Christmas Traditions in Sweden
Christmas season in Sweden begins around the first Advent when homes, streets and shops get traditionally decorated in the colors and symbols of the holiday.
The 13th of December, St. Lucia Day, also known as the day of lights, is a very important holiday in Sweden. Tradition has it that St. Lucia protected Sweden from hunger and suffering. Since then, it is a day of celebration and parades in Sweden. Typical for this holiday is that the girls wear white robes and a crown of candles on their heads and the boys are also dressed in white. Normally the oldest daughter of the house takes this role.
As in other European countries, the freshly cut Christmas tree first gets put up and decorated on the 23rd of December. Christmas Eve is the most important day and is a day for the family to be together. When the evening approaches and it is dark outside, all enjoy a delicious buffet of fish, ham, potatoes and other goodies together . Later, the children anxiously await the arrival of Christmas Tomte (Swedish Father Christmas) with his helpers who bring them their gifts.
The 13th of January is the final day of the Christmas season. It is called St. Knut Day and is the day when the Christmas trees get taken down.
Christmas in Stockholm Find more information Christmas in Stockholm tells you about the Christmas celebration in the capitol city of Sweden.
Swedish Tomten Read here on Ashbee Design about this typical Swedish character and learn how to make one... or more of your own. ashbeedesign.com
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