"Fika" is a custom to meet friends and drink coffee, have some food and chat together. It has its ancestral roots in Sweden. But nowadays it tends to be popular all over the world.
We used to think that "Fika" means "coffee that has to be drunk with a pastry". But actually, this is not really true. All over Sweden, workers have to devote their time in the middle of the workday and put all their cases aside, in order to talk to someone and have a rest. And that what Swedish people call "Fika".
In English, the closest translation of "Fika" is "to drink coffee, eat sweets and chat".
This is a full-fledged part of the work schedule, as is checking an e-mail or fax.
"Fika tradition in Sweden is like a pub tradition in Ireland."
