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Yesterday when I began to read Swedish Christmas I came away with not only questions but #teachingmoments for my family. I wanted to ask you a question this morning have you ever heard the word Fika? Have you or your friends or family ever done anything with #Fika??

I’ll be honest—I hadn’t really heard about it before reading Swedish Christmas: The Simple Gift of Togetherness, Tradition & Joy by Kortney Yasenka and Karen Johnson Yasenka. Then I asked Charlie and David and neither of them had heard of it either so I was allowed to teach them something new.

And now I’m thinking, why didn’t somebody teach me about this years ago? Because Fika isn’t complicated. It isn’t another activity you have to squeeze into an already busy day. It isn’t about making everything Pinterest-perfect. And it isn’t something you have to travel to Sweden to experience.

Fika is about pausing, enjoying something to eat and drink, and spending time together. And honestly, that sounds like something families could use a little more of. I wanted to share what Fika is with you? Fika is a Swedish tradition centered around taking a break and enjoying time together, often with coffee and something sweet to eat.

But calling it simply a “coffee break” doesn’t really tell the whole story. The important part is the pause. You stop what you’re doing. You sit down. You enjoy what you’re eating and drinking. And you spend a little time with the people around you. No, phones, just the people your with.

In a world where we’re constantly multitasking, answering messages, rushing to the next thing, or eating while doing something else, I think there is something pretty special about that idea. One thing I wanted to point out is Fika doesn’t have to be complicated

This is one of the things I really liked about learning about Fika. You don’t need an elaborate menu. You don’t need special dishes. You don’t need a fancy table. You don’t even need to spend much money. You just need your friends and family with you.

You could have Fika with:

• Coffee and a cinnamon bun
• Hot chocolate and cookies
• Tea and a slice of cake
• Lemonade and muffins
• Iced coffee and your favorite snack
• Whatever your family already enjoys

The food isn’t the whole point. The time together is. I thought I would share a #Homeschool #TeachingMoment that has been hiding in plain sight This is where my homeschool-teacher brain immediately kicked in. Imagine taking something as simple as Fika and turning it into a mini lesson.

You could learn where Sweden is on a map. Talk about Swedish culture. Learn a few Swedish words. Look up traditional Swedish foods. Try making Swedish cinnamon buns. Listen to Swedish music. Talk about how different cultures create traditions around food and family.

And then… Have your own Fika. That one little activity could touch geography, culture, history, cooking, reading, music, and family life. And nobody has to sit down and say, “Okay, children. It is time for your geography lesson.” Sometimes the best learning happens when we’re simply doing something together.

I’m already imagining sitting down with David and Charlie for Fika. Maybe we make something simple. Maybe we have coffee—or whatever everyone wants to drink. Maybe there are cookies or cinnamon buns on the table. And then we just sit. No rushing. No trying to accomplish five other things. Just talking.

I can already picture the looks I would get from David and Charlie if I announced: “We’re having Fika.” And then like Lucy I’d have to explain what Fika actually is! But that’s okay. Because learning something new about other Cultures together can become part of the fun.

One thing I especially appreciate is that you don’t have to copy someone else’s tradition perfectly. You can learn what Fika means in Swedish culture and then find a way for it to fit your own family. That is what I would like to do with my family and Charlie’s mom.

Maybe your family chooses Saturday afternoon. Maybe you have Fika after homeschooling. Maybe it’s a Sunday afternoon tradition. Maybe it’s once a month. Maybe it becomes something you do when someone in the family needs a little extra time together. And maybe your Fika doesn’t involve coffee at all.

That’s okay. The point is creating a little space to slow down and be together.

What Could You Serve? If you want to explore the Swedish side of Fika, this can become another fun learning adventure.

The Swedish Christmas book introduced me to treats such as:

• Kanelbullar — Swedish cinnamon buns
• Kladdkaka — a sticky chocolate cake
• Chocolate balls
• Cookies and other traditional baked goods
• Prinsesstårta — Swedish princess cake

That last one immediately made me think of Suzanne. A beautiful princess cake would have been something she would have loved. And that’s another thing food can do. It doesn’t just fill our stomachs. Sometimes it connects us to people, memories, places, and stories.

Now, I have a Fika challenge for your family: If you want to try it? Keep it simple.

Step 1: Pick a day.– Choose a day when you don’t have to rush. Step 2: Choose a treat: Bake something, buy something, or use something you already have. Step 3: Choose a drink: Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, lemonade, iced coffee—whatever works for your family. Step 4: Put the phones down: This might be the hardest part! Step 5: Sit together: Talk. Laugh. Tell stories. Ask questions. Enjoy the food. And don’t worry about accomplishing anything.

The togetherness is the accomplishment.

Questions to Ask During Fika: If you’re using Fika as a homeschool or family-learning activity, try asking:

• What did we learn about Sweden today?
• What Swedish food would you like to try?
• What is one family tradition you really enjoy?
• What is something we could make into a new family tradition?
• What is something that made you laugh this week?
• What is something you are thankful for?

That last question feels especially appropriate around our house. After all, Greatful Moments is all about being Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

The more I think about Fika, the more I realize that this isn’t really about coffee or cinnamon buns. It’s about giving ourselves permission to stop. To notice the people sitting across the table. To enjoy the smell of something baking. To laugh at something silly.

To talk about what we’re learning. To remember people we love. To make memories without having to spend a lot of money. And maybe that’s why this little Swedish tradition caught my attention. Sometimes a teaching moment doesn’t need a worksheet. Sometimes it needs a table, something good to eat, and people you love sitting around it.

So, yes… I’m going to try Fika. And if David and Charlie look at me like I’ve completely lost my mind when I announce that we’re having a Swedish Fika break? Well… that’s probably going to become part of the family story, too. Which is how new memories are created.

Now, I have a question for you. Have you ever had Fika? Before reading about it in Swedish Christmas, I didn’t know much about Fika. Now I’m curious. Is there already something your family does that feels a little like Fika? I’d love to hear about it. Sometimes the best traditions are the simple ones we make room for.

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed

GreatfulMoments.com

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates