• Sweden edition

Advent

The following articles have been tagged with "Advent":

Five reasons I can't stand skiing: an Aussie's pain

Analysis & Opinion: 9 Feb 12
Having just returned from a ‘horror ski trip’, The Local’s resident Aussie and first-time skier Oliver Gee wonders why Swedes find such pleasure in hurling themselves down snowy hills. READ »

Fees bring flurry of 'fake' colleges to Sweden

Education: 31 Jan 12
After the introduction of tuition fees to Swedish universities, the country has been experiencing an influx of fictitious schools requesting to establish themselves in Sweden. READ »

'Tradition, culture, and religion are not a Swedish Bermuda triangle'

Analysis & Opinion: 16 Jan 12
Following the unofficial closure of the Christmas holiday season in Sweden, contributor Ruben Brunsveld reflects on the transformation of religious traditions into cultural ones. READ »

Raoul Wallenberg – Sweden's Not-So-Favourite Son

Analysis & Opinion: 2 Jan 12
The Swedish government has announced that it will designate 2012 as the official "Raoul Wallenberg Year" and the honour is more than deserved, according to historian Susanne Berger. READ »

'Now I know just how Ingrid Bergman felt'

Lifestyle: 30 Dec 11
Contributor Julie Lindahl catches up with Paavo Turtiainen, a Manhattan-based chef and events planner featured in a new film detailing how Swedish screen legend Ingrid Bergman helped launch his extraordinary career. READ »

The Swedish 'julbord': a beginner's guide

Lifestyle: 22 Dec 11
No Swedish-style Christmas is complete without a julbord buffet. Food blogger Maia Brindley Nilsson takes a look at what goes into making the perfect Swedish Christmas meal. READ »

Sweden's elk trump reindeer in new Christmas book

Lifestyle: 21 Dec 11
Some face time with Sweden's mighty elk led best selling children’s book author Jan Brett to choose the 'King of the Forest' rather than sleigh-pulling reindeer to star alongside a family of trolls in her latest Christmas-themed book, The Local's Joel Linde discovers. READ »

'It often feels like Christmas in Sweden is only about presents'

Analysis & Opinion: 19 Dec 11
Rampant holiday consumerism is hard to avoid, writes US-native and parent Rebecca Ahlfeldt, as she struggles to reconcile competing Swedish and American Christmas traditions in finding gifts for her children. READ »

'Panic chaos' and other signs that Christmas is coming to Sweden

Lifestyle: 12 Dec 11
Contributor Lola Akinmade-Åkerström offers up five tell-tale signs that Swedes have truly been gripped by the holiday spirit. READ »

Home fires increase during Swedish winter

National: 11 Dec 11
With advent, Lucia and Christmas, Swedish firefighters are kept busy during the month of December, with 12 percent of all recorded fires caused by candles left unattended. READ »

Sweden's best Christmas beers: a selection

Lifestyle: 9 Dec 11
For many Swedes, Christmas celebrations just aren't complete without a tasty glass of Christmas beer. Beer blogger Darren Packman offers some tips on some of the best Christmas beers available in Sweden this season. READ »

Creating a Christmas home, Swedish style

Lifestyle: 8 Dec 11
Looking for tips for how to give your home some Swedish Christmas flare? Interior design blogger Niki Brantmark provides a few ideas to help turn your home into a cutting edge Swedish winter wonderland. READ »

Swedish town erects giant Christmas goat

National: 27 Nov 11
Advent Sunday means it is time for the inauguration of the famous 13 metre tall Christmas goat (Gävlebocken) in the main square of Gävle, on the east coast of Sweden. READ »

Sweden's best Christmas markets

Lifestyle: 24 Nov 11
Christmas markets are a feature of Yuletide in Sweden and The Local has put together a pick of the best, all featuring warm spiced "glögg" for the adults, and plenty of fun activites for the children. READ »

