23 May 2026
Swedish Culture
Culture Music Swedish Culture

Melodifestivalen: Your Guide to the 2016 Final

The travelling music extravaganza we lovingly know as MELLO is reaching its climax on Saturday the 12th of March. Here’s your guide to the big final of Melodifestivalen! Melodifestivalen is a very big deal in Sweden. Even though it is the Swedish qualifications round for the Eurovision Song Contest, it is bigger than Eurovision – […]

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Café Culture Dining out Swedish Culture

My Favorite Cafes – In and Around Stockholm

One of my absolute favorite things about Sweden is the Swedish fika, or coffee break. Swedes have utterly perfected this fika thing, which actually encompasses much more than simply taking the American “ten minute coffee break” at work. It is a social institution, utilized by friends, family and the work place alike, and almost always […]

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Community Culture Music Swedish Culture

Time to kick off the Melodifestivalen circus!

In case you haven’t understood it as yet, Melodifestivalen is a BIG DEAL in Sweden . Last year’s final was the most watched TV programme of the year, all categories, with almost 3,8 million viewers (of a 10 million population). In comparison, the Eurovision Song Contest final – with a Swedish winner – “only” had […]

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Expat Traditions Swedish Culture What's on: Stockholm

Christmas markets: Six of the best in 2015

With the days getting colder and darker, it’s the perfect time for some glögg and festive cheer from one of the many Christmas markets going on in Stockholm. While the crowds head to the well-known markets at Skansen and Gamla Stan during November and December, we’ve chosen six wonderful Christmas markets that you might not […]

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Sports and Fitness Swedish Culture

Reindeer-racing baseball hero

Baseball isn’t big in Sweden. There are people like me who accept this fate, and there are people like Trevor Rooper who head to the arctic and race reindeer in the name of the game. Rooper rode in the annual reindeer races last week way up north in Jokkmokk. He’s an American living in Sweden, and the head coach of the Stockholm Monarchs baseball team. […]

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Community Culture Essentials Expat Traditions Lifestyle Swedish Culture

How to Beat the Post-Christmas Blues

Feeling a little blue? Have no fear! We’ve come to the rescue with a fool-proof guide to beating seasonal depression.

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Culture Swedish Culture

YLC’s Top Picks: Swedish Rom-Coms

When you think of Swedish film, chances are you think of Lisbeth Salander, young vampires and chess games with death. Well, believe it or not, Swedes can be romantic and cheesy too. Check our fab five list of Swedish romantic comedies.

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Art Swedish Culture Tourist Information What's on: Stockholm

No Man’s an Island: Artipelag

The Artipelag exhibition “No Man Is An Island” explores the complex relationship between human beings and the Stockholm archipelago. YLC’s Carmen Price decided to check it out. Summer forays into the velvety blue waters of the Stockholm archipelago are not as common as you might think. Despite widespread belief in the popular 1960s cliché of the […]

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Community Expat Cookbook Swedish Culture

The Best Kanelbulle Recipe EVER

Summer is here and the time of picnics is upon us. What better to bring with you to the beach or the park than a basket full of delectable cinnamon buns?

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Community Expat Cookbook Swedish Culture

Summer Eats: Ugnspannkaka (Oven Pancake)

School’s out and hordes of holiday-heady and hungry children are suddenly at home during the day. So what to make? For a no-fuss lunch that suits all ages, it’s a no-brainer – Ugnspannkaka. During school holidays I suddenly that the number of kids turning up at mealtimes in my household can vary from 2 to […]

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