Advent – and how to survive December in Sweden.The word Advent simply means arrival, it heralds the Christmas season and is celebrated during the four Sundays before Christmas. In Sweden, it is tradition during Advent to light a candle every Sunday.
Contents
How is Advent celebrated in Sweden?
Sweden loves Christmas.Advent is celebrated every Sunday, beginning four weeks before Christmas, and most traditionally, a candle is lit for each Sunday that has passed. On the fourth Sunday, either before or after Christmas Eve, all candles have been lit and the wait is over.
What are 3 Christmas traditions in Sweden?
On Christmas Eve, or Julafton, Swedes celebrating Christmas attend church services. They return home to a traditional family dinner including a buffet dinner (smörgåsbord) with ham, pork, or fish, and a variety of sweets. After the festive Christmas Eve dinner, someone dresses up as Tomte.
Why is the star hung in windows during Advent in Sweden?
Another popular tradition is to hang a paper star in the window. Originally a German tradition, this has caught on in Sweden too. The star symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. Lights in windows are all very well.
What does Sweden celebrate instead of Christmas?
Around Christmas time in Sweden, one of the biggest celebrations is St. Lucia’s Day (or St. Lucy’s Day) on December 13th. The celebration comes from stories that were told by Monks who first brought Christianity to Sweden.
What do Swedes eat on Christmas Eve?
6. The Main Meal Is Served Buffet-Style. You may be familiar with the Swedish concept of smorgasbord, and on Christmas Eve Swedes celebrate with a julbord. Fish features heavily (smoked salmon, pickled herring and lye-fish), plus ham, sausages, ribs, cabbage, potatoes and of course, meatballs.
What do Swedes eat on Christmas Day?
Christmas presents are under the lighted tree, candles shine brightly and the smorgasbord (or smörgåsbord, as it’s written in Swedish) has been prepared with all the classic dishes: Christmas ham, pork sausage, an egg and anchovy mixture (gubbröra), herring salad, pickled herring, home-made liver pâté, wort-flavoured
What does Santa look like in Sweden?
Jultomten is often depicted as a corpulent figure with red clothes and a long white beard, similar to, but not the same as, the US image of Santa Claus popularised by the Coca Cola commercials of the 1930s.
What are 5 interesting facts about Sweden?
What are 5 interesting facts about Sweden?
- Swedes have a whopping 480 paid parental days off.
- Sweden is the 4th largest country in Europe by land area.
- Same sex relationships have been legalised since 1944.
- Sweden is the 6th oldest country in Europe.
- North Korea has an unpaid 2.7 billion SEK debt to Sweden.
What does Sweden call Santa?
Christmas in Sweden: The tomte, Sweden’s version of Santa Claus, is a scary gnome.
Which Advent candle is which?
The first candle of the Advent wreath, the prophecy candle, or candle of hope, is purple. The second is called the Bethlehem candle, or the candle of preparation, and it is also purple. Likewise, the fourth Advent candle color is purple. It’s called the angel candle, or the candle of love.
How do Swedes say Merry Christmas?
god jul!
You may already know the Swedish holiday greetings god jul! (Merry Christmas!) and gott nytt år!
What are Swedish traditions?
Swedes don’t miss any opportunity to celebrate their traditions. The five most common ones are Easter, the Swedish National Day, midsummer, the crayfish party and Christmas.
What Is Swedish culture?
The Culture of Sweden
One of the key characteristics of Swedish culture is that Swedes are egalitarian in nature, humble and find boasting absolutely unacceptable. In many ways, Swedes prefer to listen to others as opposed to ensuring that their own voice is heard. When speaking, Swedes speak softly and calmly.
What is on a Swedish smorgasbord?
The Swedish smörgåsbord (literally “buttered table”) is a massive all-you-can-eat buffet where you can sample almost anything under the midnight sun, from heaving plates of fish and seafood – pickled, curried, fried or cured – to a dizzying assortment of eggs, breads, cheeses, salads, pâtés, terrines and cold cuts, and
Why do Swedes celebrate Halloween?
Halloween in Sweden – the origins
Samhain was a Celtic harvest festival marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter labours. That night was regarded as a magical time of transition, when the dead called on the living and various supernatural creatures were afoot.
Do Swedes eat turkey?
Swedes don’t go in for turkey and Christmas pudding at Christmas, instead they have a julbord (Christmas buffet). It is a big elaborate affair and is much loved by Swedes.
What do Swedish people drink at Christmas?
Glögg
Glögg is probably the most common Swedish Christmas drink. You can find it in any supermarket (there with only a few percent alcohol) or in the state owned alcohol store Systembolaget (if you want to go for the proper version with around 10% of alcohol). Glögg tastes like sweet wine.
What flag is Sweden?
The flag of Sweden (Swedish: Sveriges flagga) consists of a yellow or gold Nordic cross (i.e. a horizontal cross extending to the edges, with the crossbar closer to the hoist than the fly) on a field of light blue.
Flag of Sweden.
| Variant flag of Kingdom of Sweden | |
| Use | War flag and naval ensign |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
Is Christmas big in Sweden?
Facts About Christmas In Sweden
The biggest and most celebrated feast is usually held on Christmas Eve. Although traditionally it is a family affair, nowadays these feasts have grown bigger and taken the shape of open food markets and stalls for everyone to feel an equal part of the festivities.
What are Swedish elves called?
What are gnomes in Sweden? Swedish gnomes are small elf-like creatures that often lived around houses and in barns, according to legend. The Tomte is fond of caring for children, and if you befriended one of these creatures, then they would help to protect you against misfortune.
