Can this Swedish tradition make you happier at work? - BBC News
Summary
TLDRIn this delightful video, viewers are introduced to the Swedish tradition of 'fika', a coffee break that's more than just a pause for caffeine. It's a social ritual that includes savoring pastries like the iconic cinnamon bun and the elegant princess cake. The video offers insights into the etiquette of fika, suggesting light conversation topics for workplace newbies and the importance of this practice in fostering a relaxed, creative environment. It also touches on the evolving fika experience with modern twists on traditional treats, and the unspoken rule of enjoying pastries in a specific order, starting with the simplest and ending with the most elaborate.
Takeaways
- 🇸🇪 Swedish fika is a cultural practice that involves taking a break to enjoy coffee and pastries, often with social interaction.
- ☕️ Coffee is a central part of the fika experience, with cappuccino being a popular choice.
- 🥐 The cinnamon bun is considered the crown jewel of Swedish fika, often shared among participants.
- 🍰 Princess cake is another iconic pastry associated with fika, typically enjoyed towards the end of the break.
- 🤝 Fika at the workplace is seen as a way to relax and build camaraderie among colleagues, contributing to a positive work environment.
- 🗣️ Conversations during fika should be kept light, avoiding sensitive topics like politics and religion to maintain a comfortable atmosphere.
- ⏰ Fika breaks are typically scheduled, but outside of work, they can be more spontaneous.
- 💡 The relaxed moments of fika can lead to increased creativity and open communication among participants.
- 🍪 There is a traditional order to enjoying fika pastries, starting with the simplest and moving to the most elaborate.
- 🌱 Modern fika has evolved to include a variety of new products like roll bars, acai bowls, and fruit salads, offering more diverse options.
Q & A
What is a Swedish fika?
-A Swedish fika is a traditional coffee break in Sweden, often accompanied by pastries like cinnamon buns or princess cake, and serves as a social event to relax and chat.
Why is coffee a popular choice during a fika?
-Coffee is a popular choice during a fika because Swedes typically consume a lot of coffee, and it is a central part of the Swedish fika tradition.
What is the significance of sharing pastries during a fika?
-Sharing pastries during a fika is significant as it promotes a sense of community and togetherness, allowing people to bond over food and conversation.
How does having a fika at the workplace contribute to the work environment?
-Having a fika at the workplace allows employees to relax and chill in a different way, which is necessary for maintaining a good work environment and can enhance creativity.
What are some topics that are suggested to avoid during a fika conversation at work?
-It is suggested to avoid topics like politics and religion during a fika conversation at work, as these can be contentious and it's better to keep the conversation light.
What is the typical timing for fika breaks in Sweden?
-In Sweden, workplaces usually have fika breaks at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., but outside of work, there is more flexibility and one can have fika whenever they wish.
What is the proper order for eating pastries during a fika?
-The proper order for eating pastries during a fika is to start with the least fancy cookie and end with the most fancy cake, typically beginning with a cinnamon bun and ending with a princess cake.
What happens if someone declines a fika invitation without a good reason?
-Declining a fika invitation without a good reason is not recommended as it can be perceived negatively, as fika is an important social event in Swedish culture.
How has the variety of pastries for fika evolved over time?
-The variety of pastries for fika has evolved to include more health-conscious options like roll bars, acai bowls, chia puddings, overnight oats, and fruit salads, in addition to traditional choices like cinnamon buns.
What is the Crown Jewel of Swedish fika?
-The Crown Jewel of Swedish fika is the cinnamon bun, which is a traditional and beloved pastry enjoyed during the coffee break.
Outlines
🇸🇪 Introduction to Swedish Fika
The video script opens with a discussion on the Swedish tradition of 'fika,' a coffee break that includes pastries. The host invites viewers to learn about fika and offers a choice between coffee and tea, with the guest opting for coffee. The conversation shifts to the selection of pastries, highlighting the cinnamon bun as a quintessential Swedish treat, alongside the princess cake. The script emphasizes the importance of fika in the workplace, suggesting it as a means to relax and foster a positive working environment. It also touches on the social dynamics of fika, advising to keep conversations light to avoid sensitive topics, and mentions the typical timing of fika breaks within a workday.
