You might have heard strange rumors that everybody in Sweden drinks milk. Even adults. This is actually true. We have cow milk drinkers, soja milk drinkers, rice milk drinkers, oat milk drinkers and many more as well. Most students drink milk with their school lunches, and for the students who are lacto-intolerant there are special alternatives as well. The Swedish word for milk is MJÖLK, not to be confused with the Swedish word mjöl which means flour.

People grow up with milk, from the time they were toddlers they just keep on drinking it, even when they move away from home and have their own family. But not only is drinking milk a part of Swedish culture, the whole idea of cows and farmers is quite an important part of elementary school.

Many classes get taken on tours of cow farms, they get to make their own cheese and butter as well as learning about how the cow works. Fun facts about the members of the cow family as well as how cows have four stomachs.

Dairy companies have worked very hard to engage the Swedish population in milk. Lots of events are organized in the springtime when the cows get let out to graze. In Swedish that is called Kosläppet. Cow in Swedish is called ko and släppa ut means to let out. The dairy companies give out free glasses of milk and sometimes even free cinnamon buns. All through may these kosläpp take place.

It isn’t uncommon for the back of milk cartons to be very educative, with themes of everything from outer space to 3 signs that spring is coming. The following pictures are of some of the milk cartons this spring. Practice that Swedish!