Colors of Stockholm - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Local residents are distinguished by superior knowledge of etiquette. They are very polite and courteous. Punctuality and diligence, thoroughness and accuracy are the main features that describe the local population. Of course, such qualities deserve the highest praise. Residents of Stockholm are very reliable business partners – in work they are as obliging and punctual, as in any other sphere of life. In their work partners and interlocutors they also appreciate, above all, professionalism and education.

When it comes to education, it is worth noting a strong attraction of Swedes to self-education and intellectual development. They often self-study foreign languages and, as a rule, speak at least two of them. In communication the locals are rather restrained, and it’s really hard to make them show their emotions. Diligent attitude of local people is reflected not only in domestic and working issues, but also in public order. The streets here are always distinguished by wonderful purity, and beautiful avenues and parks make tourists simply stop in admiration – they are really well maintained and look stunningly attractive. Guests of the city are also encouraged to keep the streets in order. You should also be careful while selecting your clothes - sloppy appearance may become the cause of bewilderment from the side of local people.

Winter Stockholm seemed to come off the Christmas card: snowy, beautiful and with pastry and mulled wine aroma. As in all Catholic Europe, the main holiday here is Christmas, but the New Year in Sweden is also popular. Until mid-December, the Christmas Fair continues to operate in Stockholm. But this is not the main thing. The main event in early December is the annual awarding of the Nobel Prize. The awarding is held in the field of medicine and physiology, physics, chemistry, and literature. Winter in Sweden is mild and snowy. In Stockholm, the air temperature in January is at zero. To celebrate New Year, local people meet with friends and go to enjoy the salute. If you are planning to celebrate New Year in Stockholm, note that the favorite place of locals for celebration is the open-air museum Skansen. This museum represents the whole Sweden in miniature. By New Year's, a festive performance is being prepared in different genres, from the church choir to the fire-show, and salute. There are tents with the hot dogs and mulled wine, and if you want something more respectable, take a look at the Solliden restaurant with a festive menu and a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

February is the month of design and beauty in Stockholm. Of course, long walks on the street in February are not possible, due to the short light day and severe windy weather. The best choice is to attend two major events in the world of Scandinavian design. The first event is the Stockholm Furniture Fair, which is the largest and most famous Scandinavian interior exhibition-fair. Here are exhibited the furniture, lighting, textiles and interior items for residential and public spaces. The Stockholm International Antiques Fair is an annual event here, founded in 1978. The fair features paintings, collectibles and antiques and even contemporary design works. All of them are put up for sale. So if you are looking for some new item for your interior - the Stockholm International Antique Fair is the best place for it. The tastiest event is held on March 25, when Swedes celebrate the International Waffle Day. Local people dust the old grandfather's cast-iron wafers and cook the dough for wafers according to a special recipe. The waffles are complemented with the traditional cloudberry and blueberry jam.

During late April, two traditional holidays smoothly follow one another. On April 30, the Stockholm residents celebrate the birthday of the King of Sweden. While in the evening of the same day, the Swedes celebrate the Walpurgis Night - the official occasion to jump over the fire, and then break away at the bar. In May, the so-called street tourism is awakening here. If you are lucky enough to get to Stockholm at the moment when the Japanese cherry trees start to blossom in the center of the city. In August, Stockholm hosts a major event: the Stockholm Culture Festival, which includes many events at various venues of the city. Virtually all the exhibitions and performances, within the framework of the festival, are free. Fans of mass sports events can participate in the night race in Stockholm, ending with music and dancing. In even-numbered years, the Biennale of gospel choirs is also held in Stockholm. In November, Stockholm hosts an International Film Festival - a significant event for the Scandinavian film industry, where the representatives of European cinematography also come. At the end of November, in the Gamla stan starts a magnificent Christmas Fair, which creates a festive mood among tourists and residents of Stockholm.