Ten reasons to spend winter in Sweden

Travel: 23 Nov 11
While Sweden seems to be at its most captivating during the warm summer months of June to August, here’s an insider tip — the country is just as beautiful during the height of winter. Here are 10 reasons to visit Sweden during winter. READ »

Swedish reality TV show brings Swedish-Americans back 'home'

Society: 11 Nov 11
A new reality television show offering Swedish-Americans the chance to meet their long-lost Swedish relatives has some critics crying foul, but has been described by participants as the chance of a lifetime, The Local's Joel Linde explains. READ »

Reinfeldt sends lost teddy bear 'home' to Belgium

Society: 18 Oct 11
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt brought a new dimension to Swedish foreign policy recently when he sent a stray teddy bear back to its young owner in Belgium. READ »

From Sweden to Germany in search of cheap booze

Lifestyle: 14 Oct 11
Tired of Sweden's high alcohol taxes and the state run liquor monopoly? Come along with contributor Patrick Reilly as he details a recent journey to Germany in search of cheap beer. READ »

This food may not be local, but it sure is good

Lifestyle: 7 Oct 11
Looking to break out of the meat+potato+brown sauce rut of typical Swedish cuisine? Contributor Gwen Ramsey offers some tips on where to authentic ethnic cuisine in the Swedish capital. READ »

Facebook video puts brakes on Swedish speedster's Swiss appeal

Society: 3 Oct 11
A Swedish driver clocked at nearly 300 km/h in Switzerland last year is due to appear in court this week to appeal his hefty fine, despite posting an incriminating video of his nearly ‘travel adventures’ on Facebook. READ »

ICEHOTEL - a frozen dream

Travel: 27 Sep 11
A journey by dogsled through a pristine white landscape to the incredible ICEHOTEL. Double rooms and suites constructed entirely of ice. An ice lobby, a chamber of ice pillars and the famous Icebar. And then come the Northern Lights... READ »

Eva, 96, emigrates to Thailand

Society: 27 Sep 11
Having lost her husband and most of her friends, 96-year-old Eva Bergdahl from Karlskrona in southern Sweden has decided to pack up and move to Thailand, explaining that her "apartment has become awfully quiet". READ »

The Austrian resort that made me learn to love skiing

Travel: 19 Sep 11
With an eight months ski season, incredible facilities and spectacular shows, Sölden – a popular skiing resort in eastern Austria – has something for everyone, as travel writer and ski-beginner Malin Nyberg discovers. READ »

Swedish kid's TV host fined for cocaine use

Society: 12 Sep 11
Swedish children's television star and magazine editor Ola Lindholm was convicted and fined on Monday for cocaine use in a case which has left him out of job and in the media spotlight. READ »

The Local’s Quick Guide to Stockholm's Culture Festival 2011

Lifestyle: 15 Aug 11
As the Stockholm Culture Festival gets set to kick on Tuesday, The Local's Caroline Bursell offers up a few suggestions to help visitors get the most out of the Swedish capital's annual cultural odessy. READ »

Swede held for building nuclear reactor in his kitchen

Science & Technology: 2 Aug 11
Swedish police have detained a 31-year-old man in Ängelholm in western Sweden after he sought advice on the legality of building a nuclear reactor in his home. READ »

Sweden supports churches with anti-gay views: report

Society: 1 Aug 11
A number of Sweden's faith communities that refuse to accept homosexuals as members continue to receive state support despite regulations requiring them to uphold the country's “social values”. READ »

H&M set to sell Beckham-branded undies

Society: 28 Jul 11
H&M is teaming up with football icon David Beckham on a new line of branded men's underwear, the Swedish fashion giant announced on Wednesday. READ »

New generation of Arctic scientists flourish at Stockholm University

Education: 20 Jul 11
The wild and mysterious polar regions - planet Earth's last relatively unexplored areas - have long struck a cord with the adventurous side within many of us. Extreme, yet delicate, this polar environment is also an area of great interest for science. READ »

