Language, Culture and Traditions

General articles relating to the language, culture and traditions of our destination countries.

Sweden – the Cashless Country?

Sweden - a Cashless Country? Photo: Nature Travels.

They used to say “Cash is King”. No so in Sweden anymore! Like many of its Nordic neighbours, Sweden is fast becoming a cashless economy. We’re often asked by our guests whether they need to bring cash with them for their trip to Sweden. Here we answer some of the most common questions: What currency Sweden – the Cashless Country?

Seven Really Useful Swedish Words with No Direct Equivalent in English

Really useful Swedish expressions with no direct equivalent in English. Photo: Filip Dejaegher.

Are you feeling “mojsig” today? How much is “lagom” for you? If someone mentions the term “relativity”, and you’ll almost certainly think of Einstein and his famous equation E=MC2. But have you heard of linguistic relativity? Also known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, the principle of linguistic relativity proposes that the language we speak shapes how Seven Really Useful Swedish Words with No Direct Equivalent in English

A Swedish Summer

A Swedish Summer. Photo: Nature Travels.

Sofia and I are halfway through a three-week stay in the Stockholm Archipelago, where we’re lucky enough to have a summer house on a small island in the middle archipelago. At a time when so much has changed and so quickly, it feels both very strange and very wonderful to be here again. It’s a A Swedish Summer

How To (Pretend To) Be Swedish

How to (pretend to) be Swedish. Photo: Nature Travels.

Bob from the Nature Travels team draws on his 20 years of experience with Swedish culture to give some tips on how to blend in if you’re travelling to Sweden or have some Swedish friends! 1. Build up your coffee tolerance and take time out for “fika” For such a relaxed bunch, the Swedes drink How To (Pretend To) Be Swedish

Easter in the Nordic Countries

Easter in the Nordic Countries. Photo: Nature Travels.

While Easter here in the UK may be mainly about rabbits and eggs, Easter is celebrated differently all over Europe and in the Nordic countries they have their own traditions. In Sweden and Finland, children dress up as witches and go visit houses in the hope to receive some sweets in exchange for a drawing Easter in the Nordic Countries

Basic Norwegian Phrases

Basic Norwegian Phrases. Photo: Nature Travels.

As in other Nordic countries, English is spoken to a good standard by many Norwegians, so you shouldn’t need an intensive Norwegian language course to make yourself understood on your travels. However, if you would like to learn some words and phrases to practise on the locals, they will very much appreciate it! Here are Basic Norwegian Phrases

Pancake day? Not in Sweden – it’s time for Fat Tuesday!

A delicious "semla", eaten on Fat Tuesday or Fettisdag in Sweden.. Photo: Amanda Lennstrand.

Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday – as the start of Lent approaches, in kitchens nationwide, Brits will be scraping the aftermath of over-ambitious pancake-flipping contests from their floors and walls while a hot debate rages between lemon-and-sugar-traditionalists and ice-cream-and-chocolate-sauce progressives. Meanwhile in Sweden, a slightly different but no less serious ritual is underway: the Pancake day? Not in Sweden – it’s time for Fat Tuesday!

Additional articles published before 2018 can be found at our previous blog location at naturetravels.wordpress.com