The Kingdom of The Kingdom of SwedenSweden

Mary SchuckMary Schuck

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Geography...3Geography...3Climate...4Climate...4Early History…5Early History…5Recent History…6Recent History…6Population…7Population…7Native Population…8Native Population…8Language…9Language…9Speak Swedish…10Speak Swedish…10Communication Communication Styles…11Styles…11Values…12Values…12Religion…13Religion…13Beliefs…14Beliefs…14

Celebrating Spring and Celebrating Spring and Summer…15Summer…15Christian Celebrations…16Christian Celebrations…16Food…17Food…17Sports and Activities…18Sports and Activities…18Family and Marriage…19Family and Marriage…19Customs and Courtesies…Customs and Courtesies…2020Comparison of Sweden Comparison of Sweden and America…21and America…21References…22References…22

GeographyGeography Sweden: flat or gently rolling lowlands with mountains in Sweden: flat or gently rolling lowlands with mountains in

the west where it borders Norway the west where it borders Norway Forests, snowcapped mountains, many lakes and seas. Forests, snowcapped mountains, many lakes and seas. Bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and

Skagerrak Skagerrak Slightly larger than CaliforniaSlightly larger than California Lies farther north than the USA Lies farther north than the USA

ClimateClimate Cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summersCold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers Subarctic in northSubarctic in north Fertile plains for farming Fertile plains for farming Reindeer herding in the North Reindeer herding in the North Summer sun stays up and winter sun never quite rises in Summer sun stays up and winter sun never quite rises in

the far north the far north

Early History Early History Vikings: 800-1000 AD Vikings: 800-1000 AD Traders, settlers, plunderers, farmers, experienced sailors, Traders, settlers, plunderers, farmers, experienced sailors,

craftsmen and shipbuilders craftsmen and shipbuilders Raided Central Europe for slaves, land and treasure Raided Central Europe for slaves, land and treasure Christianity & the Kingdom: 1000-2014 AD Christianity & the Kingdom: 1000-2014 AD Sweden’s Age of Greatness 1611-1721: Rule of the Baltic Sweden’s Age of Greatness 1611-1721: Rule of the Baltic

Sea, grand palaces built Sea, grand palaces built

Viking House and Ship

Recent historyRecent history World War II: declared neutrality World War II: declared neutrality Joined EU in 1995; like Britian never adopted the Euro Joined EU in 1995; like Britian never adopted the Euro Currency: Krona, 10.5 Krona in a dollar Currency: Krona, 10.5 Krona in a dollar Parliamentary system Parliamentary system Emphasis on Equality Emphasis on Equality Welfare for everyone, Labor laws to protect jobs Welfare for everyone, Labor laws to protect jobs Taxes are 17% of GDP in the USA, 51.4% in SwedenTaxes are 17% of GDP in the USA, 51.4% in Sweden

Royal Palace

PopulationPopulation 9,723,8099,723,809 85% live in urban areas 85% live in urban areas People from Nordic countries: citizenship after 2 years People from Nordic countries: citizenship after 2 years Population growth: immigrants after World War II Population growth: immigrants after World War II Non-nordic immigrants: citizenship after 5 years Non-nordic immigrants: citizenship after 5 years Foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns,

Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks

Native PopulationNative Population Swedes with Finnish and Sami minoritiesSwedes with Finnish and Sami minorities Sami: 80-100,000, semi-nomadic population, northern Sami: 80-100,000, semi-nomadic population, northern

Sweden, Reindeer herders, Sweden, Reindeer herders, Native Finn population: 300,000 Native Finn population: 300,000

Sami Reindeer Herders

LanguageLanguage Swedish (official), small Sami- and Swedish (official), small Sami- and

Finnish-speaking minorities Finnish-speaking minorities Swedish: Germanic, similar to Swedish: Germanic, similar to

English,evolved from Old Norse, closely English,evolved from Old Norse, closely related to Norwegian and Danish related to Norwegian and Danish

English: learning begins in elementary English: learning begins in elementary school school

Minority languages: Finnish, Sami, Minority languages: Finnish, Sami, Romani (language of the Roma) Yiddish Romani (language of the Roma) Yiddish (language of the Jewish) and Meankieli (language of the Jewish) and Meankieli (related to Finnish.) (related to Finnish.)