Sweden's top sights named for tourism prize

Society: 13 Jul 11
Astrid Lindgren's World, Junibacken, Fotografiska, Stockholm Adventures and Skansen are among those nominated for this year's TRIP Global Award for the "best experience in Sweden". READ »

Sweden's top children's playgrounds

Lifestyle: 1 Jul 11
With the summer sun in the ascendancy, it’s time to lather on the sunscreen, pack a picnic, and head out to explore some of the 50,000 playgrounds on offer across Sweden. The Local’s Karen Holst tips some of the country’s best. READ »

Lapping up Sweden’s rivers: rafting in the land of the midnight sun

Travel: 27 Jun 11
While Sweden is perhaps better known for its archipelagos and lakes, the country's rivers can also serve up summer fun to thrill seekers and nature lovers alike, The Local’s Karen Holst discovers. READ »

Island hopping in Stockholm's archipelago

Travel: 20 Jun 11
With Midsummer rapidly approaching, The Local's Clara Guibourg explores the wonders of the Stockholm archipelago and discovers a couple of gems off the beaten track. READ »

Swedish woman mounts Everest

Society: 20 May 11
Swedish adventurer and free-diving champion Annelie Pompe became reached Mount Everest's fabled 8,848 metre summit on Friday, but failed in her quest to become the first Swedish woman to do so without bottled oxygen. READ »

Male lust/female vice? Swedish museum touts sex through the ages

Lifestyle: 15 Apr 11
While the National Museum's new "Lust & Vice" exhibition has titillated the viewing public, it has incurred the scorn of an art world used to seeing sex exploited for financial gain, The Local's Peter Vinthagen Simpson writes. READ »

Hospital cleans out skeletons in its closet

Society: 8 Apr 11
Skeletons in the collections of a Swedish hospital, believed to have come to Sweden through an illegal trade in bones, may finally get a proper burial. READ »

Eurail and InterRail Passes: Where a journey becomes an adventure

Travel: 1 Apr 11
Whether it’s reading in the light of the Eiffel tower or discovering lavender fields in Croatia, taking the train gives you the opportunity to explore Europe at your own speed - and make friends along the way. READ »

Reality TV show seeks Swedish-Americans

Society: 28 Feb 11
Swedish producers are scouring the United States for Americans with Swedish ancestry to take part in a new reality television series. READ »

On skis in Sweden's wild, wild north

Travel: 25 Feb 11
For a winter adventure of epic proportions, The Local’s Karen Holst steps off the ski slopes and into Sweden’s lone Arctic wilderness – Sarek National Park. READ »

Beer in Sweden: it's not as bad as you think

Lifestyle: 17 Feb 11
In his first monthly column on malted beverages, blogger Darren Packman reminds readers that beer, not wine, helped build empires and explains what it's like to taste a 1,150 kronor ($178) bottle of beer. READ »

Swedes still keen on finding love abroad

Lifestyle: 14 Feb 11
While Swedes no longer take to Viking longboats in search of foreign booty, research shows they remain adept at bringing back trophies of love from their adventures abroad, The Local's Ben Kersley discovers. READ »

The white stuff: a guide to Swedish ski resorts

Travel: 11 Feb 11
With Sweden digging out from another wave of winter weather, The Local's Geoff Mortimore provides a run down of Swedish ski areas, where new snow brings fists raised in glee, rather than anger. READ »

Swedish whisky maker eyes stock market listing

Business & Money: 31 Jan 11
Sweden's Mackmyra Svensk Whisky has announced its plans to list on the stock market later this year, adding that it is now looking for a CFO to help accomplish the task. READ »

NASA history goes on display in Stockholm

Science & Technology: 28 Jan 11
Hundreds of objects from US space agency NASA went on display at a Stockholm museum on Friday, in the largest assembly of NASA material outside of the United States. READ »

