On Tuesday, March 4, it’s time for fettisdagen – a beloved Swedish tradition celebrating the iconic semla. This small, cardamom-flavoured wheat bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream has become a carb-packed favourite in Sweden.
The semla’s origins date back to Fettisdagen (Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday), a day when the buns were traditionally eaten as a final indulgence before the start of the Christian fasting period of Lent. Initially, a semla was simply a bun soaked in hot milk, known as “hetvägg.” Over time, as Swedes began to move away from the strict observance of Lent, they added almond paste and whipped cream, and thus, the semla became a popular treat enjoyed every Tuesday between Shrove Tuesday and Easter.
Source of information: The semla – a Swedish delicacy | sweden.se
Credits: Susanne Walström/imagebank.sweden.se
