There are so many homonyms in the world with their various homoforms, homophones and other “homonyms”. This also applies to country names. Latvia – Lithuania, Sweden and Switzerland. It would seem that the names are identical. But don't confuse them.
That's Sweden and Switzerland requires clarification, because this is absolutely different countries. Yes, of course, both of them belong to the most developed countries Western Europe and have high economic development. Both are great destinations for tourists and travelers. But how is Sweden different from Switzerland, besides the fact that one country has “fewer letters”?
Distance from the capital of Switzerland to the capital of Sweden - approximately 1,900 kilometers.
Travel time:~22h.
Fuel consumption: about 200 liters.
Sweden and Switzerland are countries that are so often confused by our Russian-speaking compatriots. However, it is necessary to refute this erroneous opinion, which often turns into a dispute. Sweden and Switzerland are two different European countries located in the northern and central Europe respectively. Each country has its own official languages. In Sweden they speak Swedish as the official language and English, and in Switzerland the official language is German, where French and Italian are also spoken, thanks to its close borders with Italy and France. In Switzerland, for example, there is a small town of Lugano, which is Italian-speaking. For Sweden, corresponding “mixes” are also possible, but already having their own Scandinavian roots, for example, in Lapland there are settlements that can speak Finnish or Norwegian.
Looking at the map we will see that Switzerland is a small state with an area of 41,284 square meters. kilometers, and Sweden, located in the very north of Europe, on the Scandinavian Peninsula has an area of 449,640 square meters. kilometers. Who cares, right?
Speaking about brands, or things that so often remind us of a particular country, here we can list the following. Sweden is the birthplace music group ABBA, manufacturer of the safest cars in the world Volvo, the birthplace of the writer for children - Astrid Lindgren, who gave the world such fairy tales as “Baby and Karlsson”, “Pippi” long stocking”, Karlsson can be mentioned twice, because he is so famous and widely loved in Russia, and what country do we think of when we remember our good friend Karlsson? Switzerland is a “precision” country, well known for the most accurate watches Rado, Swiss, Swatch, etc., banks, expensive and prestigious universities.
Sweden is a country with almost untouched nature, and the people here live in perfect balance with it. The second is home to colorful towns and major centers, making it one of the leading countries in the world. But this does not mean that the first is behind the second in development. Rather, Sweden’s tranquility has a plus that gives it undoubted primacy: its economy is famous for its model of sociality (i.e., providing the population with the necessary resources and support with benefits), while in Switzerland it is better to live with “built-up capital.”
And now geographical comparison of Sweden and Switzerland on the map. You need to remember this big difference, and never confuse the two countries, it's NOT the same thing. Take a look at the map where you can notice the location of these two states. You can often find disputes where one of the parties argues that “this” is the same thing. If you disagree, you can proudly provide the address from this page, with all the evidence available :)
Swedes are tireless planners. For peace of mind It is important to be prepared for the situation and know in advance down to the smallest details what will happen. Vacations are planned six months in advance, parties a month or two in advance. In almost any company, planning devotes the majority of working time. If you invite a Swede to visit you only a couple of days in advance, he will most likely refuse. A visit to grandma in Malmö or a trip to the veterinarian with the cat was planned five weeks ago, and there is no way to reschedule: grandma and the cat won’t understand.
2. They love to bask in the sun.
The northern climate does its job: Swedes are obsessed with being outdoors and preferably in the sun. From mid-spring to early autumn, Swedes cannot be lured indoors as long as it is not raining or hailing outside. As soon as the May sun peeks out uncertainly, there is nowhere for an apple to fall on the lawns - they are already occupied by blissful Swedes in shorts and T-shirts with picnic sets. For this reason, it’s not a sin to take time off from work: who knows, maybe it’s the last sunny day of the year?
3. Avoid strangers
Only something extraordinary will force a Swede to meet a stranger on the street. Unless the phone breaks down or the GPS fails. Or everyone you know who you can ask will be out of reach. It is not easy for pathologically polite Swedes to cross the boundaries of someone else's personal space. A win-win strategy is to speak to the Swede first, keeping your distance in a friendly and respectful manner.
4. They love fika
– this word resonates with a sweet thrill in any Swedish heart. The meaning of “fika” (from the word “coffee”, in which the syllables are reversed) is to drink coffee and communicate, as well as eat your favorite cookies, cookies and all kinds of baked goods. This is certainly done in the company. Fika works wonders with the Swedes: they become more relaxed and make contact easier. At work, fic inevitably happens several times a week, or even a day. From a Swede’s point of view, skipping fika is bad form: it’s not something that can be postponed.
