This discussion delves into the cultural tradition of "Saturday candy" (lørdagsslik, lørdagsgodt, laugardagsnammi) in Scandinavia and its surprising origins, as well as the current consumption of energy drinks and vapes among Nordic youth.
The Tradition of "Saturday Candy" and Its Origins
A prominent theme is the widespread practice in Scandinavian countries of restricting children's candy consumption to Saturdays. Multiple users confirm this tradition in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
- NXPNsv, a Swedish parent, states, "As a swedish parent i see most parents still restrict kids candy only on Saturday."
- Black_knight echoes this, saying, "I would say that restricting kids to having candy on Saturday or special occasions is still very common in Sweden and Norway."
- Ma8ee offers a contrasting view from their personal experience, sharing, "We are practicing it with our kids (5 and 8 years old), and my impression is that most families around us do the same."
- Valdiorn notes the similar practice in Iceland: "Iceland has this too, Laugardagsnammi :)"
However, the discussion reveals a darker and counterintuitive history behind this tradition. The original intention was to limit sugar intake and prevent tooth decay by consolidating consumption into one day a week. Surprisingly, this policy proved ineffective and even counterproductive.
- Fleebee explains the original intent and its failure: "The 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."
- This sentiment is echoed by MrJagil, who was surprised by the underlying intention: "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."
The discussion also touches upon the ethical concerns related to historical experiments that may have informed these practices.
- Simonask expresses shock at the potential "dark history": "The same concept exists in Danish (lørdagsslik), and I had no idea it had such a dark history."
- Simonask elaborates on the timing: "1959 is surprisingly recent for conducting medical experiments on people without their informed consent - one of the most horrifying things imaginable, in my opinion."
- Tephra recommends a documentary for further insight: "I can highly recommend the radio documentary https://www.sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/vipeholmsanstalten-min-... it's horrifying (in Swedish of course...)"
- Web64 provides a link to a Norwegian article detailing the history: "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-..."
Modern Youth Consumption of Energy Drinks, Vapes, and Snus
Another significant theme is the modern consumption patterns of teenagers and young adults in Scandinavia, particularly concerning energy drinks, vapes, and snus, which are seen as a departure from or supplement to the traditional candy habits.
- Ma8ee notes the popularity of these items among older youth: "Energy drinks, vapes and snus might be popular among teenagers," but questions the ability of parents to control them.
- 0points initially brings this up as a contemporary trend: "Popular stuff today include - extra large energy drinks (65 cl) - candy tasting vapes and snus."
- NXPNsv, as a Swedish parent, contrasts this with their own experience: "And parents rarely give their kids sodas and never vapes. Perhaps my observation would differ if my kids were in their later teens…"
Perceptions of Nordic Health and Diet
A somewhat contrasting observation is made about the general perception of Nordic people's dietary habits, which are often seen as health-conscious, making their indulgence in sugary items notable.
- 4gotunameagain expresses this paradox: "This 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 !"
- Rasse offers a chemical perspective: "As a matter of fact, even the good ingredients are 100% chemical."
- NXPNsv offers a moderating view: "I think it mostly isn’t great amounts…"
Nordic Cultural Identity and International Perception
The discussion also touches on the international perception of Sweden and Nordic countries, and how specific cultural practices, like "Saturday candy," contribute to this image.
- Triyambakam notes Sweden's disproportionate international recognition despite its population: "Interesting how well known Sweden seems to be in the world for its population; many countries with way more people but not popular like Sweden."
- Brabel humorously speculates on reasons for this attention: "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."
- MrJagil connects "hygge" and staying home with the tradition of weekend treats: "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."
Nostalgia and Personal Experiences
The tradition evokes nostalgic memories for some, particularly concerning childhood experiences of choosing sweets.
- Valdiorn fondly recalls their childhood candy shopping: "I remember as a kid, I'd get 100 kronur (probably about $3 USD in today's money) on Saturday morning and go to the store to buy sweets. You'd meticulously choose which items to put in the bag to make sure you got the best value for money :)"
- Valdiorn humorously points out the size of the treats: "The pick n mix bars can get pretty huge: https://yummy-iceland.blogspot.com/2025/06/nammidagur.html"