New Swedish film puts sex back on the map

Lifestyle: 14 Jan 11
Sweden’s last official sex education film became a hit in XXX-cinemas around the world. Four decades later, it's time for the sequel, but the new film probably won't enhance Sweden's reputation for sin, The Local's Ben Kersley reports. READ »

Taxman eyes Swedish online poker star

Society: 13 Jan 11
A Swedish high-stakes poker player has made his identity public after successfully playing under online moniker for over a year, and may now risk a hefty Swedish tax bill. READ »

As darkness falls, Swedes celebrate light

Lifestyle: 27 Dec 10
As almost round-the-clock night descends on their country in December, AFP's Rita Devlin Marier discovers that Swedes turn on their own informal celebration of light, in keeping with long-held traditions and to help cope with the darkest time of the year. READ »

The Lowdown: Christmas in Sweden

Lifestyle: 23 Dec 10
Jellied pigs’ feet, Donald Duck and a goat-riding gnome may not be your typical global Christmas symbols, but for Swedes they’re all part of the fun, writes Jennifer Heape. READ »

Dissecting the delights of the Swedish Christmas smorgasbord

Lifestyle: 20 Dec 10
Does anybody actually eat pig's feet? Why do Swedes think of porridge as a delicious holiday treat? Contributor Clara Guibourg reveals the essential components of a seasonal Swedish smorgasbord. READ »

Gävle goat targeted in foiled helicopter heist

Society: 17 Dec 10
Two mysterious men attempted to bribe a guard to leave his post watching over the giant goat in Gävle in eastern Sweden in an attempt to kidnap the iconic Christmas symbol using a helicopter. READ »

The Lowdown: Swedish Advent

Lifestyle: 1 Dec 10
If the darkness of winter's already starting to get you down, the light and merriment –not to mention the calories and alcohol – of a Swedish Advent should help pick you up. READ »

Wanted in Sweden: portly, older men with beards

Society: 17 Nov 10
Jolly and preferably large-bellied men looking for a chance to ride in a sleigh can now submit their applications for a job recently advertised by Sweden's main jobs agency. READ »

What's On in Sweden: September 3rd - 9th

Lifestyle: 2 Sep 10
What’s on in Sweden: Alternative circus in Stockholm, European qualifiers in Gothenburg and English stand up comedy in Malmö. READ »

Sweden's Top 5 adventure vacations

Travel: 1 Sep 10
Looking for a thrill? The Local's Emily Gelb offers up a several options showcasing Sweden’s great outdoors. READ »

Blood pudding most disliked Swedish dish

Lifestyle: 24 Aug 10
Sponsored article: Foreigners living in Sweden can't get enough of smoked salmon, cinnamon buns, crayfish and meatballs. However, they have a harder time warming up to blood pudding, fried herring, Kalles kaviar and pasta with ketchup, The Local's readers revealed in a survey. READ »

Climbers set to discover Västervik

Travel: 11 Aug 10
A town in south-eastern Sweden has all that enthusiastic rock climbers could need - but until now relatively few climbers have known about it. A new project means all that could be about to change. READ »

Swedish climber dies in Himalaya expedition

National: 6 Aug 10
A Swedish climber died in an accident on the mountain K2 in the Karakoram Himalayas early on Friday morning while taking part in an Austrian-led expedition. READ »

Stieg Larsson first to sell one million Kindle books

Business & Money: 28 Jul 10
Sweden's Stieg Larsson has become the first author to sell more than one million books in Amazon's Kindle electronic bookstore, the company announced on Tuesday. READ »

Stockholm's five best bathing spots

Lifestyle: 20 Jul 10
There is no need to leave the the big smoke to beat the heat -the city is teeming with hot places to take a cool dip. Emy Gelb has been checking them out. READ »

Sweden's five weirdest hotels

Travel: 15 Jul 10
Underwater, in the treetops or Frodo-style: The Local gives the lowdown on some of the oddest places in Sweden to spend a night. READ »

