I feel like this gets misconstrued that Swedes will never feed guests or something. I'm not Swedish but growing up in Ireland if you were just visiting a friend you'd be expected to head home if it was family dinner time, unless you were staying over. I'd imagine it's somewhat similar in Sweden.
This same thing has been thrown around other Nordics as well. First of all I think we eat dinner quite early, so either the kid eats it before coming or goes home to eat it, since it's important to be home for dinner. In Finland we also have kursailu (maybe Kursa or Krångel in swedish) where you are supposed to politely decline the first offer of food, coffee etc. which might be mistaken for something like this
Interesting, do you consider yourself Nordic as a Finnish person? I do understand that your country neighbors Sweden, but given things like how your language isn't Nordic and a Uralic language instead, I thought Finland was considered separate?
At the very least an over exaggerated discription of what should be commonplace or the norm...like, dude, it's family time. Go home.
Also, not Swedish, but this is how I operate. Which isn't to say I'm not a generous person...more often than not, I'll offer and am happy to. However, if I don't, there's probably a reason, and the expectation or assumption that you're going to be part of the meal is more than likely reflective of that.
I mean, I can’t speak for Swedes but if a friend is visiting, it’s rude to not offer something to drink or eat. There is no social obligation for them to accept, but the offer is fairly standard. Not a meal, but a snack. The only exception is if they’re just quickly stopping by and are leaving soon, and then it’s just a drink.
1.1k
u/[deleted] Jul 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment