You reeeeally downplay Smörgåstårta (pinnacle of any scandinavian festivity food imo) with this description. You have white bread with layered savory fillings - this is correct. But the contents should be like 40% shrimp, in what you call a Skagenröra or similar. And sallad leafs, cucumber slices, cold smoked salmon (very important), lemon slices and tomato. Lots of dill as well.

I promise it's the best.

I’ve never understood the hate. Beans on toast is the culinary equivalent of a grilled cheese and more nutritionally complete.

But bitterballen is honestly nothing to be proud of. I was at a dutch christmas bouffé once, and it was so bleak. Pea soup with prk, bitterballen, root vegetable mash. Barbaric.