1. Popular sports
The top three sports in Sweden (in terms of participants and spectators) are football (soccer), ice hockey, and bandy. Other sports such as handball, gymnastics, and swimming are mildly popular but are not as big nationwide. Football is the most popular, as it is in most of Europe. In wintertime ice hockey becomes a big spectator sport, and Sweden is known for having won many championships for their men's ice hockey team. Thirdly, Sweden is the leading bandy-playing country, and also the sport's country of origin. Sweden is also known for producing many talented athletes who go on to compete internationally in a variety of sports.
2. Music:
Traditionally, singing and vocals have been popular in Sweden and many members of the older generations belong to various choir groups. Some have gone on to become opera singers in the past. Most other traditional music is Swedish folk. As for current music, the pop/punk rock scene is very large, especially when it comes to indie pop/rock artists. The "indie feel" has been on a popularity rise in the teen/young adult music industry worldwide, and this goes especially for European countries whose younger citizens are known to express themselves through music and pop culture. Most notable in terms of music is the fact that Sweden has one of the world's largest death metal scenes. Worldwide, death metal, punk rock, hardcore and post-hardcore bands are looking to Sweden for inspiration as they dominate the modern genre.
3. Food:
Swedish food is mainly practical and plain, with meals consisting of potatoes, some meat, and vegetables. Much of the meat consumed is fish due to Sweden's location near the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea. The two main food items Swedes are known for are coffee and cider, both of which are consumed in large amounts. The only country known to consume more coffee is Finland. Swedish cider is sweet and often replaces beer as the drink of social gatherings, due to the state control of alcohol.
4. Religion and Spirituality:
Historically, Sweden practiced Norse Paganism; in modern times the predominant religion is Christianity. About 65% of Swedish citizens are members of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, though only 4% attend worship service, and in a 2010 poll only 18% of Swedes claimed that they "believe there is a god." Some minority religions such as Judaism and Islam exist in the country, but are rare. Overall, religion and spirituality are not very important in Swedish culture as compared to other European countries.
5. National Holidays and Traditions:
Sweden's largest holidays are jul (Christmas with a Norse Pagan twist), New Year's, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension Day, International Workers' Day, Sweden's National Day (similar to our Independence day), Halloween, All Saints' Day, and Midsummer, which takes place on the summer solstice and the night preceding it. All Sundays are minor "holidays" though not as big a deal as the public holidays. Most celebrations in Sweden are associated with the changing of the seasons, and most "Christian" holidays have lost their religious aspects and have now become cultural tradition.
6. Popular TV and Movies:
Sweden has produced many popular titles, the most known worldwide being The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, based off of novels by Steig Larsson. Other films such as Melancholia, The Hunt, Antichrist, and The Woman in Black have become widely known across the world. TV shows such as The Bridge and Wallander are quite popular, as are most American shows like Grey's Anatomy and some anime series.
7. Online News Sources:
The Local
Nordstjernan: Swedish News in English
Radio Sweden
8. Online Forums for Expatriates:
Expat Exchange
InterNations
Expats in Sweden
Expat Focus
9. Type of Government:
Sweden's government is a constitutional monarchy, with the prime minister leading the executive power of the government. The government and the parliament share legislative power, elected in a multi-party system. The most prominent parties are the Social Democratic party, the Moderate party, and the Centre party. The current prime minister is Fredrik Reinfeldt and the current king is Carl XVI Gustaf, whose daughter, princess Victoria, is heir.
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