What is #SwedenGate?

The #SwedenGate is trending on social media, with users clashing over the Swedish tradition of not serving food to guests, particularly children, in certain situations. What prompted the debate, and how have the Swedes responded? How has racism entered the conversation?

Best known for being one of the world’s happiest and most equitable countries, Sweden found itself at the heart of a heated online debate this week, with social media users clashing over the Swedish tradition of not serving food to guests, particularly children, in certain situations.

Dubbed ‘SwedenGate’, thousands of users have been sharing their personal encounters in Swedish households, with some Swedes defending the practice and explaining the logic behind it.

Before long, the conversation snowballed into something bigger as internet users started raising questions about imperialism, racism and Sweden’s colonial past.

The controversy began on the Reddit forum r/AskReddit, where a user asked: “What is the weirdest thing you had to do at someone else’s house because of their culture/religion?”

One response in particular stood out: “I remember going to my Swedish friend’s house. And while we were playing in his room, his mom yelled that dinner was ready. And check this. He told me to WAIT in his room while they ate,” a user wrote.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sweden-tradition-food-guests-debate-explained-7948457/

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