It’s not a raging hit here in Sweden YET! But there is a Swedish version of celebrating going on.
Most Swedes still claim we’re not celebrating Halloween. But that is slowly changing, not the claims but we do celebrate it daycare centers defiantly the kids. So the generation growing up now will surly have Halloween in their hearts.
As it’s getting cold and dark Grownups take this opportunity to dress up act silly and hmmm yes get drunk. And the week before Halloween if you happen to walk on Drottninggatan in Stockholm you will find a line at least 100 people deep waiting to get into the one big costume shop in Stockholm, and there already are Halloween signs being advertised in shops throughout town. Halloween is coming to Sweden.
But Halloween in Sweden have several downfalls, some confusion about the “When” is one. While some people celebrate on the “traditional” or “popular” date October 31st, some Swedes will still celebrate Halloween on the eve of All Saints Day, even though it is a floating date (this year they share the same day) and a Swedish tradition where we remember our dead. And since trick-or-treating really hasn’t hit it off here in Sweden and the celebrating is more focused around parties at home it can be celebrated both before and after the 31st. Personally I think that is great, after all you get more Halloween. As long as those who like the trick-or-treat part keep it to the 31st so people can prepare, Halloween is still evolving. This year it’s a mess as All Saints Day and Halloween is on totally different dates. So this year it will be total confusion!
Another downfall is probably that Swedes eat candy all year round and we eat a lot! In fact we eat the most loose candy per capita in the world? Sweden is also the largest importer of candy in the world (And we’re only close to 10 million people in Sweden- that’s about the total population of New York City).
Here we even have a tradition as “Lördagsgodis” which means Saturday Candy. In the 1950’s it was recommended by the Board of Health to limit children’s candy intake to once a week instead of daily in an effort to slow down tooth decay. So there is really no wonder to why trick-or-treating asking for candy is not such a big hit.
Want to know more about Swedes doing their thing on Halloween?
Halloween 2014
Halloween 2013
Halloween 2012
HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM MAXIBIT!