Music-loving Stockholmers get a taste of Parklife

Lifestyle: 13 Jul 10
A Stockholm music festival in an old royal pleasure palace gives new bands an audience and Stockholm music lovers an alternative venue with beer infused sunsets, writes Emy Gelb. READ »

Sweden's wilds top tourism wish list

National: 1 Jul 10
Kungsleden, Astrid Lindgren's World, Stockholm Adventure and Åre resort are among the candidates nominated for the title of "Best experience in Sweden" which will be decided Eurovision-style at a gala in the autumn. READ »

Stieg Larsson heirs remain in dispute

Society: 16 Jun 10
The family of late Swedish crime writer Stieg Larsson have been unable to reach an agreement on the division of his estate, made lucrative by the huge success of the Millennium trilogy. READ »

'Selman' 20 kronor note given late reprieve

Business & Money: 19 May 10
Sweden's Riksbank wants to replace the 20 kronor ($3) note, known as 'Selman' as it depicts the celebrated Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf, with a new coin, but the parliamentary finance committee has called a halt to the plan. READ »

Swedish food gets Naked Chef's approval

Lifestyle: 29 Apr 10
Swedes might have traditionally viewed food as mere fuel, but over the past few years the country has experienced a culinary awakening, converting Jamie Oliver in the process, reports Vivian Tse. READ »

A new life in northern Sweden - Part Two

Lifestyle: 28 Apr 10
Winter in a picturesque snowbound town can instil in the visitor a true appreciation for life in the far north of Sweden. But a dearth of jobs and a surplus of solitude help explain the region's growing demographic crisis, writes Alec Forss. READ »

Passengers stranded as ash cloud nears

National: 15 Apr 10
Cancelled departures have left Stockholm-Arlanda airport thronged with disappointed passengers after a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland caused aviation authorities to shut down Swedish airspace. READ »

King calls on Brazil to plump for Swedish jet

Science & Technology: 25 Mar 10
Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf called on Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to make a final push for Swedish aircraft to win out over French and US rivals as pressure mounts over the destination of the multi-billion-dollar deal. READ »

Blogger profile: Patrick Reilly

Analysis & Opinion: 8 Mar 10
New arrival and active blogger Patrick Reilly speaks to Peter Vinthagen Simpson about his nascent attempts to become a fully-fledged Swedetalker. READ »

Swede signs up to Virgin Galactic space flight

National: 18 Feb 10
A Malmö man has become the first Swede to sign up to Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space adventure after he shelled out 1.4 million kronor to fly to the frontier of space. READ »

Christmas shopping stop for Jacob Zuma in Swedish grocery store

Society: 5 Feb 10
The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, became so enamoured with traditional Swedish advent candlesticks while attending the December climate summit that he took 15 of them home with him. READ »

Swedish daily slashes workforce

Business & Money: 4 Feb 10
Dagens Nyheter, a Swedish daily newspaper, has announced that it is slashing more than 100 jobs after a year of continued losses. READ »

Give young transsexuals special ID cards: doc

Society: 7 Jan 10
Young Swedes who suspect they are transsexuals ought to be issued special ID cards allowing them to hide their undesired gender during their trial phase as the opposite sex, a leading child psychiatrist argues. READ »

What's On in Sweden: January 8th - 14th

Lifestyle: 7 Jan 10
What’s on in Sweden: Borderless clowns in Stockholm, pampered pooches in Gothenburg and the English National Symphony Orchestra does ABBA in Malmö. READ »

From Silicon Valley to Stockholm: Meeting the US Ambassador, Part 2

Analysis & Opinion: 28 Dec 09
In Part 2 of a two-part interview, US Ambassador Matthew Barzun talks to The Local's David Landes about succeeding President Bush's envoy, eco-friendly former Ambassador Michael Wood; the significance The Pirate Bay; and, introducing TED. READ »

'Millennium' trilogy heading to Hollywood

Society: 16 Dec 09
A major Hollywood studio is close to finalizing a deal to produce an English-language film adaptation of Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s wildly successful “Millennium” trilogy of crime novels. READ »

