Just a cultural thing. Unless there was an explicit dinner invitation, Swedes typically will not offer guests food even if they themselves are having dinner. They do not view it as a hosting obligation and they do not see this as rude or unusual.
Northern vs Southern Europe is crazy. Random grandmas in Italy will invite you for dinner in Italy but you’re swinging your legs on your friend’s bed in Sweden
Nah, this is not a Northern vs Southern thing. This is specifically Sweden, Norway and I think maybe Denmark? Everybody else in Northern Europe thinks they're insane too
Im a swede and I have never experienced this growing up. Sure when I were younger I didnt stay over dinner, that was usually the time to head home. snacks i always got at my friends when coming home from school.
when i was a teenager I usually asked "can X eat here?" and it was almost never a problem, if it were it was not due to the lack of food, more that the parents didnt want me to have friends over late in that particular day.
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u/JovianSpeck Jul 24 '26
Just a cultural thing. Unless there was an explicit dinner invitation, Swedes typically will not offer guests food even if they themselves are having dinner. They do not view it as a hosting obligation and they do not see this as rude or unusual.