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Scandinavian lifestyle things to try: Ice skating on a lake, take your korbo basket and a thermos of coffee and enjoy a day on the ice.

Winter bucket list – 15 Swedish things for you to try this winter

Autumn arrives early in Scandinavia and winter is very soon knocking on the door once again. So, what does one do here when the sun disappears, and the cold gradually creeps in? We have 15 tips for you to help you embrace the Scandinavian lifestyle all year long!
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Scandinavian lifestyle things to try this winter - foraging in the woods for mushrooms and fruit.

It doesn’t get more Swedish than foraging in the woods for mushrooms and blueberries in the autumn.

1. FORAGING IN THE WOODS ✔

As summer draws to an end and the leaves start to change colour on the trees, here in Sweden you will find the locals engaged in the most Swedish of activities – foraging for natures goodies in the woods! Whether they are picking blueberries that grow in abundance in the forests in the south or on the hunt for elusive chanterelle mushrooms you’ll never know, because Swedes are famously very secretive about their foraging spots!

Scandinavian lifestyle things to try this winter - foraging in the woods for mushrooms with a Korbo metal basket.
KorboKorbo bucket 20
$159

2. COOK UP A MUSHROOM FEAST ✔

What’s more enjoyable than foraging for mushrooms? Eating them of course! There are numerous ways to store this autumnal treat; pickle them; freeze them; dry them; but we think they are best eaten immediately. Fry them in butter and then simmer in cream with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of parsley and serve over toast – simple and delicious!

Scandinavian lifestyle things for you to try this winter - fresh mushrooms to fry and put on toast.

Turn your freshly picked mushrooms into a delicious topping for crusty fresh baked bread,

Scandinavian lifestyle things to try this winter - fry mushrooms to put on toast in the Norden frying pan from Fiskars.
FiskarsNorden frying pan cast iron
$179
Scandinavian lifestyle things for you to try this winter - build a cosy den in the living room for the kids.

Create cosy activities in doors for your kids when the weather doesn’t allow you to be outside.

Scandinavian lifestyle things to try this winter - a kitten cuddles up next to the Milk floor lamp from &Tradition
&TraditionMilk floor lamp
$157.50$175

3. BUILD A COSY DEN IN THE LIVING ROOM ✔

Who doesn’t love a cosy indoor activity when the wind is howling outside? Keep the kids entertained when the weather takes a turn and help them build a cosy den in the living room.


4. BAKE PEPPARKAKOR ✔

Pepparkakor, the Swedish version of gingerbread fills the shelves as Christmas approaches. Why not try your hand at baking your own?

Scandinavian lifestyle ideas for you to try this winter - little girl prepares pepparkakor.
PotteryJoPeep dough bowl 35 cm
$54
Scandinavian lifestyle things that you need to try this winter - preparing pepparkakor with kids.

Pepparkakor are simple to bake, perfect for getting the kids involved.

Scandinavian lifestyle things for you to try this winter - baking pepparkakor with the kids.
Scandi Living
Sandsbro small plate Ø20 cm, Off white
$15.90$19
Scandi Living
Sandsbro dinner plate Ø27 cm, Off white
$19
PotteryJo
Peep dough bowl 27 cm, matte black
$41
&Tradition
Betty chair TK1, Maroon
$625
Scandi Living
Valley candle sticks Ø12 cm, Beige
$20

5. HOT CHOCOLATE FOR THE KIDS ✔

When all baking fun is over and the pepparkakor are ready to eat cuddle up in the den with a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Scandinavian lifestyle things for you to try this winter - Making hot chocolate with the kids!

Let the children get stuck into the marshmallows and decorate the with chocolate sauce,

Scandinavian lifestyle things that you need to try this winter - making hot chocolate with the kids here you see a girl with the sandsbro mug from Scandi Living.
Scandi LivingSandsbro mug 40 cl
$13.50$19
Scandinavian lifestyle things for you to try this winter - Ice skating on a lake with a thermos from Stelton filled with hot coffee.