Jeans 'made in North Korea' set to hit store shelves in Sweden

Society: 2 Dec 09
A trio of young Swedish entrepreneurs will on Friday launch what it calls the first-ever brand of North Korea-made jeans. READ »

December in Sweden: From candle-head girls to jellied veal

Lifestyle: 1 Dec 09
The Year in Sweden - December: Journalist Kim Loughran sketches a month by month account of the country he has called home ever since his accidental migration in 1966. READ »

Murder probe explores World of Warcraft ties

National: 24 Nov 09
Prosecutors are looking into what role the popular online adventure game World of Warcraft may have played in the weekend death of a woman in a Stockholm suburb. READ »

Seduction on the streets of Stockholm

Lifestyle: 8 Oct 09
Wooed into learning the art of seduction, The Local’s Christine Demsteader follows a group of men in pursuit of a pick-up artist’s secrets in Stockholm. READ »

Passed out vodka lover comes to sporting lewd tattoo

Society: 5 Oct 09
A 27-year-old man from northern Sweden has certain regrets about drinking a full bottle of vodka after waking up the morning after with a six inch penis tattooed on his leg. READ »

Fuglesang space adventure delayed again

Science & Technology: 26 Aug 09
Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang's second trip to space has been delayed for the second time due to a faulty valve on the US shuttle Discovery. READ »

Rare Swedish films found in Polish cellar

Society: 24 Aug 09
Rare Swedish films from the early 20th century are among those unearthed in a cellar in Poland, the country's national film library announced on Friday. READ »

Gränsö: get pampered in the great outdoors

Travel: 20 Aug 09
Sponsored article: If you're looking to combine a one of Sweden's most beautiful natural landscapes with a bit of luxury, Gränsö could be for you, writes Jennifer Heape. READ »

Fuglesang heads for second space adventure

Science & Technology: 14 Aug 09
Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang has begun preparations in Houston for his second trip into space. READ »

Stockholm's jumbo jet hostel put up for sale

Business & Money: 29 Jul 09
The world's first jumbo jet hostel at Stockholm Arlanda Airport has been put up for sale just seven months after its opening under the attendant gaze of the world's media. READ »

What's on in Sweden: July 24 - 30

Lifestyle: 23 Jul 09
What's on in Sweden: Stockholm Pride & Opera al fresco in Stockholm; eccentric variety show in Gothenburg; Möllevången music, theatre & arts festival in Malmö. READ »

Åland: a gem in Stockholm's back yard

Travel: 21 Jul 09
Alannah Eames visits Finland's Swedish-speaking Åland islands, and finds gorgeous scenery, great food and a fascinating history. READ »

Shrugging off news of my shrinking baby

Analysis & Opinion: 3 Jul 09
In the first of a new series, Joel Sherwood explains that fatherhood in Sweden is going so well that he isn't even particularly fazed by news that his child is growing smaller. READ »

US judge bans Swede's Salinger 'sequel'

Society: 2 Jul 09
A judge in New York has indefinitely banned publication in the US of a Swedish author’s unauthorized follow-up to J.D. Salinger’s classic novel The Catcher in the Rye. READ »

What's on in Sweden: July 3 - 9

Lifestyle: 1 Jul 09
What's on in Sweden: Millennium trilogy tour and roots festival in Stockholm; BB King in Gothenburg; Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band (UK) in Malmö. READ »

Questions abound in Sweden after Saab sold to Koenigsegg

Analysis & Opinion: 17 Jun 09
After General Motors announced plans to sell its lossmaking unit Saab to luxury sportscar maker Koenigsegg, questions abounded in Sweden over what the future holds for Saab, writes AFP's James Franey. READ »

Swedish yacht secures home win in Volvo race

Sport: 11 Jun 09
Sweden's Ericsson 4 docked at Marstrand in southwest Sweden on Thursday morning as the clear leader of the nine-month yacht race, which is set to conclude later this month. READ »

