Two cups of coffee
Back on May 3, 2012, in a post about the Swedish language, I said I would explain what “Fika” is in Sweden. I didn’t mean to wait so long, but as writing and traveling goes, sometimes you have lots of ideas to write on and sometimes you don’t. The time I am spending living in Linköping, Sweden gives me lots of little items of interest to write on.
Fika (pronounced fee-kah) is loosely translated to a coffee break. However to the Swedes it is more than that, and is an important social, and business custom. In the 19th century they used “back slang” for some words. This means they turned syllables backwards for a slang term to represent it. At the time kaffe (coffee) was kaffi, and fika was formed from turning it around.
Today fika is referred to as a break from work, with coffee and pastries. Although any pastry can be chosen, the Swedish cinnamon bun is the most traditional. Also, you don’t have to have coffee, but that is most traditional. Oh, just a side note, Swedish pastries use less sugar than the American counterpart, and I find them very delicious.
Swedish Cinnamon Bun
Taking fika is also honored for the worker. It can be done at work, but whenever possible it is taken away from work. *In an article about business culture in Sweden, it explains how “Fika” is partly responsible for innovation and productivity in Sweden. Fika is a time to meet informally with workers and bosses, and discuss personal issues, and business issues, with an informal time for input, and problem resolution.
Today I was at Dahlberg Café in Gamla Linköping, which is set up in a traditional 19th century way, and a great place for fika.
The family having a traditional fika at Dalhberg Cafe in Gamla Linköping. They were gracious enough to let me take the picture, and they are visiting from Germany.
Daughter with the family having Fika.
Where do you like your fika, or coffee?
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Source:
http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Work/Labor-market/Business-culture/
As you know Kathy, Daren, Greg, and I have had coffee at our favorite coffee shops at the time throughout Kennesaw. Presently, it looks like Starbucks is the place of choice. Although not as colorful as previous locations, it will do. I am jealous that I have not experienced the European flare that you guys have but ask Daren I don’t think you have experienced some of the characters we have met over the years. It has been so much fun I have to laugh, Daren knows.
Yes, Daren has shared a few of those interesting characters.
Sounds like you are enjoying your travels, and you. Are sharing with others. My wife and I traveled in RV. She. Was agospel Singer I preached,we praise God! our prayer would be when. We would start out, Bless us and let us be a blessing. Thanks for all you do. We will have to see if we are, *kin folks *
Thank you George. Yes it is not a real common name, but I have found people with our common last name of Couch in Australia, Hawaii, England and several states in the US. My husband did a trace of the name, and found a Samuel Couch came to Virginia from the Cornwall area of England in 1724. Also, that is my prayer also, that I be a blessing.
Hej Kathleen! Nice post as usual.
I’m just sorry I missed having fika with you yesterday! 
(((HUGS)))
Sounds yummy. I wish America took an “official” afternoon coffee break. I feel guilty when I step away frm my desk for a few minutes. Tell me about the coffee? Stronger, weaker, sweetened, creamy? Or, do they drink Maxwell House, too?
Shannon
In Sweden it is about the same strength, maybe a little stronger. I usually drink it strong in the US also, but with a little milk. I have not had a bad cup of coffee in Sweden yet. One of the most popular brands on the grocery shelves is Gevalia. There are no Starbucks here. They don’t need them, because coffee/bakeries are so much in their culture. Everywhere else I have traveled have Starbucks, even 3rd world countries.
Kathleen recently posted..Fika in Sweden
Fika is a brilliant custom, that I think should be incorporated into every culture! That’s great to hear that Swedish pastries are less sweet than in the US, I think I would really like them.
I had a good time at Egyptian coffee shops in Cairo, good places to just sit, relax and chit chat.
Mark Wiens recently posted..VIDEO: Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market
Thanks Mark! I bet it’s good coffee in Cairo. I’m checking out your video now.
Kathleen recently posted..“Lagom” a Swedish Word that Defines a Lifestyle
It was great to learn about ‘Fika’ something I don’t think I’ll forget any time soon. The picture of the Swedish cinnamon bun has me drooling. I’ve got an hour before lunch and I know already I won’t be having anything as tasty as that
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..How To Create A Successful Travel Blog In Your First Year Of Blogging
Thank you, Samuel! I know, all the Swedish pastries are so good. I look around a cafe with everyone eating pastries and drinking coffee, and wonder how they stay so slim. Your post: “How To Create A Successful Travel Blog in Your First Year of Blogging” is very helpful, and shows me there is no substitute for hard work. To be successful, it is not a hobby, but a business.
I love the Swedish pastries shown here. Bravo to the Swedes for their incomprable culture regarding the honored breaks in the work place. They realized long, long ago the importance of increasing productivity and profits by promoting innovation and creativity. Understanding the pathway to the desired end was by honoring the breaks amidst the work, rather than driving profits/productivity American style with slave master tactics. At one time factories in America did not allow breaks all day long to employees; thus the intervention of employee unions for protection to guarantee their human rights as workers. Eventually that also corrupted itself prompting manufacturing to be outsourced to other nations for cheap labor, by maltreatment of employees which is also exponential corruption. Seems the Americans just cannot get it right. Enslavement and greed are big temptations in the human condition without a higher consciousness firmly in place. It gives us gladness seeing the Swedes, along with the French, and other European nations are guided by a more humane guidance system toward their citizens which is the bedrock of any nation’s success. Perhaps this info may explain why more prisons exist in USA than all other nations combined. Ya think they would have learned by now in 2012 after all this time since 1776. Slow at learning and swift at punishment seems to be american way. Thanks, Kathleen for all the wonderful fika treats; you have rallied my appetite, despite the comparison in american and Swedish culture. I raise a glass to the Swedes. Continue to teach by example; one day eyes will open and take note.
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