scandinavians respect the privacy and time of others very much, so their conversations are usually short and very concise. The same goes for spontaneity - the Swedes do not like sudden changes and appreciate the daily monotony.

Swedish Saturday it is a day of sweets and candies. This tradition, however, has a very unusual origin… In the 1940s, the Swedish government together with confectionery corporations wanted to check the effects of excessive consumption of sweets. Patients from psychiatric hospitals were used for this purpose. Tests showed great toxicity to teeth and other health problems. That is why one day, when citizens do not have to regret their sweets, was promoted.

A club has to have a "dance license", the club's owner may be fined if the guests start jiggling to the beat. The Riksdag (the national legislature and the highest decision-making body in Sweden) voted unanimously in favour of abolishing the requirement for a dance license in 2016, but the law still exists and is enforced.

Unlike other nations, the Swedes have no problem with third party involvement in disputes. Such participation is not only welcome but also advisable! We are talking here about all conflicts from family to business. For example, if someone turns on loud music at night, the Swede will write a complaint to the house owner. When family problems arise, they go to family therapists.

Unlike the USA, Sweden has a very strict approach to everything that makes a boom and flies to the sky. In order to be able to pop a firecracker (it is clearly defined in the law) one needs to get police approval first. You can also get the right license to fire fire fireworks without having to report it to the police.

The Swedes started experimenting with microchips in 2015 and nowadays there are 3000 users of these devices. The procedure is very simple: using a syringe, the chip is injected under the skin and it looks like a piece of wire. It contains information about credit cards, all access cards, driving licenses and other important data. They cost from 150 to 200 dollars.

The Swedes do not care for hats and do not encourage children to wear them. Juts to remind you that the country is not one of the warmest. However, they think that cold exposure hardens the body and strength. Sometimes in kindergartens, the smallest children are dressed up and taken outside in big strollers on the veranda and there they sleep even in winter!

When working in Sweden, they don't do-over hours. Matter of fact, parents often leave work earlier to pick up their children from school. And they do not have to explain this to anyone. There is also an absolute ban on swearing at work. In USA, so far as it is tolerable for office workers. Swedes do not swear in any profession.

Swedes value privacy, which does not mean they are not curious! To this end, they install special mirrors on the windowsills of their homes so that they can see freely what is happening on the street and at the same time not show "too much interest". Their genesis goes back decades, when wives, instead of looking through windows while waiting for their husbands, could see them in the mirror reflection. It is surprising that the idea did not come to Poland…

Not doing sports in Sweden would threaten social ostracism if not for the fact that the private sphere is respected there. Practically 3 million Swedes declare to be members of local sports clubs, and it comes as no surprise to see older people cycling or doing other sports. Winter sports (I wonder why), swimming, hiking, basketball or soccer are popular. There are also special poles on the streets of the cities, which allow cyclists to relax. They can usually be found at crossroads.

Swedish citizens like unusual styles and recycling. This combination allows stores to earn money even on empty fruit crates. Swedes love to decorate their apartments with such things, while modifying or painting them in other colors.

The Swedes have a lot of countries to choose from when it comes to mobility. Swedish citizens are very proud to be able to enter 171 countries without applying for a visa. However, the United Arab Emirates are at the top of the list. Citizens of this country can visit 179 countries without a visa.

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