TheCulture of Sweden is characterised by its art, music, dance, literature, traditions, religious practices and more. It is similar to but distinct from the cultures of neighboring countries. Sweden's modern history has a well-established tradition of science, technology and cultural creativity. Swedes have made significant contributions to biology and chemistry, as well as cinema, art, music, literature and thevideo game industry. TheNobel laureates for physics, chemistry, medicine and literature are chosen by Swedish academies.
Swedish culture is an offshoot of theNorse culture which dominated southernScandinavia inprehistory. Sweden was the last of the Scandinavian countries to be Christianised, with pagan resistance apparently strongest inSvealand, where Uppsala was an old and important ritual site as evidenced by the tales ofUppsala temple.[1][2] Like the rest ofScandinavia, Sweden had significant artistic, musical and literary traditions during theViking Age.[3] The oldest sources of written Swedish arerunestones, and more of them are found in Sweden than in any other country.[4]Swedish Vikings are known especially for founding theKievan state, becoming powerful as well as established in the area with considerable eventual impact on the history of eastern Europe.[5] In the twelfth century, most ofFinland was incorporated into Sweden. Swedish medieval church culture had its centre atVadstena, where theBridgettine order had its principle monastery.
In the 16th century, Sweden left the Catholic community and assumed Lutheran faith. KingGustav I had successfully wrested the throne fromChristian II of Denmark and promoted a national church headed by himself. Under his reign the wholeBible was translated for the first time into Swedish, and that came to serve as a norm for the Swedish language. In the following century, Sweden would appear as a champion of the Protestant cause, while also acquiring new lands and plundering foreign cultural riches during theThirty Years War. The 17th century also saw the first Swedish poetry books, as well as notable Swedish artists. It also saw a rise in interest in the history of the country, with the establishment of theSwedish National Heritage Board as one example.
In the 18th century, Swedish culture flourished:Carl Linnaeus had a vast impact on biology, also promoting widespread interest in the topic, andCarl Michael Bellman produced many significant songs and poems. QueenLouisa Ulrika and her son KingGustav III were important patrons of the arts, both founding academies that are still active. Sweden also became the first country with a law explicitly protecting freedom of the press.
During the Napoleonic wars, Finland was lost to Russia, which was a shock to Swedish society. After first securing a personal union withNorway, Sweden entered a time of peace that is still ongoing. This and improvements in agriculture and sanitation led to a high population growth; during the latter half of the 19th century, emigration increased. During the century, the first modern Swedish novelists appeared, withFredrika Bremer enjoying early international success, andAugust Strindberg's first novelThe Red Room marking an epoch in Swedish language history. Meanwhile, Swedish scientists, especially chemists, made important contributions.Jenny Lind was a leading opera singer throughout the nineteenth century.
When increased opportunity and international trade arrived in the 20th century, along with better education of the masses, Sweden went from a poor country to one of the richest. Swedish culture became more well known abroad, and especiallySwedish cinema andSwedish music have been widely successful, through representatives such asIngrid Bergman,Ingmar Bergman,Jussi Björling,ABBA andAvicii. Modern Swedish design has also become widespread around the world.
The 25 historical provinces (landskap) of Sweden, which early in their histories had poor intercommunication, each have a distinct culture, though today they have lost their importance as administrative and political regions while the population of Sweden still identifies with them. Each province has its own history and individual nature. In early times, some of them were so separate from Sweden (as known) that they had their own laws. Historically, some of the regions were independent or longtime parts ofDenmark andNorway. They have more-or-less different indigenous dialects within the frameworks ofNorth Germanic languages orSami languages, and all haveethnic minorities.
TheDalecarlian horse is a popular Swedish symbol.[6][7] It has been manufactured since the 17th century and is decorated withrose-painting.Mother Svea is a traditional personification of the Swedish nation.[8] She is portrayed with historical clothing fromSwedish folklore. Sweden also has an official national costume. Another famous symbol, though unofficial, is themoose.[9]
The consumption of alcohol in the home was noted in 2006 as less than in many other European countries, owing to the government's monopoly on alcoholic beverages, but not at restaurants and bars.[10]Swedishpunsch is a spirit of particular historical significance in Sweden.[11] Sweden ranks among the top 50 nations in alcohol consumption per capita with 440AA groups in the country working on problems with alcoholism.
