Christmas in Sweden

For Swedes, Christmas is a family celebration focusing on delicious food and communication. Swedes rarely go out on Christmas Eve, even to church – they prefer to spend time at home with their loved ones.

While some Swedish Christmas traditions are modern, most date centuries and some were borrowed from Norse paganism.

Swedes value tradition and don’t take etiquette lightly, so you won’t come across any bizarre customs – a real Swedish Christmas is conventional, quiet, and merry.

Saint Lucia Day

December 13 in Sweden is celebrated as Saint Lucia Day. The custom counts over 400 years and is integral to the Swedish culture, like crayfish parties or midsummer celebrations. This day commemorates the martyr Saint Lucia of Syracuse.

According to legends, Lucia brought food to Christians hiding in Roman catacombs during the Diocletianic Prosecution of the fourth century. She was lighting her way with a candlelit wreath on her head.

The reason Saint Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13 lies in Norse paganism. December 13 was the shortest day of the year by the Julian calendar, and Norse pagans believed that the long night was full of dangers.

Staying awake during the night was paramount, and pagans used to light fires until morning to ward off evil spirits. Centuries later, the pagan festival of lights turned into Saint Lucia Day.

Swedes celebrate with a candlelit procession of girls dressed in white robes and singing Sankta Lucia. The parade takes place in churches, town halls, Swedish embassies worldwide, and even restaurants.

Advent Candles & Wreaths

The Christmas season in Sweden starts on the first Sunday of Advent, “Forsta Advent.” Every Sunday, Swedes light a candle in the Advent wreath, traditionally made from evergreen branches, pinecones, and seasonal berries.

However, some Swedes use old-style metal four-candle holders with star or heart cut-outs decorated with moss. Many Swedes read a prayer while lighting the candles, while others make fire and enjoy holiday foods with the family.

Advent calendars are popular among Swedish kids, featuring 24 small toys or treats, one for each day of the Advent season.

The Christmas Tree & Other Decorations

Swedes take holiday etiquette seriously and don’t rush to decorate the Christmas tree as soon as December arrives. Such an important tradition requires a special day, which is the third or fourth Sunday of Advent for most Swedes.

Decorating the Christmas tree on the third Sunday of Advent makes symbolic sense because the third Advent candle represents joy. On this day, Christians remember the joy the world experienced when Jesus was born.

However, many Swedes wait to put up a fragrant fir until Christmas Eve. The traditional Swedish Christmas tree is elegant and minimalist, often with handmade wooden ornaments and tiny woven baskets with nuts.

Tinsel and an abundance of baubles aren’t in favor among Swedes. Real candles are still widespread, but most households use string lights, often with vintage-style bulbs.

Swedes prefer natural firs to artificial ones, and many go to the forest searching for the perfect tree themselves. However, Swedes living in cities usually buy one from a local market.

Throughout December, Advent stars and candle bridges can be seen in every Swedish home’s windows. The stars can be made from paper or metal but always have ornate cut-outs.

The Yule goat is another traditional Swedish Christmas decoration. It originates from Norse paganism – according to Norse mythology, Thor’s chariot was drawn by goats. Nowadays, Swedes burn a straw goat at the end of the Christmas season to welcome spring.

Swedes share the love for straw ornaments hanging from the ceiling, known as himmeli, with Lithuanians, Finns, and Latvians. Kids usually decorate their rooms with tomten, Santa’s gnome-helpers.

Santa & His Tomten

Swedish Santa Claus goes under a name Jultomten and looks like a blend of Saint Nicholas and a garden gnome. Unlike Finland and Norway, Sweden doesn’t insist on being Santa’s motherland – Swedish kids believe that Santa lives in Lapland, and that’s it.

He delivers gifts with his helpers, tomten, on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. When the gift time arrives, a kind neighbor or family member would dress up as Jultomten and ask, “Are there any good children here?”.

However, the tradition varies from family to family – for example, some parents leave the gifts under the Christmas tree while kids don’t watch and say Santa was in a rush.

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets are a vital element of the holiday season in any Scandinavian country. But Christmas markets in Sweden aren’t all about shopping – it’s entertainment for the entire family.

