The next time you visit IKEA and stop for a plate of their delicious meatballs, remember that, as it turns out, they're not Swedish at all, despite the lingonberry dressing. They were born in Turkey.
And that's official: it was acknowledged in a tween on the Swedish government's official Twitter account, which also pointed out that other Swedish traditions, including stuffed cabbage and coffee are Turkish imports, brought home by King Charles XII, who had grown fond of them during his five years of exile in Ottoman-ruled 18th-century Moldova.
While most of the world has reacted with amusement to the story, and Turkey with glee, it's been hard on at least some Swedes. Örjan Johansson, this week's official curator of the @Sweden account posted this:
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