Swedish cuisine is traditionally simple, though a notable delicacy internationally is thecinnamon roll, which has been celebrated annually onCinnamon Roll Day since 1999.[12][13] Sweden is also known forfika, acoffee break.
Lasse Hallström,Ingmar Bergman,Victor Sjöström andGunnar Hellström are four of many Swedish film and television directors who have had noted international careers, and British directorColin Nutley, living in Sweden, has been highly productive there.
Sweden boasts many internationally known actors and actresses, includingMaud Adams,Malin Åkerman,Bibi Andersson,Ingrid Bergman,Britt Ekland,Greta Garbo,Signe Hasso,Dolph Lundgren,Helena Mattsson,Michael Nyqvist,Lena Olin,Ann-Margret Olsson,Mikael Persbrandt,Rebecca Ferguson,Noomi Rapace,Stellan Skarsgård and sonsAlexander,Gustaf, andBill,Peter Stormare,Ingrid Thulin,Alicia Vikander, andMax von Sydow.
Singing is popular in Sweden; of its 9 million inhabitants 600,000 belong to variouschoirs.[14]
Several Swedish songwriters are very internationally successful. The most notable Swedish songwriter is likelyMax Martin, one of the most successful in history.[15]
Swedish classical music has a history dating back to the Renaissance. There are many internationally notable Swedish classical composers, includingJoseph Martin Kraus,Johan Helmich Roman,Wilhelm Stenhammar,Kurt Atterberg,Lars-Erik Larsson andFranz Berwald.[16]Kungliga Hovkapellet is one of the oldest orchestras in the world, belonging to theRoyal Swedish Opera.[17]Carl Michael Bellman was an influential poet and songwriter during the late eighteenth century.Jenny Lind andJussi Björling are among the most important Swedish opera singers.
In popular music, theABBA group was world-famous during the 1970s and early 1980s.Roxette emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was very successful internationally.Europe,Ace of Base andThe Cardigans are additional Swedish pop groups that have been popular internationally.
Indie pop/rock has done well in Sweden.Gothenburg has spawned prominent bands and artists, thanks to labels such asSincerely Yours andService. Notable Swedish indie bands and artists includeJens Lekman,The Knife,Love Is All,The Concretes,Broder Daniel,The Tough Alliance,Peter, Bjorn and John,Little Dragon,El Perro del Mar,Maia Hirasawa,Fever Ray,Popsicle (band),Studio,The Embassy,The Honeydrips,Brainpool,Air France,jj,Joel Alme and Pacific!.
In contrast to its large pop music output, Sweden boasts a very prolificdeath metal scene.Gothenburg is known for a "melodic death metal" sound. Many bands from there, such asIn Flames,Dark Tranquillity,At the Gates,The Haunted, as well as Stockholm'sAmon Amarth andOpeth, have seen increased commercial success in Europe and the USA. Notable there is the popular titling ofAmon Amarth's style asViking metal. The nation is well known in the extreme metal community for its late 1980s to early 1990s death metal scene, spawning bands likeEntombed, as well as more obscure,brutal bands likeRepugnant and Treblinka (later calledTiamat), and especially now forMeshuggah (formed in 1987 alongside the aforementioned, but most recognized for works from 2000 thru today) andVildhjarta. Meshuggah's lead guitaristFredrik Thordendal is often cited as the forefather of theDjent subgenre and movement; the band is thus noted as a major influence by many modern metal bands and was certainly a force in the much wider adoption of extended range guitars (seeSeven-string guitar), especially 8-string guitars. Vildhjarta, a much younger group, has found greater popularity for a much more aggressive sound, marked by a mix of the low, open-string tones. Djent is known for with use of the highest frets on the guitar, which significantly shorten the vibrating segment of the string and thus produces a very different tone, especially when overdriven.
Other Swedish music acts on the international scene areAvicii,Swedish House Mafia,Ghost,Dungen,José González,Måns Zelmerlöw,Lykke Li,Mando Diao,The Sounds,The Hives,Neverstore,Sahara Hotnights,Robyn,Movits! andThe Shanes. Some are only famous on the domestic Swedish music scene, such asKent,Håkan Hellström,Veronica Maggio, andLars Winnerbäck.
