10 SWEDISH UNWRITTEN RULES 

I really wish more people practiced the rule of leaving before entering >.

you forgot Never take the last piece of food!! Sooooo important

Same rules are in Finland with the addition "no small talk". If you say "how are you doing" we answer by telling how we are doing. The queue cutting rule actually comes from the first rule, you are no special and queues are always equal. Also it means that service you are getting should be same no matter who you are, which means you do NOT tip. I love that first rule, you can be rich as f and still have to behave just like everyone else. It should not be a virtue of acting like a douche just because one can afford to do so.

Same unwritten rules goes here in Finland plus here is 10 more: 11) Take off your shoes when you step into someones private home. Never break this rule even if out of politeness you are advised to 12) Don't just go to someones door if you haven't called earlier to tell that you are coming for a visit, no matter how good friends you are 13) If you make a promise, keep it. As simple as that 14) If you go to elevator and it is half full, after stepping in, turn around so that you are facing the elevator door 15) If one person in group doesn't speak Finnish then everybody speaks English 16) If person is on their vacation, don't call and disturb them no matter what 17) Don't jaywalk. But if you do, feel criminal and try to see if there's any police around 18a) When visiting someone, don't take the last piece of sweets/food placed on the table for you to freely take. If you do, it means that there was not plenty enough food 18b) On the other hand, eat all the food that you take and don't leave any food on your plate. If you do, it means you couldn't eat it since it was so horrible 18c) If someone brings a big birthday cake or similar, don't panic. You are not supposed to finish it all at one sitting. People will eat it on the following day too (rule 18a applies here) 19) Don't small talk if you are not really interested to hear. If you ask a Finnish person how are them, expect to hear anything from health problems to bad relationships, whatever is going on their life at that moment 20) Don't buy rounds at the bar. Or if you do, be prepared that your Finnish friends will not return the favor next time, they just wonder how friendly and probably wealthy you are

Might as well rename this to "10 Scandinavian unwritten rules" ALL of these apply to norway as well.

This is definitely my kind of place lol

No, those are general rules of being a decent human being...

I'm moving to Sweden in august for higher studies :D this helped a lot! thanks!

I live in Latvia and all these rules are comparable to my country too.. :) and yesss... DON'T WEAR OUTDOOR SHOES AT HOME, we use home slippers or just socks :)

OMG, I am Swedish-American and just laughed at this because I have been observing those rules and didn't even know it. Of course being 100% and growing up in a Swedish home here in America probably had something to do with it.

I've finally found a perfect place for myself! Every rule you mentioned is something I agree with. I need to move 😁

Always take off your shoes when inside someones home. Also if public transportation are half full try to not sit next to others but in rush hour you can sit next to others without getting frowned upon

I was born and raised in Hong Kong yet I have a pretty Swedish personality🤣

Fantastic! I wish people in all countries followed those. I would add: "NEVER, EVER make other people listen to the kind of music you like, when on public places, transportation, etc.". In some countries, people use their phones or even bring their stereos and everybody has to listen to their music and noise.

This is so accurate, herregud hahahha

I'm from Minnesota.Noweigian decent.All of this makes sense but around here everybody always looks you in the eyes.Somebody that don't look you in the eyes is weird or up to something no good.

then i think i am swedish :D

Det värsta jag vet är när människor tränger sig in i tågen innan man ens hunnit ta sig ut.. OCH när någon försöker tränga sig före i kö.. Woop vad arg jag blir 😂 Då säger jag alltid till Hahaha

All the rules also apply for Japan, except the hugs - no hugs EVER in Japan! I heard that you people from Scandinavian countries also take off your shoes before getting into home just like in Japan, is that true?

So true "keep your distance"😄. I couldnt explain the thing with the queues any better👍😂.

I have to disagree with two things. The "not looking in the eye in public places" is more of a thing in Stockholm and maybe other big cities. When I went there the first time I got chocked people never looked at you. I'm from a smaller town and and we look at each other. If I'm in the area near my home we also often smile and nod or say "hej". And I do only hug people I know and they seem to do the same. So not after the first time you meet but after you feel like you know each other. But there's no right and wrong here, just how you feel.

That's cool. In my country (Brasil) the people generally try to incentive other to be extroverts, so... If someone is introvert, hes weirdo. I would like to know if in the Sweden is the opposite. Where being extrovert is not the rule and if it is repressed.

Nice video, those rules are kinda common in a lot of country but some people don't know what the respect and the politeness mean. I went to Sweden during 1 day and I was really surprised by the calm and tranquility in this country. I love Scandinavians Countries ❤️

You've described SWISS people too, oh my God :D! Awesome how similar our unwritten rules are!

