What does it mean to be a Swede?

How would you explain to a foreigner the main principles and ideas of Swedish culture?

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Well, as you might know we swedes are often very introverted. We avoid smalltalk with neighbours and ignore other peoples existance in the bus or the train. Swedes often have a small group of friends that have been around for a long time, often from school, since our school systems allows you being in the same class with the same people for about 5-9 years.

Swedes love meeting up with their friends and family for a "fika", as you might know. "Fika" means a small meetup with someone, when you drink coffe, tea and eat some sweets, usually around 3-5 p.m. This activity strengthens our bonds with the few people in our lives.

I think that the swedish summer is a very important aspect of swedish culture. Midsommar, the big summer holiday, fishing, tons of bathing in the local lakes, or the sea if you live near the coast.

It also depends on where in Sweden you live. If you live in the big cities, like Stockholm and Göteborg for example, you have a separate culture around that. Citylife in Sweden consists of: Shopping, going for a fika at the local cafe, sitting in the parks, going to museums and other citylike stuff. Swedish bigcity-culture is to complain about our trainsystem( even though its great).

Keyword for Swedish culture: Mild.

Mild weather, mild mindset, mild activities, mild people. We love to not stick out, blend in, not annoying people and not invade on privacy. Ooh, we swedes love our privacy.

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes, english is not my first language :)