5. Counting down the days until vacation
The Swede lives from vacation to vacation. Thoughts about help while away the long days winter evenings. In the spring, with the approach of day X, the imagination already draws sunny seascapes. There is, of course, no time for work here. No higher power will force the Swedes to do business in the summer. Public sector employees have a vacation of up to 35 working days. From the end of June until mid-August, the country closes for the holidays - the streets are extremely sparsely populated, and random passers-by are busily rushing with their suitcases to the airport, train station or the nearest ferry pier.
6. Children are not punished
It is not customary in Sweden to pull down children, especially strangers. Parents make comments to their child in a friendly manner - and only when absolutely necessary. They reason with words only. Any spanking is excluded: the country in the world that has banned physical punishment of children. It is not customary to strictly tell children how they should behave in society. It is believed that future citizens should gradually understand for themselves what is appropriate and what is not. Until then, adults are ready to give tips - and train patience.
7. They eat sweets on Saturdays
Every Saturday, in front of the TV, both adults and children selflessly gorge themselves on sweets: the average Swedish family eats 1.2 kg of sweets per week! Why does the main peak occur on Saturday? Apparently, in order to somehow limit the irrepressible craving for sweets.
8. Follow the rules
If the sign says “Do not walk on the lawn,” then the Swede will under no circumstances set foot on the forbidden territory. If it is said that paper packaging must be thrown into a special trash bin, then no one would think of throwing a cigarette butt or bottle there. And from 08:00 to 16:30 with a 45-minute break for lunch, then the Swedes will spend exactly 45 minutes on lunch and not a minute more. After all, rules are meant to be followed. Even in thoughts of violating some order or, God forbid, a law - this is out of the question.
9. Discussing the weather
Swedes are ready to talk endlessly about the weather. You can notice that today is a beautiful sunny day, which has not happened for a long time: it is unlikely that any of the interlocutors will question this fact. If the weather is terrible, then this must also be emphasized and noted with satisfaction that everyone agrees with you. I can't think of a more convenient subject of conversation. If you start a conversation on a topic that does not imply unanimity, most likely, instead of an answer, hesitant interjections will be heard. Swedes avoid discussing issues on which opinions may differ unless there is an urgent need for it. God forbid we start talking about political leanings or income. Eventually, someone present will change the topic and inevitably talk about the weather.
10. Honor gender equality
All people - Swedes hear this mantra from kindergarten. That’s why both boys and girls learn sewing and knitting, carpentry and iron forging at school. Most Swedish dads eagerly take maternity leave to look after their baby and change diapers while mom is at work. They also enjoy baking saffron buns and growing pelargonium in pots. Who said it's not a man's job? She doesn’t interfere at all with going to football or a motorcycle race - and mom, by the way, will also be happy to take part in this.
11. They are afraid of viruses
In Sweden people are afraid of flu and colds. By the way, Swedish medicine does not believe that draft or cold can be to blame for the disease. Every fall, there are queues for vaccinations in clinics: after all, bacteria and viruses and poorly ventilated rooms are to blame. That’s why children and adults wear light jackets in winter, and if someone gets sick, it’s because they communicated with a carrier of the virus. Stay as far away as possible from those who cough and sneeze, even if it is. And even more so, they won’t appreciate the work ethic of a colleague who went to work despite a cough and runny nose.
12. Obsessed with the environment
And recycling food waste is only... People often go to the supermarket with rag string bags or backpacks - so as not to buy plastic bags that are harmful to the environment. It’s better to buy used furniture: consumerism is ruining environment. Each package is meticulously examined: are there any additives harmful to the environment? If the news flashes that some factory or poultry farm pollutes the air or water, or, even worse, keeps hens in cramped conditions, people will immediately stop buying its products. No compromises.
13. Watching the same thing at Christmas
- an event of great importance. It is always celebrated in the same way, in the same circle, with the same set of dishes on the table, and always with the same TV program, which has not changed for the last 50 years. These are Disney cartoons about Donald Duck, whom the Swedes call Kalle Anka, excerpts from “Snow White”, “Ferdinand the Bull” and other cartoon classics. No one would think of changing the channel: from 15.00 to 16.00 the whole country, with bated breath, watches cartoons that they know by heart. Moreover, adults are perhaps more interested than children.