A Swedish island idyll

Travel: 20 May 09
Sponsored article: A holiday on the beautiful island of Hässelö in southern Sweden is the perfect way to sample traditional Swedish archipelago life. READ »

Modern-day Vikings pillage streets of Stockholm

Lifestyle: 19 May 09
With picturesque cobblestone streets, cozy cafes and an abundance of history, Gamla Stan is, with good reason, one of Stockholm’s main tourist attractions. Join Lydia Parafianowicz on a Viking pillage through the Old Town. READ »

Which side are you on in The Pirate Bay case?

Analysis & Opinion: 9 Apr 09
A week before the verdict is announced in The Pirate Bay case, The Local's regular panelists have their say in the great file sharing debate. READ »

What's on in Sweden: April 10 - 16

Lifestyle: 9 Apr 09
What's on in Sweden: Easter at Moderna in Stockholm; Space adventures in Gothenburg; Grandmaster Flash in Malmö. READ »

Swede shortlisted for 'best job in the world'

Travel: 23 Mar 09
As Sweden awaits the imminent return of Robinson – the remote island reality TV show - to its screens, Felippe Melá is hoping for a shipwrecked story of his very own. READ »

Space tourist flights from Sweden 'by 2012'

Business & Money: 18 Mar 09
Potential space tourists eager to blast off from northern Sweden will soon be able to purchase tickets at the country’s Ice Hotel for launches set to start in 2012. READ »

What’s in a name: crime suspects and the Swedish press

Analysis & Opinion: 23 Feb 09
The Local’s David Landes attempts to shed some light on the Swedish media’s sometimes peculiar practice of omitting the names of criminal suspects. READ »


Highlights from Follow Sweden

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »


Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island

12 February 21:30

The consciousness of one »

"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »

Highlights
The Local
SOCIETY »
The Local's Oliver Gee finds out why the star of Sweden's version of 'The Office' thinks Sweden is the most PC country in the world
Micheal Brauer/Flickr (File)
SCIENCE & TECH »
'Drunkorexia' on the rise in Sweden: report
Alexander Lervik and Johan Carper
LIFESTYLE »
Seven Swedish designs that will blow your mind
Eva Rinadi Celebrity and Live Music Photography/Flickr
SOCIETY »
Star Wars in Swedish causes fan outrage
www.dotoday.se
LIFESTYLE »
What's On: The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
OLIKA Publishing
OPINION »
The Swedish language needs a new pronoun free of preconceived notions about gender, a Swedish linguist and representatives from a publishing house argue
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
SOCIETY »
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
TV4
GALLERY »
An inside look at 'The Office' in Swedish
Georgios M.W (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish mother gave 3-year-old cigs and beer
Photo: Fredrik Persson/Scanpix
SOCIETY »
A duvet cover designed to look like cardboard boxes, on sale at a luxury department store in Stockholm, has some arguing that the city's homeless are being exploited for profit.
Ann Catrin Brockman/Flickr (File)
LIFESTYLE »
Five Swedish songs that never made Eurovision
Q&A with Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley
LIFESTYLE »
Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley explains how ‘three bespectacled English guys’ plan to make Swedes laugh
Photo: Screenshot YouTube
SOCIETY »
Move over Bugs – a Swedish bunny is rapidly becoming the most popular rabbit in the world!
Photo: Sony Pictures
SPONSORED ARTICLE
How Millennium films tap deep into Swedish angst
Photo: Helena Wahlman
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Braving the cold: Ten reasons to spend winter in Sweden
Photo: ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin
Highlights from Follow Sweden
Swedish word of the day

fin

adjective

Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.



Easyvoyage will help you find cheap flights, hotel stays, car hire and all inclusive holidays.
Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Blog

Play Poker online at Pokerlistings.com

Highlights from Follow Sweden
New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

Search News



Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Jobs in Sweden, in English

513 jobs available
232 new jobs this week
17 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com