50+ Fascinating Facts About Living in Sweden You Probably Didn’t Know

If you’re an adult, you probably have a favorite spoon and fork in your silverware drawer. You might even have a butter knife at home that absolutely no one except you is allowed to use. In Sweden, however, there is no such thing as a personal butter knife—just the table butter knife.

The Smörkniv is a wooden or plastic utensil that’s used to smother butter all over your meal. However, you’re not allowed to place the Smörkniv on your plate; instead, you get a glop of butter with the Smörkniv and place it back on the butter dish. The Smörkniv goes around the table, so nobody can hog it for longer than they need to slather their plates in delicious fat.