Friday 6 April 2012

F is for Fredagsmys


When I visited Sweden for the first time, I was introduced to a relatively new Swedish tradition: Fredagsmys. The word 'Fredag' means Friday and 'mys' translates to cozy. Friday coziness.


The idea behind this, is that after a long week of hard work, Friday evenings are for sitting down with your family and friends, having some candy and watching a film together. In my little introvert eyes, it’s the perfect tradition, and Bjorn and I observe it almost religiously.


If you stop by around 4pm on a Friday afternoon, you will almost certainly find us putting on our comfy clothes, pulling various ice-cream tubs/bags of crisps/bags of mixed candy/masses of chocolate out of the cupboards and settling down in our little sofa-fort for an evening of snacking, giggling and watching Lord of the Rings marathons.

Fredagsmys has become so iconic in Sweden, that the word even made it into the dictionary in 2007.


In my opinion, this is more of a winter tradition than a summer one and there are many people who are actually against it, stating that it is unhealthy to spend your evenings in this way. I don’t really see the harm, personally. The Swedes are amongst the most active people, in my view. It is rare to take a walk and not see people running or hiking or doing bizarre sports involving wheels and walking poles. Our summer evenings are usually spent sat outdoors, dipping our toes in the lake or taking hazy walks around the forest, so why not dedicate one day a week during the winter to eat sugary foods and lounge around on the sofa? It is tradition, afterall!

So how about tonight? Will you be joining me for fredagsmys? Yes? Go now, up to your room and put on your pyjamas and then come down and crack open the ice-cream. Cozy, right?


(Pictures lovingly taken from here & here)

I'm sorry for not being able to visit all of you yesterday, these last couple of days have been unexpectedly busy and tonight I'm taking a very long train journey through Sweden, but I promise to come visit you all, as soon as possible! Thank you so much for your wonderful comments and support, you made me a very happy girl!

inspire nordic

44 comments:

  1. This is a superb tradition.

    I'm more and more convinced I might have to move - and I adore where we live now, so that's a big thing to say.

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  2. Enjoy your fredagsmys. Love the photos.

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  3. Ok, you've won me over with those puppy pics. Keep eating all that junk food young lady, and I could think of another 'F' to apply to your Fridays... tsk tsk.

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  4. Everything in moderation--if you only do that on Fridays then what's the harm? We all need time to relax.

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  5. Fredagsmys--what a nice tradition. I love the idea of it. Relaxing with family and food. I say boo to the naysayers--like Bethie said--in moderation. there is nothing wrong with 1 evening of relaxation. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Oh, I want one of those little critters! (less fattening than the candy)

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  7. Great post! I love this idea. I come home from university on a friday and me and my boyfriend do just this. We get comfy, get some treats usually some nice fizzy sweets, find a good film to watch and just relax. So I guess we were having a Fredagsmys without knowing!

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  8. I'd happily move to Sweden if this is the sort of traditions they have! Though I usually do this on a Friday night anyway lol!

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  9. Ooh that sounds like a lovely tradition! Forget Friday nights, I'd like to do it every night! I'm an introvert too, and I'd much rather stay in and relax than go out! :)

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  10. I didn't realize it was a tradition there. We try to do this once a week (the day has a tendency to vary).

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  11. A great tradition for sure. Another great tradition would be vigorous exercise on the other days. There is a long street in New Orleans where you will always see men in red shorts and white T-shirts jogging. They are Marines and every one looks fit.
    A friday fredagsmys (I assume the "G" is silent) is wonderful. I used to bake a pizza for it and my daughter would play scrabble with her neighbour and we'd watch tv.

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    1. The g isn't silent actually, but it's a hard word to say! That sounds like a lovely tradition!

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  12. Gee, I've been observing this tradition for over 2 decades without even knowing it!

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  13. Travel safe!

    Love this idea - and I think we're going to adopt it starting tonight :) Fun video!

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  14. Oh, I love a cozy Friday! It's like a little reward for all your hard work during the week :)

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  15. What a wonderful tradition! Fridays are big family days for us since my husband is off, and why not make Friday evenings about coziness. It does sound better suited for winter, but I can see gathering around a in the backyard summer evenings, with a beer or ice cream.

