How to Celebrate a Swedish Christmas

Christmas in Sweden is a special time of year. Although the weather is cold and gloomy, people enjoy the holiday season and remain in good cheer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Christmas Gifts
• Advent Calendar
• Televisions
• Christmas Trees
• Candles
• Hams
• Candles

1. Remember Lucia on December 13. She was an Italian saint who was killed for her religious beliefs.

2. Attend a procession called "Lussetåg," which is led by someone dressed as Lucia. Known as the Queen of Light, she wears a white dress with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head.

3. Begin your celebrations with the start of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas. Light one candle every week to mark the coming of the holiday.

4. Watch television and listen to the radio to find out the theme of this year's Advent calendar. Have your children use the calendar to count down to Christmas.

5. Cut or buy a Christmas tree. Some families wait until just a few days before Christmas to decorate it.

6. Decorate your home with evergreens and with Christmas flowers such as poinsettia, tulips and hyacinth.

7. Plan your big celebration for the day of Christmas Eve.

8. Prepare a smorgasbord for your family that includes "Jul skinka" (Christmas ham), sweet-and-sour red cabbage, meatballs, "prinskorv" (small sausages) and "gravad lax" (salmon with dill).

9. Serve "Jul gröt," a Christmas porridge with one almond in the recipe. According to tradition, the person who gets the almond in his or her portion receives good luck for the coming year.

10. Make "glögg" - or "gluhwein" - a favorite Christmas treat of mulled wine. Serve it with pepper cookies (gingerbread biscuits).

11. Expect Tomten (Father Christmas) to arrive later in the afternoon with gifts for the kids. Each package will have a riddle attached, offering clues about the gift hidden inside.

12. Gather your children on January 6 for the Christmas tree plundering. They will dance around the tree as you take it down and throw it away.

Tips & Warnings

• Many families make it a tradition to watch the Donald Duck Christmas show or other classic Christmas programs on television on Christmas Eve.
• Sweden is a country with many cultural influences, so its Christmas traditions are sometimes diverse and cannot be generalized. The above steps represent a few examples of local traditions that may or may not be appropriate for your celebration.

Resources

• Santa Letter
• Christmas Recipes

[jillmaria]

on 9/1/2009 Is another tradition to light a carved candelabra in the window? I was given two by a Swedish friend and was told to turn them on in the window (or a Christmas star) as a Swedish tradition. Thanks for the article, 5 stars!!

[Tjejen]

on 12/16/2007 The name for the movie is "Dinner for one" in Swedish "Grevinnan och Betjänten" and the Original name (form Germany) "Der 90. Geburtstag oder Dinner for One"
Amazon.com has the movie, search under the German name.

I also wanted to add, reading the article, that Christmas last to January 13th, not the 6th.

God Jul och Gott Nytt År!!!!!

[dbvanhorn]

on 12/15/2006 can anyone tell me where, or what is the name of the B&W film that is shown on Swedish TV where the Butlter goes around the table assuming the character of the Dame's past lovers? Please write me [e-mail] I'm looking to obtain a copy for my family and friends this christmas!

Thanks!

[dbvanhorn]

on 12/15/2006 can anyone tell me where I can get a copy of the classic film about the Duchess/Dame and her Bulter who toasts her in character? I believe it was Swiss orginally?

please contact me at [e-mail]

tak i godt jul!

on 1/18/2006 Lefse, Hard Tak and Lutefisk are also essentials for that perfect Swedish holiday meal.