Most of them are global unwritten rules, all of them exist here in the Netherlands as well :P

I know this is an old video, but I disagree with: #2, Keep Your Distance. When standing in line at the grocery store, or queing to pay for something, everyone stands extremely close to each other. No one respects personal space. You can't back up or advance to create this space because then you would be physically touching someone else (they are that close). #4: Don't Not look People in the Eye when in Public Places. Maybe on public transportation, or in the bigger cities this applies, but everywhere else, everyone stares. And they don't speak, just stare. Up, down, all over the body, but they will not say anything!

Pretty much the same here in Seattle. Maybe because there is a long history of Scandinavians settling here.....well not so much recently, but in the late 1800's. There's a big Nordic Heritage Festival here every year. My mom's family was Swedish!

I love your beautiful country and wise people. Been learning the language for a year, it still sucks, but I'm finally gonna visit Stockholm in 2 weeks so I hope to get some practice :) Varma hälsningar från Polen!

Sverige och Finland är ganska lika ändå. Eller ska vi säga, väldigt lika haha...

I plan on going to Sweden for my senior year in highschool (I'm about to start my junior year) and this was so helpful!

Haha! and they say Poles are cold and reserved to strangers 😂

I'd argue that all the things you said are of basic common courtesy (maybe hot the hugging one) but I love the fact that Sweden actually enforces and applies them.

Hey! Just found out your channel and I'm really enjoying it, I love to meet new cultures. I'm brazilian and I've recently created an english speaking channel, i'm thinking about sharing a little about Brazil as well! Keep on with the videos 😊

Thank you for making these videos. I find them really funny and very informative.

You are hilarious and adorable. Thanks for the information. I am planning a move so this is helpful.

As an introvert, I can definitely relate to these rules.

Yep, Danes don't like bragging about anything either, but we are a proud people who values honesty and tells you what we think, even if you don't wanna hear it. ;)

These exact ten rules would apply here in Costa Rica as well, so I think they are pretty international.

Actually I look people in the eye when conversing or just passing by them - it makes easy to read their face and I smile as much as possible, it works - instant friends - sometimes...

I think I am slightly in love with you...................

first video i saw from your channel. i have an extremely good impression. ill watch the rest. ive been in sweden for 3 days in 2012. i liked stockholm, but that was not enough time to KNOW the people and the city.

Also at the till you put your products on the conveyor belt with the barcode up or facing the scanner. I learned that one

Thank you! Good sense of humor and factually informative!

Most of these apply to the United Kingdom, especially queues!

These rules apply 100% one to one in Minnesota , USA. Especially up north.

Except looking people in the eyes these are rules in Moscow, Russia too. Thank you, Nackagubben! Really nice advices to behave.

Y'all remember that sponge bob episode where squidward moves to a squid town or some shit where everything's perfect? that's how I imagine Sweden is lmao

Bullcrap!. Here's the real list. 1. Never ever speak to anyone you don't know. 2. Always talk shit about everyone else as soon as the person leave the room. 3. Yell, scream, pick fights as soon as you had at least 2 beers. 4. If you can't find 2 empty seats next to eachother on the public transportation, keep standing. 5. Live a secluded, isolated unsocial life and complain about it everyday on social media. 5. die lonely and regret everything you've done in life.

Lol...my swedish boyfriend had the totally same reaction as you mentioned abt the cut-in-line thing...😂😂

Det er meget præcis beskrivelse af tingenes tilstand i Danmark også! PRIVATLIV er NUMMER 1 på alle dagsorden når man bevæger sig rundt i det offentlige rum og man skal ikke kigge/tale/snakke med nogen. Det er farligt! Men sjov video, hvor jeg kunne genkende alle disse ting fra mit eget hverdagsliv :D

For me, I don't wait for everyone to leave the bus, because there's a door at the front of the bus and it's used to enter the bus while there are one or two doors used for those who wants to step out of the bus. But waiting for everyone to leave a train is a thing that everyone do, including me.

this is super similar to germany hahhaha i thought i would find out some new stuff but its basically like people should act in germany

I would say it's like this in all Scandinavian countries.

All applied exactly the same in Japan, except the handshake and hugging part. Here...you always bow. No handshake, no hugging.

Besides unwritten rules I think this is more like education , and the people that doesn’t do this , their parents haven’t teach them anything at home

you only hug people if you know the person

I am going to Sweden tommorow :) That was very helpful

Talking quietly on the phone is the rule which would be very nesesary in Poland... Unfortunately, I always have problems when I want to read a book in a subway... However, it's a very nice video. Greetings from Poland :)

I think I will move to sweden / YOU HAVE THE BEST CULTURE I EVER HEARD

1rst time: handshake, 2nd time: hug, 3rd time: fιsting

A lot of similarities with the Brits, especially the queueing one and the waiting for people to leave a train/subway etc

As a swede i do not know anyone that don’t have eye contact with all people at all times As you said, first meet handshake and after that always hug👍 applies to everyone😂 but sometimes we just say hi and do not do more🤔 The first rule though... you should not appear to think that you’re better than anyone else.. but you secretly think you are best in world!!😂

4 is semi correct. Moved from norrland to stockholm and this is really the case in stockholm. But not so much in my small hometown. So it applies to at least stockholm(ad faar as I know)

Oh! After I've seen this video and comment, and I think Scandinavian culture people can live in East Asia very well,like China,Korea,Japan,Taiwan and Hong Kong,especially Janpan. By the way, the hug rule is not work in East Asia, and before u doing anything to other people, u should ask politely and friendly.

