Dala Horse

 

Dala Horse, contributed by Kristi Barnwell

Nothing says “Sweden” quite like a dala horse. Originally produced as children’s toys, the dala horse gained widespread popularity following the 1939 World’s Fair in New York (1). After this, the Dala horses were seen as a symbol of Sweden and mass production of the horses started.

When Kristi Barnwell went on her first international trip to Stockholm, Sweden, she picked up a dala horse to commemorate her travels. Kristi traveled to Sweden to first meet a friend who was studying abroad at the time in Sweden. Besides spending quality time with her friend, Kristi distinctly remembers how amazing the coffee shops in Stockholm were. 

1. “The story behind Dala horses,” byLeonilla. https://studyinsweden.se/blogs/2017/07/30/story-behind-dala-horses/.