What are some of your favorite cultural traditions you've encountered in your travels?

For me, when I was in Stockholm I learned about Fika.

Fika is a concept, a state of mind, an attitude and an important part of Swedish culture. Many Swedes consider that it is almost essential to make time for fika every day. It means making time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee (or tea) and a little something to eat. Fika is a ritual.

This is something my daughter and I continued doing in our daily lives. We have special Swedish dishes that we use for coffee and a sweet treat. Even now that we live far apart, we still meet for Fika on Zoom.

What are yours?

When I was on a (group) tour of Europe in 1974, I was feeling
punk one day so I stayed behind in my room while the rest
went sight-seeing.

We stayed at Cambridge University but I was feeling a little
better so I decided to explore the town. There were wee shops
everywhere and I went in them all.

I saw a beautiful pottery piece in a dusty old shop and had
to push on the door which rang the bell, though it seemed to be
empty but for me. I wandered about, ooing and aaing until I
found what I wanted.

Just then, out from behind a very small door, came this tiny
elderly woman and she was bearing a tea tray with all the fixings.
Raised LDS I had never had tea so I was most agreeable when she
pointed to a small table and 2 smaller chairs. The chat began.

The tea had cream and sugars and lemon and tiny scones..I was
totally enthralled..the time passed, no one else entered the shop.
It started to get dark so I said I wanted to buy the piece I found..
she said, 'Oh no, I can't sell that..'.

So I pointed out my 2nd choice, and once again she said she could
not sell that piece either, sentimental reasons she said. I was not
overly concerned as we had that wonderful tea and I was feeling great.
I thought, I will return tomorrow and see how persuasive I could be.

Which I did, the shop was still empty but the bell rang and out she
came, tea tray at hand. She told me everything about her life, she
was a widow and her children had talked her into the shop to try and
empty all their storage units.

The problem, of course, was that she could not bear to part with
anything..I just laughed and laughed the more she told me. It was
the very best part of the tour for me and I remember her so well.

That tea habit the Brits have, I just LUV it ;-)

Soufie! I was raised LDS, too! I have not been active in many years, but I understand where you're coming from, not having had tea growing up.

And I'm with you. I love the tradition of afternoon tea. I love all the pretty dishes and accoutrements, as well as scones and finger foods!

What a lovely story.

I was brought up on lemon tea and the first time I had tea with milk was when I moved to Scotland. The thought of having milk in my tea used to make me gag but it wasn’t long before it became the norm and I now enjoy it.

Oh yes, tea is the answer to all ails here. 🫖

Hi Delightful! Is tea time in Scotland the same as in England? Or does it vary a little?

I used to never put milk in my tea, but now I do put it in some types of tea.

Yes Bonnie, it’s the same all over UK.

When visitors call, it’s customary to ‘put the kettle on’ and get the biscuits (cookies) out

I love that! Okay, next time I'm in Scotland I'm gonna pop in on you and see if you put the kettle on and offer me biscuits! ;)

You’d be more than welcome but if you call unannounced you’ll not get the biscuits. I’d need to buy them in specially due to me being diabetic I don’t eat them myself.

So, what are the times? It seems to me the shop lady (who must have
put the kettle on when she saw me looking through her windows) served
at about 10am..then 'High' tea at 4pm? Something like that.
The Brits are so..homey with the tea thing, much admiration..and
delight ;-)

Time for tea is anytime you want. In workplaces tea breaks are usually 10am and 3 pm.

High tea is normally around 4pm ish.

Yep, the Brits are very much tea focussed hehe. I’m becoming more and more British

Do they tea up on their normal breaks or is there a special break
just for tea?

The Portuguese also have their built-in breaks, like August
hahahahaha when it is hot and daily at mid-day for hours.
No tea though..I think.

Just normal breaks where they drink tea/coffee

hahaha 'pretty dishes' we are SO girly ;-)

I teach in international schools around the world, and the teaching staff in each school is international. All the grades always have a morning snack/break. The British and Australian teachers always call it "tea". Which I always find amusing, since the kids are not actually drinking tea.

I love that kind of girly stuff! Chintz and lace are my cup of tea. (See what I did there?)