Glöggfika – A Swedish Tradition

It’s less than a week left before it’s time to start celebrating Christmas! The best way to cool down in the middle of all the stress is by having a glöggfika. We are talking about an event that combines two of Sweden’s better traditions – glögg and fika.

Glögg+ fika = glöggfika

We might have mentioned fika once or twice on this blog. Basically it’s a break that includes coffee/tea, a tasty snack and good company. The fika is a very important cultural institution. For instance, we have a fredagsfika every Friday at 2 pm at work.

Glögg, on the other hand, is the Swedish version of mulled wine. Usually people add almonds and raisins to their glögg. The drink is particularly popular from November to January and it comes in many forms. It sometimes contains alcohol, sometimes not.  Now, in true Swedish style, more than just the glögg needs to be served in order to make it a proper glöggfika. Good company is naturally essential, but what else?

Maybe the most popular snack to go with the glögg is pepparkaka or gingerbread. These cookies are very popular all over Scandinavia and what makes them different from the rest of the world’s ginger nuts is that they tend to be a lot thinner and crispier. A lot of people bake their own gingerbread but it is also possible to buy them from the store.

Around Saint Lucy’s Day on December 13 the lussebulle or lussekatt is especially popular. This delicacy is actually a sweet saffron bun with raisins.

Another Swedish specialty this time of the year is julmust. Although I wouldn’t drink julmust and glögg at the same time, the first is a good non-alcoholic and cold option to glögg. Julmust is made of carbonated water, sugar, hop extract, malt extract, spices, caramel coloring, citric acid, and preservatives. It is very much associated with Christmas, although it is sold as påskmust around Easter.

Do you have any special pre-Christmas traditions?