14. Bring food and drinks to the party.
Swedes often come to the holiday with alcohol. Thus, the hosts save on hosting guests, and they, in turn, treat themselves to what they themselves would like to try. And everyone is happy. To avoid getting into trouble, it’s worth asking the hosts in advance: “What should we bring with us?” After all, a party is a communal affair, everyone must contribute.
15. Get up early and go to bed early
A traveler who comes to Sweden for the first time will be surprised: the streets die out at nine in the evening, the bars are empty after midnight. Swedes rush home to go to bed early. Here they like a clear daily routine - and have not completely abandoned peasant traditions. The country is located on the easternmost border of the Central European Time Zone: in Sweden it gets light relatively early and gets dark early. Therefore, by the standards of southern Europe or Russian megacities, Swedes go to bed early and get up early. There's no time for nightly entertainment here.
Ovetia occupies the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as the islands of Gotland and Öland in the Baltic Sea. Its area is 449.7 thousand square meters. km. The population of Sweden reached 7 million 604 thousand people by mid-1963. National composition The country is quite homogeneous: about 98% of its population are Swedes. Significant national minorities are Finns (about 25 thousand people in the Norrbotten region), Sami, or Lapps (about 10 thousand people) and Jews (5 thousand people), as well as several thousand descendants of three hundred Walloon artisans who moved to Sweden in the 17th century. V. from France due to religious persecution. About 200 thousand foreigners live in the country - Estonians, Germans, Norwegians, Danes, etc. Most of them are here temporarily and are mainly employed in industry.
Citizens of Swedish origin live in the USA and Canada (about 1.2 million people), Finland (370 thousand people) and Denmark (25 thousand people).
Most of Sweden's surface is made up of hilly areas covered with coniferous and deciduous forests. In the north-west of the country are the Scandinavian mountains covered with tundra vegetation. In the coastal zone and in the south there are small plains where the bulk of the population is concentrated. The climate is temperate and quite humid. Sweden has many rivers and lakes. The rivers are mostly fast and rapids. The total length of the coasts is about 2500 km. Low rocky shores predominate, dissected by small bays and bays. The soils are mainly of podzolic type. Sweden's most important mineral resources are iron ores; Their main deposits are in the north, in Lapland (Kiruna, etc.) and in central Sweden. There are also deposits of copper, silver, lead, zinc, and gold (in Buliden and Falun). Deposits of apatite, quartz, etc. are being developed from non-metallic minerals. Reserves coal and oil are insignificant.
Essay on ethnic history
Man appeared in Sweden (in its southern part) approximately 6 thousand years BC, at the Neolithic stage. People then lived in primitive tribal communities, engaged in hunting and fishing. Around the 3rd millennium BC. e. the population switched to settled cattle breeding and hoe farming, with the exception of northern Sweden, where until 1500 BC. e. the more primitive Arctic hunting Neolithic culture was maintained. This autochthonous population, apparently Lapp, was gradually pushed to the north by Germanic tribes - the Swions, or Svei, Heruls, Goths, Gauts and others who moved to Sweden throughout the 2nd and 1st millennia BC. e. These Germanic tribes formed the ethnic basis of the Swedish people, which emerged in the 11th century. from a group of Old Norse tribes. Finns and Lapps played a certain role in the ethnogenesis of the Swedes. In the IX-XI centuries. The Swedish language is formed, which belongs to the Scandinavian group of Germanic languages. The most ancient monuments Swedish language (inscriptions in minor runes) date back to the 9th century.
In the 1st millennium e. The social system of the population of Sweden was transitional from communal-clan to class. The Germanic tribes that inhabited Sweden moved from their tribal community to their neighbors. In the VI - VII centuries. In central Sweden, the first state arose - the Sveian principality, in which the Svions, led by the Yngling dynasty, occupied a dominant position. During this period, patriarchal slavery became widespread. In the VII-IX centuries. Sweden conducted brisk trade with Russia, Byzantium, the Arab East, Frankish state. The first Swedish city, Birka (on Lake Mälaren), became the center of Baltic trade. A certain number of Swedes settled along the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks,” but they quickly became famous. Lively trade and campaigns of the Swedish Vikings in the 9th-11th centuries. testify to the growth of social and property stratification among free community members, the strengthening of princely power and the development of military-squad relations. At the beginning of the 11th century. Under Olof (Olaf) Shetkonung, the country was unified into an early feudal kingdom. The strengthening Swedish state began feudal aggression to the east. From the 12th century “Crusades” were undertaken against the Finnish tribes, which ended in the first half of the 14th century. their conquest. But in Sweden itself, the economic disunity of individual regions of the country contributed to the isolation of various ethnic groups and the formation of several dialect language groups: South Swedish, Ötsk (in which Österjöt and Västerjöt dialects are distinguished), Svejsk (in which the Dal dialects should be distinguished), Norlandic in itself Sweden, Gutnian on the island of Gotland and East Swedish within Finland.
