Every year since 1988 Swedish Trade Organisation (Svensk handel) chooses a Christmas present of the year (årets julklapp) that somehow represents the current situation in the society. Last year (2019) it was a box for leaving your mobile phone out of your hands (Mobillåda) – symbolising how society is attached to the devices that we actually need an extra accessory to physically put it down. The year before that (2018) there were pre-owned goods – could have been anything from devices to clothes – no, we are not talking solely expensive vintage here but anything that is not new would have qualified.
Here is the list since I have lived in Sweden:
2011 – Meal-kit with everything for cooking dinner at home
2012 – Headphones
2013 – Juicer with the centrifuge
2014 – Bracelet tracking fitness activity
2015 – Robotic vacuum cleaner
2016 – VR-glasses
2017 – Electric bicycle
2018 – Pre-owned goods
2019 – Box for physically putting your phone down (mobillåda)
This year the speculation was that it is going to be a re-usable face mask – I was sceptical about it as Sweden has anti-mask position. Choosing portable stove makes total sense and takes whole COVID-situation to the new level. No matter how crazy it sounds to me, it is spot on. I believe Swedes never have spent that much time outdoors with each other then last 8 months.
The question is does buying a portable stove means that we accepted the situation as it is and there is no hope that life is going be “back to normal” any time soon? Dear Santa…
Work. Tri. Travel. 
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