![]() Why do Swedes only eat candy on Saturdays? Fika is such an important part of life in Sweden that it is both a verb and a noun. The swedish concept of fika (fee-kah) means taking a little break from the daily grind to sit down, connect with someone and perhaps have a cup of coffee and something sweet.įika (pronounced fee-ka ) is a Swedish custom, a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles. What is Fika and Hygge?įika and hygge are two Scandinavian words gaining more and more popularity – and we understand why. When everyone gathers in the meeting room, you better stop working and join the group. How long is a Swedish fika break?įika at work For you sweet little new-Swede, that means two 10 – 30 minutes -extra breaks, called fikarast or fikapaus. The word is an inverted syllable slang term derived from “kaffi,” the 19th century word for coffee. In Sweden, the coffee break holds an exalted status with a special name: “Fika” (pronounced fee-ka). It’s pretty simple: Invert the word kaffi, and you get fika. The word fika actually derives from the 19th-century slang word for coffee, kaffi. ![]() ![]() Nowadays, the Swedes generally take two fika breaks a day: once in the mid-morning, and again around 3 p.m. In Sweden, it’s obligatory to eat coffee and cake. But, as Elizabeth Hotson finds, it’s catching on around the world. Surely it’s just a coffee break? What is a fika in Sweden?įika, a Swedish custom where people gather to eat, drink, and talk, is a welcome workplace tradition in the country. Too bad we don’t have that tradition! I do try to get my colleagues tricked into it.Fika, the delightful custom of enjoying a coffee and a treat with friends, is as Swedish as ABBA. It is an ideal opportunity to socialize with your colleagues before getting back to work. No one dares to stay at his desk during fika. It’s a moment where everybody takes a break. In many Swedish companies they have a coffee break around 11 am. For older generations, the word still means nothing more than just coffee. Originally, it meant nothing more than “coffee”. In the nineteenth century it was fashionable to put words backwords. A bit like the high tea in England but in a daily version! The origin of “fika” This whole happening is deeply ingrained in the Swedish culture. It is about really taking the time to sit down with friends, family or even on your own, while you’re enjoying a cup of coffee (Swedes are really addicted to coffee but you can also have a fika with tea, a hot chocolate or even a lemonade) and something sweet accompanying it (kanellbullar, cake,…). Is there anything more Swedish than fika? It is more than a regular coffee break. I can really crave for those delicious cardemom buns! As I don’t drink any coffee (I know, that’s very weird in Sweden! So I do get the odd look every now and then when I say I don’t want to have a coffee but ask for some water or a hot chocolate milk instead), my favourite fika is a hot chocolate with a cardemom or cinnamom bun. It’s pretty much the cliché when one thinks of the Swedish coffeebreak. Fika what?Ī cup of coffee with kanellbullar. We don’t mind as this Swedish coffeebreak is a very nice tradition! It is one of the first things I do when I’m in Sweden and it is also one of the habits that I miss the most when I get back home. For ages it has been very popular in Sweden but now you hear about it more and more, outside of Sweden as well. Fika is quickly becoming popular all over Europe.
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