In the XII-XIV centuries. the growth of trade led to the development of crafts, to the revitalization of economic ties between various regions of Sweden, which caused the emergence of large market centers; some of them already in the 14th century. had general Swedish significance. The development of feudalism in the country was facilitated by Christianization, carried out in the 12th century.
In the 14th century, under the German elector Albrecht of Mecklenburg, who was elected king of Sweden, German influence in crafts, trade and other areas of life increased.
The union of Sweden with Denmark and Norway (the Union of Kalmar in 1397) contributed to getting rid of German domination, but it also meant strengthening the influence of Denmark. During the XIV - XVI centuries. In the fight against the Germans and then the Danes, the national self-awareness of the Swedes grew, and their culture continued to develop. A big event for the Swedes was the opening of the first Swedish university in Uppsala (1477).
The development of national identity and culture of the Swedes was positively affected by the final dissolution of the union with Denmark after a powerful popular uprising in 1523 under the leadership of Gustav Vasa, who was then elected king. The Kalmar Union was dissolved. The strengthening of royal power under Gustav Vasa was fiercely resisted by the clergy and part of the nobility. This served as the reason for the secularization of the lands of the Catholic clergy and the implementation of the Lutheran reform (1527-1539). Land rights were limited in favor of the crown.
The strengthened state entered into the struggle for dominance in the Baltic. Aggression has resumed in the east. In the Livonian War 1558-1583. Sweden captured Revel and Northern Estonia. After the wars with Russia and Poland in the Treaty of Stolbovo in 1617, it received the Russian Baltic states, Riga and Livonia. Since 1630, Sweden took an active part in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and received a number of North German lands (the city of Stettin and part of Pomerania) under the Peace of Westphalia. Wars against Denmark in the 17th century. ended with the capture of southern Scandinavia (Skåne region) and eastern Norway. After the Northern War of 1655-1660. between Sweden, on the one hand, and Poland and Denmark, on the other, the first became in the 16th-17th centuries. hegemon on the Baltic Sea. Sweden's foreign trade is growing, capitalist manufacturing appears in the country (in the middle of the 17th century) and the accumulation of Swedish capital itself begins. In 1668 the first National Bank was founded.
Vibrant economic and cultural ties between different regions of Sweden broke the isolation of their populations. For the consolidation of the ethnic groups of the Swedish people and the formation of the Swedish nation, the development of the Swedish language was of great importance. It developed in the 16th-17th centuries. based on Svei (Central Swedish) dialects and partly the Esterie dialect. In 1684, E. Aurivillius compiled the first grammar of the Swedish language, which facilitated its study and dissemination. But this could not and did not lead to the disappearance of numerous dialects and dialects that remain in the everyday life of the country’s peasant population to this day.
In the XVIII - mid-19th century V. Hired labor began to be used more widely in noble households, and industrial and entrepreneurial activity expanded. In the 18th century Sweden's economic ties with England, an advanced capitalist country, strengthened. However, constant wars weakened the power of Sweden and interfered with its capitalist development. Defeat in the Northern War with Russia (1700-1721) reduced Sweden to the position of a minor power. According to the peace treaty of 1721, she lost all her possessions in the eastern and part of her possessions in the southern Baltic, as well as southwestern Karelia and Vyborg. Russia's influence on Sweden's internal affairs has increased. According to the peace of 1743, the south-eastern part of Finland passed to Russia.
Rebuilding under the influence of the world market on a capitalist basis, Swedish agriculture in the first half of the 19th century. has undergone significant changes. Throughout the XVIII-XIX centuries. Agrarian laws were adopted that destroyed the patriarchal community, introduced the farm system and thus encouraged the creation of large kulak-landowner farms, restored redemption rights and contributed to the transformation of peasant lands into the full private property of individual owners.