Speak Swedish!Speak Swedish! Hello- Hej (hay)Hello- Hej (hay) Good bye- Hej da (hey do)Good bye- Hej da (hey do) Yes/No- Ja/Ney (yah/nay)Yes/No- Ja/Ney (yah/nay) Please- Varsagod (vahrshawgood)Please- Varsagod (vahrshawgood) Thank you- TackThank you- Tack What is your name?- Jag heter du?(Yah hay-ter dew?)What is your name?- Jag heter du?(Yah hay-ter dew?)

My name is- Jag heter (Yah hay-ter)My name is- Jag heter (Yah hay-ter)

Communication Styles/PatternsCommunication Styles/Patterns Abhor loudness and rudenessAbhor loudness and rudeness Don’t show discomfort for fear of Don’t show discomfort for fear of

being rude themselvesbeing rude themselves Live quiet and peaceful livesLive quiet and peaceful lives Low Context Culture: like North Low Context Culture: like North

America, information provided America, information provided verballyverbally

ValuesValues A strong sense of fairnessA strong sense of fairness Favor a quieter life and homecooked meals Favor a quieter life and homecooked meals Love of nature Love of nature Don’t like to waste time Don’t like to waste time Expect timeliness Expect timeliness

ReligionReligion Sweden’s religious roots: in ancient Norse Sweden’s religious roots: in ancient Norse

religions. religions. Norse religion’s gods: Thor, Odin and Freyr. Norse religion’s gods: Thor, Odin and Freyr. First Christian missionary in 829 ADFirst Christian missionary in 829 AD 87% of modern Swedes: nominally Lutheran, 87% of modern Swedes: nominally Lutheran,

with Islam as the second largest religious with Islam as the second largest religious group. group.

13%: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, 13%: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and BuddhistMuslim, Jewish, and Buddhist

Thor

BeliefsBeliefs Religion in Sweden: traditional, Religion in Sweden: traditional,

cultural and functional rather cultural and functional rather than spiritualthan spiritual

Church of Sweden: Lutheran Church of Sweden: Lutheran Two thirds of Sweden’s Two thirds of Sweden’s

population: members of the population: members of the Church of Sweden Church of Sweden

15% believe in Jesus Christ 15% believe in Jesus Christ 15% are Athiests (believe in no 15% are Athiests (believe in no

God) God) 25% are Agnostics (believe that 25% are Agnostics (believe that

we can’t know if there is a God) we can’t know if there is a God)

Celebrating Summer and Spring Celebrating Summer and Spring Music festivals Music festivals Fiddle, Nyckelharpa (key harp) and dancing Fiddle, Nyckelharpa (key harp) and dancing Popular: singing in choirs Popular: singing in choirs Midsummer’s Eve: beginning of summer, traditions of dancing Midsummer’s Eve: beginning of summer, traditions of dancing

around the maypole, eating pickled herring, new potatoes around the maypole, eating pickled herring, new potatoes with dill and a strawberry dessertwith dill and a strawberry dessert

Christian CelebrationsChristian Celebrations Christmas: celebration of Jesus Christ’s Christmas: celebration of Jesus Christ’s

birth birth Glogg: hot sugared wine drunk with Glogg: hot sugared wine drunk with

gingerbread around Advent (the weeks gingerbread around Advent (the weeks leading up to Christmas)leading up to Christmas)

Lucia Day: honors St. Lucia. One girl is Lucia Day: honors St. Lucia. One girl is chosen as Lucia and she leads a chosen as Lucia and she leads a nighttime processionnighttime procession

Easter: celebration of Jesus Christ rising Easter: celebration of Jesus Christ rising from the deadfrom the dead

Easter Traditions: painting eggs and Easter Traditions: painting eggs and decorating the house with willow and decorating the house with willow and birch twigs, bunches of colored feathers, birch twigs, bunches of colored feathers, figures of farm animals or witches. figures of farm animals or witches.

St. Lucia’s Procession

FoodFood Fresh foods: fruits, berries, mushrooms, Fresh foods: fruits, berries, mushrooms,

vegetables, wild game and farm vegetables, wild game and farm animals. animals.

