The Swedish Art of Fika
Fika (fee-ka) is difficult to translate in English because while the literal meaning is a coffee break, it is so much more than that. Fika is the intentional act of taking a pause and enjoying life. It’s an opportunity to slow down, connect and catch up with friends or peers at work .
“To truly fika requires a commitment to making time for a break in your day, the creation of a magical moment i the midst of routine and the mundane,” authors Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall write in their book Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break.
This is one of the traditions I miss most not living in Sweden. When I worked as a dentist in Stockholm, one of my favorite parts of the workday was taking a scheduled FIKA to gather with my co-workers in the designated “fika room” at the clinic for a cup of tea or coffee. On special occasions we would bring in homemade treats like these decadent Swedish Cinnamon buns (Kanelbullar).
I still take Fika breaks today and have passed this daily ritual on to my children and grandchildren. Sometimes I even schedule virtual fikas to catch up with friends back home over zoom. Though this usually means a very early fika for me or a very late one for them due to the time change - no matter the time, I’m grateful for the opportunity and reminder about what’s important.
Establishing a daily fika ritual brings a welcoming and calming rhythm to the day. Having scheduled breaks to look forward to and replenishing ourselves with much needed pick me up moment and relaxation is truly an act of self-care and team building at work places.
Fun fact: Over time there has been bans for the consumption of coffee in Sweden. It was considered a threat to the Swedish culture bringing this “French foreign custom” to “infecting our people”. Some say that the ban was motivaded by the European trade crisis. Since the last ban of coffee in 1822 the consumption has risen and Sweden is one of the top countries consuming coffee in the world!