In the middle of the 19th century. the demand for ore, timber and other raw materials on the world market has increased. This led to a technical restructuring of Swedish industry. Construction has begun railways. There have also been changes in the balance of class forces. In 1866, an elected bicameral Riksdag was approved, which was a compromise between the nobles and the bourgeoisie, since the bourgeoisie was allowed to political activity. At the same time, the situation of the working people deteriorated significantly, and the peasants were rapidly becoming ruined. Emigration to the USA and other countries began. In terms of the relative number of immigrants in the 60-80s of the last century, Sweden was in second place in Europe (after Ireland).
IN late XIX- early 20th century A turning point occurred in the capitalist development of Sweden: heavy industry grew significantly, the concentration and centralization of Swedish capital increased, and foreign capital penetrated into a number of industries.
In the First World War, Sweden took a position of neutrality. At the beginning of the Second World War, Sweden also declared its neutrality, but allowed German troops and weapons into Norway and Finland through its territory. After the war, Sweden found itself in the most favorable economic situation compared to other European countries: it was not devastated by the war, accumulated foreign exchange reserves, had a developed industry and significantly expanded its exports in the first post-war years. The Swedish government declared foreign policy“freedom from unions,” which led to the expansion of international relations, in particular with the countries of the socialist camp.
In 1960, the Riksdag approved Sweden's accession to the European Free Trade Association. Among other organizations, Sweden is included, together with Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, in the Nordic Council, an organization for economic, political and cultural cooperation.
Currently Sweden is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The highest legislative body is the bicameral parliament (Riksdag). The first chamber is elected for eight years by provincial councils (lanstings) and city councils. Deputies of the second chamber are elected by the population for four years. Executive power carried out by the king together with the government he appoints.
There are five main parties in the Swedish parliament: the right (conservatives), the People's party (liberals), the center party (agrarians), the social democratic and the communist.
The Conservative Party was founded in 1904. It expresses the interests of landowners and the big bourgeoisie. The People's Party, which emerged in 1930, is associated with large monopoly capital. The Center Party (Peasant Union) defends the interests of wealthy peasants and landowners, but a significant part of the middle and small peasantry also follows the agrarians. This party was created in 1913. Behind the Social Democratic Party, founded in 1889, are the workers, most of the civil servants, the intelligentsia, and the petty and middle bourgeoisie.
Since 1932, the leadership of the Social Democratic Party has been in power, acting either in a coalition with bourgeois parties or as a homogeneous government. Currently, the Social Democrats hold almost half of the seats in the Riksdag. In ministries, departments and departments, 80% of positions are occupied by representatives of the big bourgeoisie and landowners, while people from workers and peasants make up only 1% of civil servants.
The Swedish Communist Party arose in May 1917. It has great influence on the working class, but has not yet become its mass party.
Each batch has its own editions. The newspapers of the People's Party have the largest circulation.
The central organ of the Communist Party is the newspaper "Nyu Dag" (« Ny dag »). She also publishes the theoretical journal "Vor Tid" (<< Var tid »),
In 1898, the Central Association of Trade Unions was founded in Sweden. In fact, trade unions cover almost all workers and employees in the country. However, the trade union movement in Sweden is influenced by the Social Democrats and is reformist in nature. The struggle waged by the trade unions is limited almost exclusively to economic boundaries.
You will be surprised, but not only Russian speakers confuse Sweden and Switzerland. In many languages, the names of these countries are similar. For example, in Turkish they also sound approximately the same - Isvec and İsviçre.
However, these are two completely different states, located a couple of thousand kilometers from each other.
And, since I was recently lucky enough to visit Switzerland, I am happy to share my observations with you. Let's try to figure out how Sweden and Switzerland are similar, and what are their fundamental differences.
1. Population and area
The populations of these two countries are approximately the same: Switzerland has 8 million people, Sweden has 9 million. But Sweden is 10 times larger in area than Switzerland.
2. Governance of the country
Sweden is a kingdom with a royal family led by King Carl XVI Gustaf. True, the king does not rule the country, but only performs a representative function. Nevertheless, the cult of the royal family in the country is very noticeable. Representatives of the Swedish monarchy are valued and their lives are monitored; The royal family is an integral part of all Swedish national holidays. And so it has been for the last 500 years. But in fact, the country is governed by a prime minister who is elected in parliament. Although, believe me, he is even less popular than Sofia, the newly-made wife of our Prince Karl-Philippe.
Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons. Switzerland is a confederation. Each canton has its own constitution, but their powers are limited by the federal constitution.