Grab a thermos filled with steaming hot coffee, a couple of mugs and your skates and get out on the ice, just be sure to check the ice is thick enough first!

Scandinavian lifestyle things you need to try this winter - grab everything you need for a sauna and enjoy on a winter's afternoon.

Grab everything you need for a spa like sauna - a body brush, scented candles and diffusers, gorgeously scented soaps and creamsand relax and enjoy on a winter's day.

6. ICE SKATING ON A LAKE ✔

7. SAUNA ✔

8. A WINTER DIP IN THE SEA (IF YOU’RE BRAVE ENOUGH) ✔

9. ENJOY A BOWL OF TOMTEGRÖT ✔

Similar to the English version rice pudding, Tomtegröt translates to Christmas porridge. A traditional part of the Christmas table Tomtegröt is a warm and comforting dish served in the lead up to Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 150g short grain rice
  • 300ml water
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 750ml milk
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar
  • 15g butter
  • Ground cinnamon

How to:

  • Put the rice, water and salt in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes with a lid.
  • Add the milk and cinnamon stick. Warm the mixture until hot but do not allow to boil.
  • Cover the saucepan with a lid and place on a low heat for around 30-45 minutes or until the rice has absorbed all the milk mixture.
  • You should now have a thick rice porridge. Add the sugar and butter and stir to combine.
  • Serve lukewarm and dusted with cinnamon.
Scandinavian lifestyle things you need to try this winter -Tomtegröt served in the Wik & Watsoe Christmas porcelain.
Wik & WalsøeJulemorgen plate
$39
Scandinavian lifestyle things for you to try this winter - a bowl of tomtegröt in a Scandi Living dots bowl.
Scandi LivingDots breakfast bowl 60 cl 4-pack
$34.50$69

10. FILL YOUR HOME WITH CANDLELIGHT ✔

Is there anything cosier than lighting a candle as the sun begins to set and the nights grow longer and colder? Atmospheric and cosy lighting are important aspects in the home during the long colder Scandinavian winter. Bring more hygge into your home this year with the help of candlelight,

Scandinavian lifestyle things you need to try this winter - Set a cosy atmosphere in your home and fill each room with candles. Here you see the Scandi Living arctic candle holder in the kitchen.
Scandi LivingArctic candlestick 22 cm
$17.90$30
Scandinavian lifestyle things you need to try this winter - a picnic in the woods with lots of wool blankets.

Pack a basket with plenty of blankets and enjoy some fresh air and a picnic with friends.

Scandinavian lifestyle things to try this winter - reading a book by the fire with the Fossil mug from Scandi Living.
Scandi LivingFossil mug 35 cl
$7.50$15

11. CUDDLE UP WITH A GOOD BOOK BY THE FIRE ✔

12. A COSY WINTER PICNIC ✔

13. A WINTERY WALK IN THE SNOW ✔

14. TRY A SWEDISH LUSSEKATT ✔

Now we are sure you know all about the Swedish tradition of eating cinnamon buns, but you may not know that as Christmas approaches this sweet and comforting bun is replaced by something a little more unusual – the Swedish Lussekatt or saffron bun. Made in much the same way as cinnamon buns, the saffron bun is packed with festive flavour and garnished with raisins.

Scandinavian lifestyle ideas that you need to try this winter - baking lussekatt - here you see the Dots porcelain from Scandi Living.
Scandi LivingDots mug 35 cl 4-pack
$34.50$69

15. LIGHT A CANDLE FOR THE FIRST OF ADVENT ✔

The countdown to Christmas starts on the first Sunday of December here in Sweden. It is common for a candle to be lit on the first of advent and subsequently a further three lit each Sunday leading up to the big day.

Scandinavian lifestyle things for you to try this winter - light a candle for advent. Here you see the Luna advent candle from Applicata.
ApplicataLuna candleholder
$179

Photography: Angeliqa Daldorph, Elof Martinsson

Rebecca Sparling
Writer

TRY MORE SCANDINAVIAN THINGS THIS WINTER

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