Sweden’s oldest Christmas market is the Stortorgets Julmarknad in Stockholm, first held in 1837. The market isn’t particularly large but undoubtedly atmospheric, offering a variety of arts, crafts, and holiday foods in cozy wooden stalls.

Another Christmas market in Stockholm takes place at the Drottningholm Palace. Located on the western outskirts of the town, this market with a royal touch allows visitors to get familiar with a spectacular UNESCO-listed palace and walk in a scenic park.

The Liseberg Christmas Market in Gothenburg is considered Sweden’s largest Christmas market. Apart from shopping, market visitors can ride a Ferris wheel and skate on the ice rink.

Christmas market in Kosta, Smaland, hosts annual concerts with high-profile local artists. The region is known for its glassworks Kosta Boda, and the market visitors can witness glassblowing in action.

Gift Exchange

Swedes usually exchange gifts on Christmas Eve while enjoying the dessert. Only immediate family members are involved in the exchange, but everyone receives multiple gifts, even if they’re small.

Although Swedes have a reputation of reserved people, they always send Christmas cards to extended family members, old friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Swedish Christmas cards often feature traditional artworks with tomten, Yule goat, and wintery forests.

The gifts are always placed under the Christmas tree, never in stockings. Swedish children don’t leave food for Santa either.

Watching Old Disney Cartoons

A Swedish tradition that often surprises foreigners is watching Disney cartoons on Christmas Eve. And not just any Disney cartoon, but an old 1958 Walt Disney Presents Christmas special, “From All of Us to All of You.”

In Sweden, the special is known as Kalle Anka och Hans Vänner Onskar God Jul: “Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas.” It was first aired on national TV in 1959 and has since stuck as one of the favorite Christmas traditions of all Swedish kids.

The show includes episodes from the 30s, 40s, and 50s Cinderella, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and other famous Disney creations. Although it’s the same every year, it never gets boring. Most Swedes have it recorded on a DVD, CD, or flash drive.

Christmas Activities

Watching cartoons isn’t the only fun Swedish Christmas activity. Sweden has snowy winters, so many locals head to the mountains to ski or skate on one of the numerous city ice rinks.

Overall, Christmas for Swedes is a quiet time dedicated to family get-togethers. Swedes prefer to spend time away from phones and computers, strolling city streets with loved ones.

Most Swedes watch King Carl XVI Gustaf’s Christmas speech broadcast from the Royal Palace in Stockholm on Christmas Eve. The speech recalls significant events of the year and includes wishes to the nation.

Christmas Food in Sweden

Swedish Christmas dinner is always traditional and formal. People dress up even if they don’t plan to go out – men wear suits, and women take on their best dresses. The host serves food buffet-style, and everyone should try a little bit of everything.

The dinner begins with starters, including salted salmon with herb and olive oil sauce, pickled herring in mustard, dill, and red onion marinade, beetroot salad, crispbread with butter, and boiled potatoes.

Swedish Christmas ham is always cold, served in thin slices on crisp or rye bread. Then come the main entrees. Unlike Americans who only eat one main dish, Swedes have multiple, including small sausages, shrimp omelet, and meatballs – an all-time Swedish staple food.

Another must-have on the Swedish festive table is Janssons frestelse, a casserole with potatoes, onions, and anchovies. The most popular side dishes are mashed potatoes and carrot casserole.

Swedish Christmas desserts are numerous but don’t include a fruitcake so popular in other countries. Lussekatter, saffron buns with raisins, is the most traditional dessert, usually shaped like the letter “S.”

Another delicious treat is knäck, toffee caramel with crushed almonds. Swedes make knack themselves – it can’t be bought in stores. However, ready-made chocolates are also common.

Snaps are essential for every Swedish Christmas celebration, and people say, “skål!” (“cheers!”) every time before drinking it. Most Swedes combine snaps with beer.

Christmas Windows

Once the Advent season arrives, every Swedish store and restaurant sets up the Christmas window, known as “Julskyltningen.” The appearance of Christmas decorations in windows marks the official beginning of the festive season.

Swedes love to stroll the city streets, appreciating the effort locals put in creating a merry atmosphere. Some stores set up free coffee and gingerbread stalls or collect money for charity.