Without a couple of glasses of wine, it’s definitely impossible to understand the political system of Switzerland. But in short, the country is run by the president. Each year, parliament appoints the president and vice-president of the confederation from among the members of the Council, without the right of reappointment for the next year.
3. Service
It seemed to me that in Switzerland the service is at a decent level. You pay, therefore you receive quality service. The helpfulness of local waiters is sometimes even somewhat surprising.
Sweden is a country of victorious socialism. Money plays an important role here, too, but social justice is much more important for most of society. This is probably partly why Swedish service in most restaurants is significantly “lame”.
I remember I recommended tourists to visit a nice Swedish restaurant in the center of Stockholm. After waiting there for 40 minutes and not receiving a menu, the tourists left the establishment. Imagine their surprise when agonizing minutes of waiting found them in the second restaurant. The fact is that many Swedish cafes/restaurants have a self-service system. You need to go to the counter, see what’s on the menu today, order, and a few minutes later come up and pick up your dish.
Self-service rules also apply in Swedish companies. Don't expect to be served tea or coffee when you visit the office of a Swedish company. At best, they will show you where the drinks machine is located.
4. Language
Switzerland has 4 official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. This is due to the fact that the country arose at the junction of three great European cultures: French, German and Italian.
German is spoken in Switzerland by about 73% of the population, which makes it the most common language, as well as the language of business communication in the country.
The official language of Sweden is Swedish. English comes in second place. And although it is not official, it is spoken by almost 90% of the country's population.
Do you remember at least one ABBA song in Swedish? Or maybe you remember at least one composition by the group Roxette in their native language? Of course, the performers sang in the beautiful Scandinavian language, but the number of such songs was very small.
The level of English language proficiency among Swedish residents is the highest in Europe. This is an absolute plus for indigenous residents and tourists coming to the country and an absolute minus for those who move here for permanent residence. Don't feed a native Swede bread - let him chat in English. They love to practice this language and therefore, if your Swedish friends/colleagues know that you speak English, you will learn Swedish for a long time.
By the way, in Switzerland, approximately half of the population knows English and speaks it quite fluently. But whether it’s the influence of German and French cultures, or something else, they don’t have the same passion for the English language as in Sweden.
5. Technology and innovation
In terms of innovation, Switzerland has been ranked first for several years in a row, with Sweden in second place, which is practically breathing down its neck.
Both countries actively support research activities and invest millions of francs and crowns in this.
Therefore, we can safely say “thank you” to the Swiss for: a spring mechanism for watches and wristwatches, a penknife, an overlock sewing machine, a bicycle motor, cellophane, blinds, a zipper, an electric guitar, a voice recorder, an electric toothbrush, Nespresso capsule coffee. and much more! But what we hardly need to thank the Swiss for is the fact that they invented absinthe and the synthetic drug LSD.
But the Swedes, of course, should be thanked first of all for dynamite, then for the Celsius temperature scale, Tetra Pak packaging, milking machine and separator, Swedish matches, modern telephone, adjustable wrench, wall bars, child car seats, baby bjorn, bodybuilding exercise machine , bluetooth. Not to mention the world famous companies IKEA and Skype.
Also, the European headquarters of the United Nations, as well as dozens of other intergovernmental and international organizations, are located in Geneva. And even the server of the famous hosting Rapidshare is located in Switzerland in an anti-nuclear bunker.
But in the center of Stockholm is the headquarters of Bahnhof, a Swedish Internet provider and owner of one of the most interesting data centers on the planet. Several years ago, the Wikileaks base was also located here. Its data center is located 30 meters below the granite cliffs of Vita Park in Stockholm.
6. Colonies
One could say that both countries did not have colonies, but no!
One of the regions of Bessarabia in Tsarist Russia became home to the only autonomous Swiss colony in history. The rapid development of Shabo, a village in the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky district of the Odessa region, lasted almost a century and a half, until the Second World War.
As for the homeland of the Vikings, in 1784 France, in exchange for trade benefits in the port of the Swedish city of Gothenburg, sold the small island of San Barthelemy to the Swedes, who renamed it the largest port settlement Gustavia, in honor of their king Gustav III.
7. Social aspects
The average life expectancy of the Swiss is 83 years, the Swedes - 82. The Swiss retire at 65, while the Swedes can work until 67. The current Prime Minister even advocates raising the retirement age to 75!
But as for the conditions of maternity leave, the difference is much more significant. In Switzerland, after the birth of a child, every working woman is entitled to maternity leave lasting 14-16 weeks, during which she is paid 80% of her salary.