National dish: meatballs National dish: meatballs Smorgasbord: up to 100 cold and hot Smorgasbord: up to 100 cold and hot

dishes spread out on the table dishes spread out on the table Special occasion cake: Princess cake Special occasion cake: Princess cake Traditional foods: lingonberries from the Traditional foods: lingonberries from the

forest, crisp bread with cheese and forest, crisp bread with cheese and meat or butter and shrimp sandwiches. meat or butter and shrimp sandwiches.

Fika: daily coffee break Fika: daily coffee break

Princess Cake

Sports and ActivitiesSports and Activities Primary sports: Ice Hockey, Soccer, Skiing, Primary sports: Ice Hockey, Soccer, Skiing,

Tennis, Golf and Soccer Tennis, Golf and Soccer Legal on any private land: Cycling, Legal on any private land: Cycling,

Swimming and camping Swimming and camping Lakes and rivers: Fishing, canoeing, Lakes and rivers: Fishing, canoeing,

kayaking and rafting kayaking and rafting Winter Activities: Snowmobiling, ice-skating, Winter Activities: Snowmobiling, ice-skating,

hockey, cross country and downhill skiing hockey, cross country and downhill skiing

WorkWork 70% of Swedes: work in the 70% of Swedes: work in the

service sector, banks, hospitals, service sector, banks, hospitals, retail stores, etcretail stores, etc

Emphasize teamwork and Emphasize teamwork and creativity more than the U.Screativity more than the U.S

20th century change: from 20th century change: from agriculture to industrial agriculture to industrial

Resources for foreign trade: Resources for foreign trade: timber, hydropower, and iron oretimber, hydropower, and iron ore

Family and MarriageFamily and Marriage Average household: 2 children and Average household: 2 children and

parentsparents Unmarried couples: commonly live Unmarried couples: commonly live

together and have childrentogether and have children Sambolagen: a law which gives Sambolagen: a law which gives

equal rights to unmarried couplesequal rights to unmarried couples High divorce rate High divorce rate Students at University receive Students at University receive

government aidgovernment aid Youth more like to live alone with a Youth more like to live alone with a

group of friends group of friends

Customs and CourtesiesCustoms and Courtesies Nordic Ancestry: 85% of Sweden’s Nordic Ancestry: 85% of Sweden’s

population descendents population descendents Tall and blond, with blue eyes and fair Tall and blond, with blue eyes and fair

skinskin Guests: bring gifts to host’s home and Guests: bring gifts to host’s home and

would never wear shoes insidewould never wear shoes inside Swedes: characterized as people who Swedes: characterized as people who

enjoy shopping but dislike showiness enjoy shopping but dislike showiness Goods are of high quality, but more Goods are of high quality, but more

expensive expensive

ResourcesResources Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States department of Labor, Oct 2013. Web. 26 Oct 2014.Bureau of Labor Statistics. United States department of Labor, Oct 2013. Web. 26 Oct 2014.

<http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/marriage-and-divorce-patterns-by-gender-race-and- <http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/marriage-and-divorce-patterns-by-gender-race-and- educational-attainment.htm>educational-attainment.htm>

Heinrichs, Ann. Heinrichs, Ann. SwedenSweden. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2014. Print.. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2014. Print.

Johansson, Ulf, Neppenstrom, Mona and Sandell, Kaj. Johansson, Ulf, Neppenstrom, Mona and Sandell, Kaj. Sweden.Sweden. New York: DK New York: DK Publishing, 2014. Print. Publishing, 2014. Print.

Klopf, Donald, McCroskey, James. Klopf, Donald, McCroskey, James. Intercultural Communication EncountersIntercultural Communication Encounters . USA: Pearson Education . USA: Pearson Education Inc,2007. Print. Inc,2007. Print.

Porterfield, Jason. Porterfield, Jason. SwedenSweden. New York: Rosen Publishing Group Inc, 2004. Print.. New York: Rosen Publishing Group Inc, 2004. Print. CIA World Factbook CIA World Factbook. CIA, n.d. Web. 26 Oct 2014. . CIA, n.d. Web. 26 Oct 2014. < <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sw.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sw.html>>

QuickfactsQuickfacts. United States Census Bureau, 08 July 2014. Web. . United States Census Bureau, 08 July 2014. Web. 26 Oct 2014.<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26000.html> 26 Oct 2014.<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26000.html>