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    1. Ooh yes, that does sound lovely. I can't wait for warm summer evenings in the garden :)

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  16. Fredagsmys is a word I have to remember! i love fridays. It's that I can leave the office early and have the whole weekend ahead of me! Have a great Friday! Marcie from www.marciespostbox.blogspot.com

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  17. Sounds like a terrific tradition! Actually, without knowing about Fredagsmys I already had a similar tradition, a residue of the days The Voice was aired on Friday evenings. I stayed home for that show, and now my Friday evenings involve watching movies, a good glass of wine, some crisps or some cheese perhaps, and of course comfy clothes!

    P.S. I don't see the harm in it either.

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  18. OMG Nikki!
    i do loooove these amazing little sweet lovely pets!
    love too much animals!
    as usual i like your post!
    thanks for being one of my best comments maker::)
    happy easter!
    amy

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  19. It's the reverse here in the US--too much Fredagsmys and not enough going outdoors! But the idea is wonderful, balance is the key. As usual, your blog is creative, informative and very special.

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  20. Oh gosh! Those are really really cute! I want one too. :)
    A wonderful post as usual, Nikki. Have a great Friday!

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  21. this tradition is right up my family's alley--i hope it never goes away!

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  22. I like most evenings to be cozy! Be safe on your journey.

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  23. 4 p.m. can't get here fast enough! I am going to pretend to be Swedish every Friday from now on! Thanks!

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  24. We need some Fredagsmys here the the States. I feel like a guinea pig on a wheel. I think those Swedish guinea pigs have the right idea! Cute photos. Now for some icecream...

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  25. Oh, that sounds cozy and heartwarming. ~sigh~

    I got to travel from Harnosand (sorry, don't know how to put the little dots over the vowels) to Lund by train. Sweden is sooo gorgeous!

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  26. I love this tradition, I'm so going to start it. Great F post :)

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  27. My family does this during the winter months as well. Now I know the word for it! Fredagsmys... :)

    - Lauren @Word Art

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  28. Those cuddling puppies are so cute! And how perfect you can post about Fredagsmys this Friday, which just so happens to be the day for the letter F in Blogging A to Z!

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  29. Oh my word! I am definitely in love with this tradition, and am thinking I should apply it to my own life. Well, I suppose I already do... but now I know the word for it! :)

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  30. What an awesome tradition. For me, when Friday night rolls around, I need to get out of the house immediately!

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    1. I love the idea of reserving Fridays for family and vegging out on the sofa with snacks. Fredagmys sounds like it is an idea that should spread further than Sweden.

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  31. Wow, I can't even say that word. I keep trying but it gets stuck on my tongue. Anyway, I love the idea of that and those pic are so stinkin' cute!

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  32. My friends and I have put a Southern spin on Fredagmys and added blackberry cobbler to our ice cream. Also watching LOTR. It's a great story.

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  33. Happy Friday, Saturday and Easter! Hope you're having a wonderful(underbart?) trip!
    Thank you for visiting my blog!

    A to Z: http://skaypisms.blogspot.com/

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  34. What a wonderful tradition!

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  35. Sounds wonderful! If I'd read this post earlier in the day, then maybe I would've tried it instead of being at Walt Disney World tonight. I do wish I could do a similar tradition for Sunday afternoons after church in the morning. It's probably easiest for a society/culture to pick a same day to do this, because then there are no (or not many) conflicting expectations. Great post! Thanks for sharing!

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  36. I love this tradition and in fact my wife and I almost do this. Friday nights are usually movie nights for us. Sometimes I might have the candy, but usually not since we really aren't supposed to be eating candy. But cozy on the couch with a movie is nice.


    Lee
    A Few Words
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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  37. Sounds like the best traditions ever! it wouold be so much better, instead of teenagers going out and getting drunk all the time.

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  38. Probably one of the best posts I've read re: Friday. Thx. for sharing. :)

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  39. What an awesome tradition! There is no doubt I'd actively participate if I lived in Sweden. Especially since there's candy involved... and cute puppies! :) Once again, I loooove your pictures!
    Have a great weekend!!

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  40. What a cool tradition! Sweden is so awesome. I wish we could adapt some of those traditions here in Canada! ;)

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  41. this is so heart warming! way too cute.

    -kim
    found the route

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