The history of Swedish literature is heralded by runestones in Old Norse and later language variants. Like the rest ofScandinavia andIceland, Sweden had important literature during the Viking Age; this was chiefly consisted ofOld Norse poetry.[18] During the Middle Ages, most Swedish literature was of a religious nature and written inLatin. The oldest longer historical source text in Swedish isErik's Chronicle (Erikskrönikan). Typical Renaissance literature in Swedish appeared in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1665–1668, the first novel in Swedish was published.Georg Stiernhielm's poetry collection was one of the first of major importance in Swedish. The main representative of non-fiction during that time isOlof Rudbeck, who came to popularize SwedishGothicism withAtlantica.[19] Gustav III promoted culture in many ways, including the establishment of the Swedish Academy.
The work ofCarl Linnaeus has had a profound impact on the world oftaxonomy. Other Swedish authors known around the world includeAugust Strindberg,Astrid Lindgren, best known for several children's book series, andSelma Lagerlöf. Swedish contemporary detective works belong to the popularNordic noir sub-genre, the most famous of them beingThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fromStieg Larsson. The most significant author within Sweden is likelyVilhelm Moberg, with his seriesThe Emigrants. TheNobel Prize in Literature, a Swedish prize, is awarded by theSwedish Academy.[20]
Colourful traditional Swedishfolk costumes are sometimes worn on such special occasions asMidsummer.Sverigedräkten [sv], designed byMärta Jörgensen,[21] mainly in blue and yellow, has been the establishedNational Costume since 2004 (the first since the 18th-centuryNationella dräkten) and is thus worn by royal women on some official occasions.[22] There are many other variations of the folk costumes of Sweden, many provinces and even parishes having their own designs. Some of them have long histories and traditions while others have been created or recreated in modern times. As of 2022, there are at least 840 different designs.[23] In 2022,Fredy Clue andIda Björs designed the first unisex Swedish folk costume, theBäckadräkten.[24]
Modern Swedish clothing is internationally influenced. In recent years, Sweden has gotten more involved in the fashion industry, headquartering best-known brands likeHennes & Mauritz (operating as H&M),J. Lindeberg (operating as JL),Tiger of Sweden,Acne Jeans andFilippa K within its borders.[citation needed]
A new breed of smallerSwedish fashion labels likeOdd Molly,WESC, Hope,Nakkna, Velour,Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair,Cheap Monday andNudie Jeans are emerging and being recognized internationally.[25][26]
Furniture design has been influenced worldwide by the considerable international success ofIKEA, and the design of automobiles byVolvo andSaab. Artisan-made glass products from the so-calledKingdom of Crystal have also achieved international recognition.
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The most significant native Swedish artistic tradition is often considered to beViking art, which had a strong influence throughout Europe, especially Northern Europe, during theViking Age. There are also several other native artistic folk traditions, such asrose-painting[27] and theDalecarlian horse.[28]
The rise of the Swedish Empire during the seventeenth century began a period of flourishing of Swedish art. Beyond the founding of the notable Swedish royal art collection, both foreign and domestic painters established themselves internationally with portraits for the wealthy nobility and monarchy.[29] The eighteenth century further expanded the classical tradition in Sweden, with leading painters likeAlexander Roslin having a strong role within European art. TheNationalmuseum was also founded by King Gustav III in the eighteenth century.[30]
Modern Swedish art has proven successful internationally.[31]Anders Zorn was a leading painter of the nineteenth century,[32] whileCarl Milles was a very important sculptor of the twentieth century.[33] There are many art galleries within Swedish cities, especiallyStockholm.[34]
Sweden has become a major player in theVideo game industry in recent years.Minecraft has become one of thebest-selling video games after its unofficial release in 2009 from Swedish developerMojang Studios.[35] More recently,The Finals from Embark Studios attracted much media attention due to its creativegameplay loop. Another Swedish-based title,Helldivers 2 rose to even be featured atThe Game Awards 2024. Swedish game design tends to focus on more creativegameplay loops, but studios tend to maintain titles less, with outliers such as Minecraft which still receive updates.[36]
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