Sweden’s Christmas traditions align closely with Scandinavian Christmas traditions in general, but are very different from those celebrated in other parts of the world. When planning your vacation trip to Sweden, it may be a good idea to familiarize yourself with Swedish customs while on vacation.
What what?
Before you get familiar with the customs, it might make sense to know how to say “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year” in Swedish. For “Christmas,” God Jul would say, if you are a native English speaker, you might recognize “good yule.” English and Swedish are related languages, both descended from the Germanic branch of the language tree. For ‘Happy New Year’, you would say, Och Ett Gott Nytt Ar.
Beginning of the Christmas season
In Sweden, Christmas begins with the annual Saint Lucia Day on December 13. The date commemorates Saint Lucia (or Lucia in the Scandinavian countries). The saint was a 3rd century martyr who brought food and aid to the Christians hiding in the catacombs by using a wreath of candles to light their way. His holiday once coincided with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, which is why his holiday has become the festival of Christmas light.
Usually the oldest girl in the family portrays Saint Lucia. He dons a white robe in the morning and is allowed to wear a wreath filled with candles. Personifying Saint Lucia, she serves her parents buns, cookies, coffee or mulled wine.
Christmas decorations
Christmas trees are usually installed no later than two days before Christmas. Common garnishes on the tree include ornaments, candles, apples, Swedish flags, little gnomes, tasseled hats, and straw ornaments. The houses are decorated in a seasonal spirit with gingerbread cookies, flowers such as julstjärna (poinsettia), red tulips and red or white amaryllis.
Good night
December 24, or Christmas Eve, is known as Julafton in Swedish. Christmas Eve is the main day that Swedes celebrate Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Swedish locals form processions to church with lit candles. For some, the traditional Christmas Eve dinner usually includes a smorgasbord or a Swedish Christmas buffet, with ham, pork or fish, as well as a variety of sweets.
A popular Christmas tradition in Sweden is to serve risgryngrot , a special rice porridge with an almond. Traditionally, the person who finds the almond can make a wish or is believed to be getting married next year.
Santa or Santa Claus?
After the festive Christmas Eve dinner, someone dresses up as Tomte. Tomte is a Christmas gnome who, according to Swedish myth, lives on a farm or in the forest. Tomte looks a bit like Santa Claus and gives gifts to the family while saying funny rhymes. Today, the westernized version of Christmas is quickly catching up with Sweden, and Tomte is starting to lose his original identity and look a lot like Santa Claus business figures.
End of the Christmas season
Christmas does not end in December for Swedes, but until January. The date of Epiphany, January 6, is recognized as a religious holiday in Sweden. It is also called trettondedag jul , or “yule of the 13th,” since January 6 is the 13th after Christmas Eve.
Rounding out the end of the holiday season is Hilarymas, also called Knut’s Day or Tjugondag Jul on January 13. Christmas trees are dismantled on this day, which is the “twentieth day,” the twentieth day after Christmas Eve. They eat candies and cookies that decorated the tree. The party held during this event is called Knut’s party. Knut, spelled canute in Danish, was the patron saint of Denmark who was assassinated and canonized for his efforts to protect Denmark from usurpers.