Very charming. Yes, I did learn something today about Swedish culture and thank you very much! X

He forgot the 'tank you' rule. We always say thank you no matter what. For example when we buy something, the cashier say 'thank you' for getting the money and we we say 'thank you' when we get the stuff we just bought.

I am American and the only thing that I don't do here is the hugging thing.

This is the most swedish channel at the whole world

Also helpful for life in Seattle.

The first rule is actually beginning to disappear. It's finally OK to say that you're awesome xP

My dear friend in Lidingo did not tell me "Don't wear tennis shoes if you are over 18." I arrived at Arlanda with no real shoes, and spent a week getting identified as an American everywhere I went.

I really liked this video. Very useful and veryyyyy funny. I watch lots of videos on youtube and many of them are cool and I forget to press the like button but this one was great.

This "Janteloven (norwegian word)" is also in Norway

Moving to Lund next week and it sounds perfect for me

I am Swede af. But I am to damn lazy to stand up. So if i see a free seat. I will take it. Obviously i will look for a completely free seat, and if there's non, I will take the seat next to somebody.

Actually, in the nothern part of sweden we don´t hug people as they do in the south. When i went to university i had classmates from the southern parts of the country, and it was really awkward when they started hugging you all of a sudden for no appareant reason. Sooo...you probably shouldn´t do this since everyone might not be comfortable with it.

Thanks for the Top 10 Things To Do In Sweden! lol just kidding! 🇺🇸

Very helpful Nackagubben......

Swedish... Scandinavian... + Finnish... You know, growing up I used to think of these things as finnish.

Det är så kul att saker som att kolla någon i ögonen på busshållplatsen kan tolkas fel. Jag älskar Sverige.

Queues are religious 👍🏼 even while driving which is gorgeous. I love queues 😆

Sweden sounds like an awesome country.

Hate that hugging among strangers (as that was a totally weird thing to do when I grew up).

I live in Ireland and to me most of this is second nature. Don't brag (especially about how much money you make), be mindful of people's personal space, don't sit next to people on a bus or a train if there are free rows available elsewhere, queueing (although this doesn't really apply for buses in Dublin), and don't speak too loudly (unless you're in a pub where there are a lot of people drinking, you may have to shout to be heard in that setting). Especially keep your voice down on public transport (most people don't speak on public transport here). Also, while small talk is much more socially acceptable and encouraged in Ireland than in Sweden or Finland, don't randomly talk to strangers. We don't really do that here. Obviously there are differences, but there are lots of similarities in how we behave as far as I can see. 🇮🇪🇸🇪

11. Höger stå vänster gå. (Stand on the right side of the sidewalk or escalator whilst the left side is for walking.)

These social rules apply for Dutch people from the Netherlands as well.

Most of these apply in US as well but so many ignoramuses don't follow them.

Nice, I always knew I'm a swede in the heart... or maybe a norwegian. Though, I don't look people in the eyes anywhere, not only in public :D Love from Russia.

I really wish America was more like Sweden. So many people here invade your space and aren’t even aware of it. It’s definitely anxiety provoking also tons of people will talk loudly on their phones in public places or on transportation. Some people even bring speakers to beaches and play their music on a quiet beach surrounded by other people like they’re the only ones in the world and don’t have a care about anyone else’s comfort or quiet enjoyment

Rule 5 applies to the NYC subway too ;) Funny video, thanks for posting.

My boyfriend is coming to visit me in the US from Sweden soon. This is definitely helpful. 😂

*Sits next to me on empty bus:* "So you have chosen death."

You should make a video that breaks these rules. The comedy ensues.

All of them apply to Poland as well, some of them aren't even unwritten. We literally do have some of this rule written in public places. The only thing that doesn't apply is the hug, we just shake hands or say "hello". You hug only ppl closer to you that you see every day like maybe some classmates, your family, SO etc.

Hhahaha yeah that's so true, I went to Stockholm the last summer and it was exactly like that, but people was so friendly in general. In Spain it is completely opposite. We aren't so "cordial"; we talk loudly, we sit where we want on public transport, we shout a lot when we talk, we laugh very loudly, we like the warmth of the people ...

Wow, det är fan sant. Jag har aldrig tänkt på såna regler innan!

11. Don't sit next to people in public transportation if there are other empty booths/seats.

I've been following all these rules all my life as an American. But I was born in Germany and spent formative years there, so maybe that makes a difference.

Very surprised to find Swedes and we, Japanese, share a lot in common!! Interesting!

So happy I found your channel