From a pathological fear of badgers to a cashless society, Sweden is home to several unusual customs, as revealed by writer Danny Robins. These quirks range from dental traditions to student rituals.
Swedes harbour an inexplicable fear of badgers, stemming from a folk belief that the animals bite and hold on until they hear a bone crack. To counter this, walkers stuff their socks with crispbread to mimic the sound of breaking bone, tricking any attacking badger into letting go.
Despite consuming the most sweets per capita globally, Swedes maintain good teeth thanks to 'Lördagsgodis' (Saturday Sweets), a tradition devised by dentists in the 1940s and 1950s. The idea is to eat a week's worth of sugar in one sitting, which is less harmful than spreading it out. Meanwhile, Sweden is rapidly becoming cash-free, with many shops and even homeless vendors accepting only card payments, a move championed by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus after his son was mugged.
Students at Uppsala University release stress with 'The Flogsta Scream', a nightly primal yell at 10pm from dormitory windows. The tradition's origins are unclear but have spread to other cities. Alcohol is strictly controlled, sold only through state-run 'Systembolaget' stores that forbid discounts, a policy born from a narrow 1920s referendum against prohibition influenced by crayfish parties.
Wedding speeches in Sweden are notably democratic, with anyone allowed to speak, contrasting with the more structured British approach. Despite their reserved reputation, Swedes can match Brits drink for drink, though high prices often deter excess.
