Gift Giving Etiquette in Scandinavia

Gift giving in Scandinavia runs on restraint. The instinct in much of the world is that a bigger, more expensive gift shows more affection — in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland it more often creates awkwardness. The underlying idea is lagom, the Swedish notion of “just the right amount,” and its cousin the Law of Jante, which holds that nobody should set themselves above anyone else. A gift that is thoughtful, modest and well chosen lands far better than one that is lavish.

In some of our past blogs, we’ve gone over traditions and folklore in Scandinavian culture. If you’d like to read those, then check out Scandinavian Traditions and Scandinavian Folklore Creatures. Both will enlighten you to Scandinavian culture. Due to the upcoming holidays, we’re going to go over Scandinavian gift giving. Whether you have friends, family members, or co-workers you’re planning to gift presents to, these tips will help you further understand hospitality and kindness in the Scandinavian countries. Keep in mind that we have a variety of Scandinavian gifts that you can purchase for your loved ones for Christmas or just to show that you care about someone.

Three Rules To Follow For Gift Giving In Scandinavia

As with many different cultures, there are rules to follow for gift giving in Scandinavia. Whether you’re abroad for a business trip or you have friends from Scandinavia who you’d like to make feel more at home, these tips for etiquette will help you further understand how to present someone from a different country with a gift. It’s important that when you’re overseas, or interacting with someone from a different culture, you’re respectful of their traditions — and with these tips you will be.

Personal Gift Giving

When you’re invited into the home of someone from Scandinavia, you’ll want to bring something with you. Customarily, you’ll want to gift them with liquor, wine, cake, flowers, or chocolate. This will show that you’re appreciative to be invited into his or her home. A fact you may not know is that Scandinavia is very child-friendly, so if you’re going to a home with children, then make sure to bring small gifts such as toys or candies.

Business Gift Giving

If you’re doing a business deal in Scandinavia, then you’ll want to know that exchanging gifts is something business associates seldom do in this part of the world. Even on holidays, it’s not expected to give gifts. If you haven’t received a gift first from your business associate in Scandinavia, then you aren’t expected to bring a gift in return. However, when you close a deal, then you can present your business associate with a gift, but it should be practical — a book about your country, or a nice fountain pen.

Special Occasion

When it comes to special occasions, you’ll want to gift your friend, family member, or business associate with something special. Hostess gifts are a must if you’re going to someone’s house for a meal or just to spend time together. Birthdays are also a time to give presents. Children celebrating another year will often get breakfast in bed from the whole family, who sing Happy Birthday around the bed. In Sweden, graduation is a major celebration as well. These are just some of the situations that call for a gift.

Don’t forget to check out what’s new in our store to ensure that you find the right gifts for your loved ones. We strive to offer everything you could need to celebrate in the Scandinavian manner.