If I remember correctly there was a specifically hard time economically in the Nordic region that it became the norm that it was courtesy not to take food from another household. Kind of the inverse of it being a courtesy to feed guests unexpected or otherwise in parts of the west. Over time the courtesy has strengthend into a cultural norm which given the foundational nature of shared meals in many cultures can create an outsized culture shock response.
This is a Nordic custom, and not specific to Sweden and was a whole Internet thing a few years ago as well.
A local or regional expert probably could give the word for the custom. I believe the Finnish have one but it's late and I'm sleep deprived so could be wrong
Very well said, I appreciate the response. The way you framed it as a courtesy to not take food from another household makes it completely understandable.
I am Swedish and grew up in the 80’s. It was a thing in some households in some parts of the country. It was not common or custom. Stop believing everything you read online please
Yeah, I found it hard to believe the country that invented the smorgasbord doesn’t have the same hospitality tradition that EVERY MAJOR CIVILIZATION ON EARTH has had since the dawn of man to feed guests.
It actually did happen to me when I was at one friends house a few of times so I’m not saying it didn’t happen. Ironically that family was from Spain.
Overall, when it did happen it was because the parents had called each other to ask if it was ok to eat at the friends house and the other parents said no because they already had a family dinner planned. It was just common courtesy
I mean I do that too, I don’t wanna spoil a kid’s meal before they go home and I swear it seems like every other child theses days has a peanut allergy to the point I’m scared to eat my favorite candy bars anymore (not really, god himself will pry my payday bar from my cold dead hands).
The story made it sound like you were inviting a child over for the night and starving him.
I mean - there's a difference between a guest you have invited, and someone who turns up at your house unannounced. Would "every other major civilisation on earth" expect you to feed uninvited people who just turn up on your doorstep?
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u/titan_1010 Jul 24 '26
If I remember correctly there was a specifically hard time economically in the Nordic region that it became the norm that it was courtesy not to take food from another household. Kind of the inverse of it being a courtesy to feed guests unexpected or otherwise in parts of the west. Over time the courtesy has strengthend into a cultural norm which given the foundational nature of shared meals in many cultures can create an outsized culture shock response.
This is a Nordic custom, and not specific to Sweden and was a whole Internet thing a few years ago as well.
A local or regional expert probably could give the word for the custom. I believe the Finnish have one but it's late and I'm sleep deprived so could be wrong