🍰 The Art of Fika Pastry Consumption
This paragraph delves into the etiquette of enjoying pastries during a fika break. It explains that there is a specific order in which to eat the pastries, starting with the least fancy and ending with the most fancy. The guest, unfamiliar with this custom, mistakenly begins with the princess cake. The host clarifies the correct order, which is to start with the cinnamon bun and proceed to smaller cookies and cakes, concluding with the princess cake. The conversation also briefly touches on the evolution of fika, noting the introduction of new items like roll bars, acai bowls, and overnight oats, which offer more variety to the traditional fika experience.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Swedish fika
💡Cinnamon bun
💡Princess cake
💡Cappuccino
💡Relaxation
💡Workplace culture
💡Social interaction
💡Etiquette
💡Product innovation
💡Variety
💡Cultural tradition
Highlights
Introduction to Swedish fika, a cultural coffee break tradition.
Preference for coffee over tea during fika.
Cappuccino is a popular coffee choice for fika.
Cinnamon buns and princess cake are traditional fika pastries.
Fika's role in creating a relaxed work environment.
Suggestion to avoid heavy topics like politics and religion during fika.
Fika is typically held twice a day, at 10 and 3, in workplaces.
The importance of relaxed moments for creativity and open communication.
Declining a fika invitation without a good reason is considered impolite.
Modern fika variations include roll bars, acai bowls, and overnight oats.
Proper fika pastry eating order starts with the least fancy and ends with the most fancy.
Cinnamon buns are the traditional starting point for fika pastries.
Small cookies and cakes are eaten after the cinnamon bun.
Princess cake is typically the final item to be enjoyed during fika.
Individual preferences may vary in the order of enjoying fika pastries.
The cultural significance of fika in Swedish society.
Transcripts
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
[Music]
thank you
[Music]
hi hello hey we would like to learn how
to do a Swedish fika great you've come
to the right place well let me start
with the basics do you want coffee or do
you want tea coffee I would love some
coffee yeah coffee please well we do
normally drink a lot of coffee here in
Sweden I think I'd like a cappuccino
please for pastries what do you want
then like here we have our Crown Jewel
of Swedish fika it's the cinnamon bun or
a princess cake two cinnamon buns let's
share a slice of that yeah yeah that
would be great all right great
I'll bring it out to you
[Music]
having a freak at the workplace makes it
possible for you to relax and chill in a
different way and that is necessary in
order to have a good World working
environment
[Music]
thank you
[Music]
all right here's your coffee
thank you so much so for our Swedish
fika let me start with how well do you
guys actually know each other we
actually just met at work today all
right nice well I mean then I would
suggest to like maybe not start talk
about like politics
religion try to keep it light
[Music]
thank you
foreign
[Music]
workplaces you usually have we got 10
and then at three but if you're outside
the work situation you you just speak up
whenever you want
[Music]
I think for sure that those relaxed
moments when everyone just
you know chills out a little bit and
allow each other to talk about stuff
that are work related but also stuff
that is not necessarily made
gives spillover effect of you know
creativity and maybe also the
opportunity to say stuff that you do
maybe wouldn't allow yourself to say
otherwise
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
yo this is my friend that's
um
[Music]
so is it okay to decline Africa uh no no
no no you don't want to do that so what
happens if I decline the fika with it
without a good reason yeah
[Music]
we see a lot of new products instead of
having a cinnamon bun you have like the
roll bars and acai bowls Shea puddings
overnight oats fruit salads it brings in
more variations at all Concepts okay so
are we ready to start I mean yeah
technically but you need to know that
like we we eat them in a particular
order
so
um I mean most swedes already know that
oh what is the eating order then because
I actually just took a bite of the
princess cake oh oh no well we we always
start with the least fancy cookie and
then we we end with the most fancy cake
okay it's a start with the cinnamon bun
and then yeah for next time
[Music]
um
I would start with the cinnamon bun and
then I have small Cookies Cakes and then
I'll end it up with a princess cake I
would start with the cinnamon roll
and go over to the small cookies and
finally I have a piece of the princess
cake
I would probably have to go for the cake
first and then work myself down to the
smallest pastries
foreign
Ver Más Videos Relacionados
The real reason I left Sweden.
50 Weird & Confusing Facts About British Life & Culture
Create Your Japanese Brain! | Japanese Learning Method
Ultimate MIAMI FOOD TOUR!! 🥪 Insane Crunchy Burger + Cuban Sandwich in Florida, USA (Part 1)
Office Etiquette 101 DOs and DON'Ts
to the person with Multiple Passions and a loooooong To-Do List (how to get things done)
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)