In Sweden, maternity leave is 69 weeks (can you feel the difference?) and is also paid at 80% of the salary. By the way, in no other European country will you see so many dads with strollers as in Sweden. And the whole point is that not only mothers, but also fathers can go on maternity leave here, which they enjoy using.
In Switzerland, all healthcare in the country is paid, and life and health insurance is compulsory. In Sweden all healthcare is free. Moreover, if a resident of the country has serious diseases, such as diabetes, hepatitis or viral diseases, then even medicines are provided at the expense of the state. Even obesity is treated free of charge.
Another question is that the quality of medical care in Sweden will leave you a little perplexed. As they say here, they won’t let you die, but they won’t let you heal either.
An example from my life. My blood pressure dropped sharply, so much so that I had to move “from bench to bench” to the hospital. After waiting in line for a couple of hours and having an appointment with a Swedish aesculapian, I did not at all expect to hear the following question - how many cups of coffee do you drink a day? One? Come on, you can’t do the same, with your blood pressure you need at least three!
But there is another extreme. One of my friends had plastic surgery at the expense of the state only because she was able to prove that she had postpartum depression and simply needed a change in her appearance.
8. Store opening hours
It's 18:10 on Saturday and I'm asked to leave the Swiss supermarket COOP because they're closing. Well, it’s okay, I think, I’ll do my shopping on Sunday. Imagine my surprise when on Sunday the supermarket was closed altogether. It turns out that this day is a mandatory day off in Switzerland.
Here I understand that I will never again complain about the fact that most Swedish supermarkets close at 22.00, and clothing stores close at 18.00.
In general, I got the impression that only fountains work around the clock in Switzerland. In Geneva, I counted about 10 different fountains; there are more than 1,500 of them throughout Switzerland.
9. Restaurant bill
In Switzerland it is expensive. And not just expensive, but very expensive. And although taxes here are the lowest in Europe (the rate for individuals varies from 12% to 16% depending on the region), your budget is significantly cut if you like to eat in a restaurant.
Dinner for two in the center of Geneva will cost you no less than 120 francs (110 euros), about the same price as the famous Swiss watch SWATCH.
Taxes in Sweden are much higher (33% per individual), but prices in restaurants are much lower. Dinner in the center of Stockholm will cost you about 700 kroner (75 euros) for two.
Well, as for tips, in both Sweden and Switzerland the cost of service is already included in the bill, so the waiters do not expect generous gestures from you. Although, of course, no one will be offended if you leave 7-10% of the bill for good service.
10. Features of national cuisine
I won’t touch on traditional cuisine; you can read about it in endless guidebooks. And then, well, who isn’t familiar with meatballs with lingonberry sauce or hasn’t tried fondue? I’ll tell you better about that side of Swedish and Swiss cuisine that causes confusion among tourists.
The Olympic championship in the field of strange food should still be given to the Swedes with their rotten herring surströmming. Say this magic word in the presence of a Viking descendant and, at the very least, you will see an ugly grimace on his face. This is how this dish appeared in Swedish cuisine.
Once in the 16th century, when the country was involved in hostilities with a neighboring state and trade supplies of salt were catastrophically declining, it was decided to pickle herring with less salt. Of course, this disrupted the normal canning process and over time the herring began to ferment. But in a situation of war and famine, the Swedes even considered such a dish an exquisite delicacy, well, think about it - “slightly sour.”
By the way, since the appearance of this dish, not a single tragic incident has been officially recorded. So, eat to your health!
As for the “other side” of Swiss cuisine, it’s a completely confusing story. Either the Swiss are quite picky about food and immediately throw away anything that smells slightly, or they hide their “culinary oddities” well. In general, apart from blue cheese and slightly sour wine, nothing strange was found in this country.
And instead of an epilogue...
— The fine for illegal parking in Switzerland is 40 euros, in Sweden - from 65 to 100 euros
— The unemployment rate in Switzerland is 3.2%, in Sweden - 7.8%.
— Swiss citizenship can be obtained after 12 years, and if you are married to a citizen of this country, then after 5 years. In Sweden, the maximum waiting period for citizenship is 5 years, for married people - 3 years.
— Both countries adhered to neutrality during the Second World War, which partially contributed to the rapid development of industry and the economy in the post-war years.
If you think that something in my article was exaggerated and does not reflect the real picture, write to us and we’ll discuss it!
