The sandwich serves both as an appetizer or as a main dish. Generally, the amount of shrimp on the sandwich tells quite a bit about the standard of the restaurant.

Later during the fall season, it’s also popular to make apple pie this way. The pie is preferably served warm with whipped cream or custard.

It’s supposed to only be eaten on “fettisdagen”, but nowadays it’s so popular it’s available in bakeries from the end of Christmas throughout March.

Bakeries have in the past years also begun to make new interpretations of this classic, adding chocolate or nuts or serving them as wraps. 

Around half of the country's population actively take part in one form of a sport or two. As with most European countries, football is almost like a religion to the Swedish public. Some of the best football players in the world are from Sweden such as Johan Elmander, Rasmus Elm, and Zlatan Ibrahimović.

And, in fact, often the evening before eclipses the celebration itself, with Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Midsummer Eve being some of Sweden’s most important holidays.

In addition, there are several food-focused Swedish traditions that take place throughout the year, such as Waffle Day in March (yep, people just eat waffles) and the many surströmmingsskivor (pickled herring parties) that take place in August. These fun events may not be official public holidays, but are celebrated with gusto nonetheless.

Presents are opened on Christmas Eve and risgrynsgröt is often served too, rice porridge with an almond in it – tradition says that the person who finds the almond will get married within the year.