‘Fredagsmys‘ is a typically-Swedish take on ‘Friday night in’ with friends and/or family. It’s a laid-back, no-fuss ‘grazing party’ sort of affair – a polemic contrast to the usual Friday night hustle-hassle of dressing up and going out…
The ‘event’ is based on the Swedish word for Friday – ‘Fredag’. It translates roughly as ‘Cozy Friday’, ‘Relaxed Friday’ or ‘Friday night in’, says Sofie Roos, a licensed sexologist, relationship therapist and author at Passionerad. “And it’s all about hanging out with our friends loved ones in a no-pressure atmosphere designed to help us recharge our emotional batteries after the usual mad dash through Christmas and New Year’s week.”
“There’s a sense of urgency to make the most of your time off from work,” Kiana Shelton, a licensed therapist with Mindpath Health observes. “In this digital age, the underlying message is that some-thing is wrong if you’re not busy traveling or spending time with loved ones.”
“Cosy Friday is the beginning of your weekend, you have a sense of freedom and you don’t have to think about the next day. It’s just a great start to the weekend,” Try Swedish tells us.
“Back in the 1950s, Sunday was the day Swedish families reserved for festive dinners. In the 1960s, celebrations became less formal and were moved to Saturday. […] Fast-forward to today, and Friday has become the family high point of the week in Sweden.”
More than 75 percent of Swedes say they gear down for Fredagsmys at least once a month…
What the Swedes do…
“During cold and dark months, Fredagsmys is a way for us Swedes to hang out in a warm and relaxed setting and stay connected with our loved ones even when we’re tired and drained of energy,” Roos explaines. “It’s a time when feeling good is prioritized over networking or being the best version of ourselves.”
“For me, Fredagsmys means turning on the fire at 6 pm, putting out thick wool blankets, and opening a bottle of wine,” says TikTokker Marta, the 34-year-old co-founder of a UK-based luxury holiday com-pany. Her Fredagsmys supper will focus on a simple main – an all-in-one dish such as pizza. Dessert is something sinful and seasonal, such as Mince Pie. Some Swedes celebrate the occasion as ‘Taco Friday’…
After supper, Marta says she likes to curl up in those blankets she deployed earlier and watch a movie or two. And graze on traditional Swedish go-to snacks.
Like many Swedes, Marta may invite a few friends over, but not a big crowd. She says small gather-ings are more conducive to a cozy ambience.
It’s all about FOMO…
“Social media has significantly increased people’s experience of the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), because pictures of happy gatherings are instantly posted, making viewers feel like they’re the only ones who are left out,” postulates Lienna Wilson, a licensed psychologist in New Jersey.
“We tend to place a lot of value on productivity and perfection, which can be very draining and easily result in burnout,” Wilson shares. “That’s why a tradition of slowing down in a low-pressure setting has become so appealing.”
My take
I really like the idea of Fredagsmys. It’s what’s been missing from the typical Western Society weekly cycle.
This year, the day after New Year’s falls on a Friday… What better opportunity to observe your inaug-ural Fredagsmys?
~ Maggie J.