We can trace the history of Sweden to the Viking Age, as far as the 8th century, when the country was famous for its conquests, exploration, and fearsome seafaring warriors. It’s estimated that 700,000 Swedish nationals now live abroad, but major immigration hubs, such as the United States, are home to millions of citizens who claim Swedish ancestry. The size of the Swedish diaspora is the result of widespread immigration to Australia and America between the 1850s and 1930s.
Tracing your Swedish heritage is more straightforward than in other European countries due to the accessibility and variety of vital documents available. As one of the most advanced bureaucratic states in the 17th and 18th centuries, Sweden offers some of the most complete genealogical records of anywhere in the world.
At MyHeritage, our Swedish records collection contains more than 229 million records, from the 1930 census to church records and household examination books. In this article, we’re exploring the Swedish traditions being kept alive across the world by immigrant families and how you can trace your Swedish heritage with MyHeritage.
Key Takeaways:
- Swedish families focus on ‘lagom’, a belief in having and being ‘just enough’, with an emphasis on modesty, moderation, and balance.
- Many Swedish holidays are linked to nature and the seasons, including Midsommar, and continue to be celebrated by the Swedish diaspora.
- Sweden offers some of the most comprehensive genealogy records of any country with household examination books providing detailed information on families and households.
The Importance of Swedish Family Life
Swedish families often take on egalitarian roles, even today, with a strong emphasis on shared work and community wellbeing based on mutual respect and shared responsibility. One of the main cultural values evident in everyday family life is ‘lagom’, a term meaning ‘just enough’, reflecting the focus on moderation, modesty, and balance in Swedish life.
Swedish families take a balanced approach to raising children, being neither too strict nor too laid-back with children encouraged to be self-reliant. Celebrations are often kept low-key with a focus on communities and families coming together, rather than celebrating to excess.
This mentality is reflected in common Swedish traditions, such as ‘fika’, when Swedes take a little time out of their day to indulge in a coffee break and pause amongst the chaos of everyday life. It’s just one way that Swedish families slow down and focus on savoring the small moments in life.
Celebrating Swedish Holidays and Customs
Swedish immigrant families continue to celebrate many of the country’s milestone holidays and customs, many of which are grounded in nature and the changing of the seasons. Midsummer (Midsommar) is the most famous Swedish holiday and is celebrated during the summer solstice with traditions including ring dancing around a maypole, wearing flower crowns, and toasting with aquavit.
St. Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13th and is an important part of Christmas festivities for Swedish families. Its customs focus on bringing light to the depths of winter. Other festive customs include a Christmas buffet (julbord), with most families exchanging gifts and hosting gatherings on December 24th.
Exploring Heritage Through Swedish Food
Food allows us to step back in time and embrace our heritage. For many immigrant families, traditional recipes are a way of keeping their heritage alive. Popular Swedish dishes include meatballs (köttbullar), rye crispbread (knäckebröd), and lingonberry jam.
Home baking is at the heart of Swedish family life with sweet treats like cinnamon buns (kanelbullar), sweet cardamom buns (semlor), and cardamom bread (kardemummabröd) often made to celebrate special occasions, acting as the first introduction many children have to their Swedish heritage.
How to Explore Your Swedish Roots with MyHeritage
Sweden had its first country-wide census in 1749 with new records created on a regular cycle, meaning that Sweden doesn’t have the same genealogical record gaps as many other European countries have. It’s often considered the first country to begin making systematic national demographic records, streamlining the process of exploring your Swedish ancestry.
Many vital records and official documents have been digitized, although you’ll often need at least a basic level of Swedish to understand and navigate these archives and documents.
Like many cultures, Swedish surnames were historically patronymic, with a child’s last name derived from their father’s first name and a suffix indicating their relationship. However, most Swedish families had adopted a fixed surname by the 19th and early 20th centuries.
One of the most important documents for your Swedish genealogy research will be household examination books, known as husförhörslangder. Maintained by Lutheran ministers, these documents provide comprehensive information on households within a parish, from relationships to marriage dates and household moves. These documents can give you context to your family history and there are over 150 million Swedish examination books available on MyHeritage.
Discover Your Swedish Side by Tracing Your Roots with MyHeritage
Whether you’re a second or third-generation Swede, there are dozens of ways to celebrate your heritage and culture in everyday life. If you’re looking to feel more connected to your Swedish ancestry, MyHeritage can help you navigate genealogical records and uncover your family’s story with a free 14-day trial to kickstart your journey.
The post Being Swedish: Traditions and Genealogy appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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