Region of residence: Europe
SWEDES, Svenskar, people, the main population of Sweden. The number is over 9 million people, including 8.59 million people in Sweden. They also live in the USA, Canada, Finland, Denmark, Norway, etc. They speak Swedish, a language of the Germanic group of the Indo-European family. Dialect groups: Central Swedish, Ötsk and Nordic in Sweden proper, Gutnic on the island of Gotland and East Swedish in Finland. Writing based on Latin script. Believers are mainly Lutherans, there are Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals, etc.
The ancestors of the Swedes were Germanic tribes - the Svei and the Jöts (hence the modern name of the country - Sweden, Sverje, Sverige). They formed the ethnic basis of the Swedish people, which consolidated during the formation of the Swedish state in the 11th-12th centuries. The oldest written monuments date back to the 9th century - in the runic alphabet. At the beginning of the 11th century, the Christianization of the Swedes began. During the Viking Age (IX-XI centuries) and the Middle Ages, the Swedes took part in campaigns to the east - to Finland, to Rus' and further to Constantinople. Finns and Sami also took part in the ethnogenesis of the Swedes. In the XIV - early XVI centuries. Sweden entered into unions with Norway and Denmark. Having gained independence in 1521, it fought wars for dominance in the Baltic, which ended in defeat in the Northern War of 1700-1721. The consolidation of the Swedes was facilitated by the strengthening of the monarchy, the Lutheran Reformation (1527-39), the formation of a national market, and the formation of a literary language mainly based on Central Swedish dialects (XVI-XVII centuries).
Modern Swedes are mainly employed in highly developed industry and in the service sector. The urban population absolutely predominates (the largest agglomeration is Stockholm). The traditional branch of agriculture is meat and dairy farming. In Northern Sweden, where pastoralism predominates over agriculture (grain and grass), the ancient system of seters - summer pastures with outbuildings - is preserved. Fishery is developed. Forestry plays an important role. There are traditional crafts: production of agricultural implements, fishing nets, cooperage. Among the artistic crafts, jewelry, wood carving and painting, weaving, lace weaving, leather and fur products decorated with appliqué, etc. are developed.
Traditional peasant settlements are hamlets and small villages (cumulus, row or ring layout). In the North and central regions of Sweden, a three-chamber log house (two rooms with a vestibule in the middle) is common; in the courtyard there is a two-story cage and a barn, and outbuildings decorated with carvings. In southern Sweden frame buildings predominate; The living part of the houses is located in the middle, with storage rooms on the sides. They use a stove for heating and cooking, and an oven for baking bread. In many homes, along with a stove, there is a fireplace.
The folk costume is worn on holidays, especially in the Dalarna region (middle Sweden). Men's suit - a linen shirt with a stand-up collar, a festive one - decorated with lace and embroidery, a woolen jacket with two rows of buttons, a vest made of cloth or suede, knee-length pants, woolen stockings with patterns and ties, a felt hat or a knitted cap. Women's clothing - a shirt made of white canvas with long sleeves, a linen blouse embroidered on the chest and at the collar, a bodice made of cloth, a wide long striped skirt, an apron made of bright fabric, a large shoulder scarf pinned on the chest with a silver fibula. For a woman's suit, a belt made of dyed wool with large tassels and an embroidered pocket attached to it is required. Headdresses - caps trimmed with lace (Northern and Central Sweden), towel headdress (Southern Sweden), etc. On the legs - stockings and low-heeled shoes.
Traditional dishes are prepared on holidays: rice porridge with raisins, roast goose, apple pie, sweet beer, smoked meats, cookies. Peasants bake large loaves of sweet and sour rye bread, often with the addition of spices, and flatbreads made from unleavened rye or barley dough, which are stored in pantries for several months, strung on a thin pole.
Small family.
The main holiday is Christmas (July), preparations for which begin 2-3 weeks in advance: beer is brewed, bread is baked, ritual cookies (in the shape of a pig, goat or star). There is still a belief about the healing properties of Christmas bread and beer. Christmas dance evenings are accompanied by dressing up (usually dressing up as a goat). Other holidays - Maslenitsa, Easter, Trinity, Midsummer's Day, holidays associated with harvesting. In the Skansen Museum-Reserve (in Stockholm), where people from different regions of the country gather, Christmas markets and festivities are held on New Year and Midsummer's Day. Lucia's Day (December 13) is popular among students and students, when a girls' ball is held and the most beautiful is elected "queen". Folklore has been preserved: fairy tales, legends, ballads, songs, round dances accompanied by singing.