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Winter bucket list – 17 Swedish things for you to try this winter
There's nothing more Swedish than organising a fika after ice skating.
1. FORAGING IN THE WOODS ✔
As summer draws to an end and the leaves start to change colour on the trees, here in Sweden you will find the locals engaged in the most Swedish of activities – foraging for natures goodies in the woods! Whether they are picking blueberries that grow in abundance in the forests in the south or on the hunt for elusive chanterelle mushrooms you’ll never know, because Swedes are famously very secretive about their foraging spots!
2. PREPARE A TYPICAL SCANDINAVIAN FEAST ✔
What could be better than using ingredients you've collected yourself from nature or regional specialities to create a delicious dish? Try a classic Scandinavian dish such as mushrooms sautéed in butter, seasoned with cream, salt, pepper and a little parsley, served on fresh toast - simple and delicious! Or prepare a savoury fish dish such as fried salmon with dill potatoes or the typical meatballs.
Turn your freshly picked mushrooms into a delicious topping for crusty fresh baked bread.
Cook something typically Scandinavian this winter - how about Köttbullar?
Create cosy activities in doors for your kids when the weather doesn’t allow you to be outside.
3. HYGGE EVENING WITH BLANKETS AND CANDLELIGHT ✔
The Danish term hygge describes a feeling of cosiness and security. Make yourself really cosy at home with fluffy blankets, warm tea, candles and soft music. A relaxing evening on the sofa with a good book or a series is the ideal way to savour the Scandinavian winter feeling.
4. BAKE PEPPARKAKOR ✔
Pepparkakor, the Swedish version of gingerbread fills the shelves as Christmas approaches. Why not try your hand at baking your own?
Pepparkakor are simple to bake, perfect for getting the kids involved.
5. HOT CHOCOLATE FOR THE KIDS ✔
When all baking fun is over and the pepparkakor are ready to eat cuddle up in the den with a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Let the children get stuck into the marshmallows and decorate the with chocolate sauce.
Grab a thermos filled with steaming hot coffee, a couple of mugs and your skates and get out on the ice, just be sure to check the ice is thick enough first!
Grab everything you need for a spa like sauna - a body brush, scented candles and diffusers, gorgeously scented soaps and creamsand relax and enjoy on a winter's day.
6. ICE SKATING ON A LAKE ✔
7. SAUNA ✔
8. A WINTER DIP IN THE SEA (IF YOU’RE BRAVE ENOUGH) ✔
9. ENJOY A BOWL OF TOMTEGRÖT ✔
Similar to the English version rice pudding, Tomtegröt translates to Christmas porridge. A traditional part of the Christmas table Tomtegröt is a warm and comforting dish served in the lead up to Christmas.
Ingredients
- 150g short grain rice
- 300ml water
- ½ tsp salt
- 750ml milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 15g butter
- Ground cinnamon
How to:
- Put the rice, water and salt in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes with a lid.
- Add the milk and cinnamon stick. Warm the mixture until hot but do not allow to boil.
- Cover the saucepan with a lid and place on a low heat for around 30-45 minutes or until the rice has absorbed all the milk mixture.
- You should now have a thick rice porridge. Add the sugar and butter and stir to combine.
- Serve lukewarm and dusted with cinnamon.
10. FILL YOUR HOME WITH CANDLELIGHT ✔
Is there anything cosier than lighting a candle as the sun begins to set and the nights grow longer and colder? Atmospheric and cosy lighting are important aspects in the home during the long colder Scandinavian winter. Bring more hygge into your home this year with the help of candlelight,
11. CUDDLE UP WITH A GOOD BOOK BY THE FIRE ✔
12. A COSY WINTER PICNIC ✔
13. A WINTERY WALK IN THE SNOW ✔
14. DISCOVER A NEW HOBBY
The long winter evenings are the perfect time to dive into creative projects. In Scandinavia, knitting, crocheting, and weaving are beloved pastimes that offer relaxation and a sense of accomplishment. Plus, they’re a great way to craft thoughtful, handmade gifts. Try making your own cosy scarf, a warm blanket, or stylish pot holders for the kitchen—perfect for adding a personal touch to your home or gifting to loved ones.
15. TRY A SWEDISH LUSSEKATT ✔
Now we are sure you know all about the Swedish tradition of eating cinnamon buns, but you may not know that as Christmas approaches this sweet and comforting bun is replaced by something a little more unusual – the Swedish Lussekatt or saffron bun. Made in much the same way as cinnamon buns, the saffron bun is packed with festive flavour and garnished with raisins.
Here you can find the recipe: Swedish Pastries: Cinnamon Buns, Semlor, and Lussekatter
16. LIGHT A CANDLE FOR THE FIRST OF ADVENT ✔
The countdown to Christmas starts on the first Sunday of December here in Sweden. It is common for a candle to be lit on the first of advent and subsequently a further three lit each Sunday leading up to the big day.
17. JULBORD - THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS BUFFET ✔
In Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, the Julbord is a festive meal that should not be missed at Christmas time. It consists of a variety of delicacies such as pickled herring, köttbullar (meatballs), gravad lax (pickled salmon), Jansson's temptation (a potato casserole), crispbread and much more. Eating together with family and friends is one of the highlights of the pre-Christmas period.
Discover Julbord recipes here: Nordic Christmas recipes
Photography: Angeliqa Daldorph, Elof Martinsson, Arabia, Irislight, Ester & Erik, @despina2014, Sagaform, @strikkeida, Design House Stockholm, Rörstrand, Villerox & Boch
TRY MORE SCANDINAVIAN THINGS THIS WINTER
