About Fika

SHORT VERSION:

A break with coffee and pastry, fika is a reason to meet, socialize, and take a break. Fika can happen anywhere and everywhere. With fika, an occasion becomes just a little more special.

LONGER VERSION: 

Fika – the word
The word fika is believed to be an example of back slang, which means reversing the syllables of a word. Fika then was derived from kaffi, an earlier version of the Swedish word kaffe for coffee. Conveniently, the word fika works both as a noun and a verb.

Fika – about love actually
Swedes, who favour subtlety over overt and excessive display of emotion, have perfected the art of using fika as an emotional language and currency of care. This is why, after the terrorist attack of 9/11 in 2001, the Swedish Consul General’s invitation to all staff for fika was so powerful. No other gesture could have communicated his sympathy better.

Sure that an invitation for fika must not be declined, a young man of non-Swedish origin explained, “When someone invites you for fika, it is like they are opening their heart.” The average Swede would hardly have been as poetic, but had definitely agreed.

Fika is the Swedish way of being warm, caring and social.

Fika everywhere
Our fika training begins at home and often includes baking. As children we become ‘fika proficient’ just as we become fluent in Swedish. In both cases our proficiency is subconscious – something we simply know.

Fika in the workplace was introduced when someone discovered that coffee breaks at 11 am and 3 pm reduced the number of accidents in the factories. Fika breaks have since become an essential part of the day in most Swedish workplaces. So much so that retirees, when asked what they miss most about their professional lives, single out fika. Similarly, during the ongoing pandemic, when working at home, many have said that what they miss most is meeting their colleagues over fika.

Swedes fikar at cafes, too. But compared to fika at home or at work, this is not as important. 

Fika – a key to Sweden
When it is time for fika, everybody is expected to join. With this ground rule, fika automatically includes and integrates. Fika is equality in practice.

At fika we solve problems together, if not more sophisticated than deciding on a new coffee machine or discussing vacation plans. We learn to co-create and the result is a culture of cooperation.

At home and at work, fika provides a break, a sense of belonging, and a chance to care and being cared for. This way fika contributes to sustainable health and wellbeing.

Fika as a “no-agenda” space, where different people meet – an informal “incubator” of sorts -- could even explain, why Sweden ranks the second most innovative country worldwide

The best Swedish invention may be our social ritual fika!

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