Here is an article in Norwegian that goes a bit deeper into the grotesque history behind the tradition of saturday sweets:
https://www.nrk.no/kultur/xl/lordagsgodt-er-typisk-norsk-og-...
Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
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Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#12The same concept exists in Danish (lørdagsslik), and I had no idea it had such a dark history. 1959 is surprisingly recent for conducting medical experiments on people without their informed consent - one of the most horrifying things imaginable, in my opinion.
I can highly recommend the radio documentary https://www.sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/vipeholmsanstalten-min-... it's horrifying (in Swedish of course but hopefully more understandable to a Dane than Danish [to my own detriment and sorrow] is to us Swedes).
Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#13[deleted]
Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#14This is mostly a historic thing. Kids and adults alike today in Scandinavia eat candy whenever they like it. Popular stuff today include - extra large energy drinks (65 cl) - candy tasting vapes and snus
I would say that restricting kids to having candy on Saturday or special occasions is still very common in Sweden and Norway. I would expect reactions from other parents if a parent said they let their kids eat candy any day.
Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#15Interesting how well known Sweden seems to be in the world for its population; many countries with way more people but not popular like Sweden. I learned Swedish because I think its cool. Would love to learn other languages with even more speakers but Sweden has so much media and resources it's so easy.
They’ve got good jeans! Sorry just joking. They were big proponents of Eugenics before Hitler found out about it. But let’s be honest, a land of blondes is much more likely to be given media attention. Just like a war in Ukraine is a lot more talked about than a war in Sudan or Yemen. At least in the Western world.
Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#16Big in denmark too. My parents always used it as a way to regulate our candy-intake, by postponing all candy until the weekend, so i’m surprised to read the intention was sort of the opposite. I’d also note that Scandinavia is big on “hygge” and being home (unlike countries with warmer climates) and weekend snacks and sweets are an obvious way to make the experience comfy.
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Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#17The intention was to prevent tooth decay by regulating candy intake. But it turns out that mandating a special weekly(!) day for candy consumption had the opposite effect. Children are naturally interested in things that are forbidden from them, and so when the restrictions are lifted they tend to eat large amounts of candy. Furthermore, restrictions and rules are not a good way of teaching moderation. Practices like Saturday candy facilitate an unhealthy relationship with food, which is why it's not longer a recommendation in Finland -- I'm not sure about the other Nordics.
Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#18This is mostly a historic thing. Kids and adults alike today in Scandinavia eat candy whenever they like it. Popular stuff today include - extra large energy drinks (65 cl) - candy tasting vapes and snus
Not at all. My wife and I, living in Sweden, are practicing it today with our kids (5 and 8 years old), and my impression is that most families around us do the same.
Energy drinks, vapes and snus might be popular among teenagers, but has there ever been a time when you have been able to control what teenagers do to any higher degree.
Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#19The intention was to prevent tooth decay by regulating candy intake. But it turns out that mandating a special weekly(!) day for candy consumption had the opposite effect. Children are naturally interested in things that are forbidden from them, and so when the restrictions are lifted they tend to eat large amounts of candy. Furthermore, restrictions and rules are not a good way of teaching moderation. Practices like…
Children are naturally interested in sweets! You don't need to make them forbidden for that. And just you are allowed to eat sweets only one day of the week doesn't mean that they are allowed to unlimited amounts of it, and, in my experience, interested to overeat it.
Why would it foster an unhealthy relationship with food to learn that some things are unhealthy and eaten only at special occasions? An unhealthy relationship with food would rather be to think that you can eat sweets whenever you feel for it.
Re: Lördagsgodis (Saturday Sweets)
#20This is one of the things I never understood about Nordic countries. Most of the people are so considerate about what they eat, good ingredients, nice compositions, making it look pretty as well.. ..and then they proceed to shove great amounts of that chemical sugary shit down their throats !
Using chemicals isn't always a bad thing, I wish people wasn't that scared when they see the word. It is sugary shit though, but Swedish candies are commonly made with natural ingredients, such as plant-based colorings, fruit juice concentrates, and fewer artificial dyes and additives