Saturday candy: Sweden’s candy tradition only on Saturday
Tegsveden Deveaux says that many Swedish parents believe that giving children pocket money from an early age also helps to prepare them for the budget with study scholarships and loans if they continue to study or spend their first salaries after high school. Swedes usually leave their family home at the age of only 18 or 19, earlier than most Europeans.
“Young Swedes … They have to take care of themselves fairly quickly, even if they get a lot of subsidies from the state and student loans,” Fernández agrees. “It’s a huge difference [to some countries]. For example, when I studied abroad in Spain, if I compare it with that, I saw that many of my peers still live at home, are still supported by their parents and still after university, still live at home. ”
The future of Saturday candy
Regardless of whether children are taught to budget with coins and banknotes or bank transfers and apps, there is little debate in Sweden about whether the Saturday candy trend will continue or not – even if Sweden is increasingly moving towards a cashless society and not digital wallets.
“I think the tradition will continue that children spend their first contributions on sweets … I do not see that changing,” Fernández claims.
However, he points out that it is becoming increasingly common to enjoy carbon dioxide or foam bananas on weekdays as well, with national data suggesting consumption of chocolate and confectionery has increased steadily In recent years. “People can start eating more [sweets] during the week, but they will still not release the traditional Saturday candy, Deveaux says. “It’s really deeply rooted.”
On Liljeholmen’s cobblestone, 38-year-old Hanna Sjöberg rushes back from the shops to take the tram with her partner and their eight-year-old daughter. But she answers quickly when she is asked if her family embraces Saturday candy every week. “Yes. Otherwise there would be many tears!”