how do they celebrate christmas in scandinavia

Scandinavian Christmas Traditions

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How do they celebrate Christmas in Scandinavia?

• Enjoy a Christmas spa ib Tromsø.
• Gingerbread party in Bergen.
• Winter in Røros.
• Skiing and snow awaits in Sälen Photo: Skistar.

What Christmas traditions should I start?

More Popular Christmas Traditions

• Pajamas. Kids get a set of PJs on Christmas Eve. ...
• Christmas light tour. Popular on Christmas Eve. ...
• Candlelight service. Many churches celebrate the birth of Christ with a special service on Christmas Eve. ...
• Slumber party. Let all the kids sleep together in one room, or in front room. ...
• Caroling. ...
• Christmas movie. ...
• Go out to eat. ...

What are some Scandinavian traditions?

What’s special:

• The celebration of fertility is ofthen taken quiet literally
• (Mostly) women wear a decorative midsommar krans, midsummer wreath/flower crowns
• Dancing like small frogs around the midsummer pole (phallus symbol)

What are some Cool Christmas traditions?

Giving back traditions

1. Bring cookies to a fire station. – Bake some Christmas goodies and drop them off to your local firefighters.
2. Caroling at retirement home. – The folks who live in retirement or nursing homes absolutely love having visitors, especially when those visitors are entertaining!
3. Sponsor a child or family. ...
4. Special Christmas morning breakfast. ...

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How do they celebrate Christmas in Scandinavia?

Why is Christmas celebrated in Scandinavia?

What is the Scandinavian Christmas?

What is the drink of choice for Christmas in Scandinavia?

How long does Christmas last in Scandinavia?

What is the most popular alcohol drink in Scandinavia?

How many candles are on top of the Christmas tree?

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Do Scandinavian countries celebrate Christmas?

Although some Christmas traditions differ between Sweden, Norway, and Denmark – all three Scandinavian countries celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December. Their Nordic neighbor Finland also celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve.

What are 3 Christmas traditions in Sweden?

PureWow8 Swedish Holiday Traditions We Might Just Be Copying This Year. ... They Build Up The Anticipation. ... Decorations Are Subtle. ... Presents Are Handed Out After Dark. ... And They're Wrapped With A Rhyme. ... Everyone Watches The Same Tv Show Every Year. ... The Main Meal Is Served Buffet-style. ... Followed By Rice Pudding In The Evening.More items...•

What do Scandinavian people eat at Christmas?

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 ...

Why do Scandinavian countries celebrate Christmas on the 24th?

Christmas Eve (julaften) is the 24th, and is the main day of Christmas celebration in Norway. Because Norwegians believe that the arrival of Christmas coincides with the arrival of evil witches and other spirits, there is a tradition of hiding all the brooms in the house.

What is Santa Claus called in Sweden?

JultomtenJultomten (The Swedish version of Father Christmas)

What do Swedes do on Christmas Eve?

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.

What is Santa called in Scandinavia?

nisseDanes, Swedes and Norwegians base their Santa on a mythological figure – a gnome known as a “tomte” or “nisse” in the Scandinavian languages – whereas Finns, who are ethnically and linguistically a different people, know Santa as “joulupukki,” a Christmas buck or goat, derived from old pagan Norse mythology.

How long do Scandinavians celebrate Christmas?

The Holiday Lasts for 13 Days It is not uncommon in the Nordics to get two weeks—from December 24 to January 6—off from work for Christmas. Across the region, festivities last all the way to January 6, the day of the Epiphany, also called the Day of The Three Kings.

What is Scandinavian Christmas decor?

Scandinavian Christmas decorations are taken seriously across the region. While each country has slight variations in how they approach the decor, there's an overall focus on natural elements like wood, flowers, and greenery, as well as a lot of the classic colors such as red, green, gold, and silver.

Why does Christmas end on January 13th in Sweden?

But the Knut's Party (julgransplundringarna, literally, Christmas tree plundering) tradition may soon be as distant a memory as Christmas itself. St. Knut's Day, January 13th, traditionally marks the end of the holiday season in Sweden and is the day St. Knut helps to “drive Christmas away”.

What do Norwegians eat on Christmas Eve?

The most popular Christmas Eve dinner is the ribbe (pork ribs or pork belly, bone in), but lutefisk (cod cured in lye), pinnekjøtt (dry-cured ribs of lamb), boiled cod, ham roast and turkey are also common dishes.

What is the biggest Christmas celebration in Sweden?

The Feast of St. LucyThe main celebration and the exchange of gifts in many families takes place on Christmas Eve, December 24. The Feast of St. Lucy, a high point in the Swedish Christmas season, is celebrated during Advent, on December 13.

What is the biggest Christmas celebration in Sweden?

The Feast of St. LucyThe main celebration and the exchange of gifts in many families takes place on Christmas Eve, December 24. The Feast of St. Lucy, a high point in the Swedish Christmas season, is celebrated during Advent, on December 13.

What are traditions for Christmas?

Other traditional decorations include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels. Both the displaying of wreaths and candles in each window are a more traditional Christmas display.

What are some fun facts about Christmas in Sweden?

In Sweden, citizens enjoy a 'God Jul' or 'Merry Christmas' beginning on December 13 when they celebrate Saint Lucia's Day. Food is an important part of Swedish Christmas celebrations, and the jalbord is a buffet that includes a rice pudding dish with a hidden treat for one person.

How is Christmas celebrated in Sweden for kids?

Families in Sweden decorate Christmas trees. They often make straw ornaments to remind them of Jesus in his manger. Children open their presents on December 24. On Christmas Day, families go to church.

What is the Swedish Christmas?

The Swedish Christmas begins with Saint Lucia Day on December 13. Lucia was a third-century martyr who brought food to persecuted Christians in hiding. Usually, the eldest girl in the family portrays St. Lucia, putting on a white robe in the morning and wearing a crown of candles (or a safer substitute). She serves her parents buns and coffee or mulled wine.

How long does it take to celebrate Christmas in Finland?

Christmas in Finland is not just a one or two-day affair. Finns start wishing each other Hyvää Joulua, or "Merry Christmas," weeks before Christmas Day and continue to do so for nearly two weeks after the official holiday. If you are in Helsinki, then Aleksanterinkatu is the principal street for holiday festivities.

What is Santa Claus' name?

Santa Claus is known as Julemanden, which translates to "the Yule Man.". He is said to arrive on a sleigh drawn by reindeer with presents for the children. Julemanden is assisted with his Yuletide chores by elves known as julenisser, who are traditionally believed to live in places like attics and barns.

How to say Merry Christmas in Iceland?

To express "Merry Christmas" in Icelandic, greet others by saying Gleoileg jol . If you're looking for holiday activities in Iceland, the Christmas market in Hafnarfjörður is one of the largest and most popular, and is about a 20-minute drive outside of the capital city, Reykjavík.

How long is the Icelandic Christmas season?

The Icelandic Christmas season lasts 26 days. It's during the darkest time of year for that part of the world with not much daylight at all, but the Northern Lights may be visible in the north of the country.

What flowers are used in Christmas trees?

Christmas trees are set up usually a couple of days before Christmas and decorated with flowers such as poinsettia, called julstjärna in Swedish, red tulips, and red or white amaryllis. On Christmas Eve, or Julafton, Swedes celebrating Christmas attend church services.

Why do Finns go to the sauna?

On Christmas Eve most Finns who celebrate Christmas attend mass and pay a visit to a sauna to get purified. Many Finnish families also visit cemeteries to remember their lost loved ones.

What do Scandinavians celebrate on Sunday?

On the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, the Scandinavians celebrate Advent. Every Sunday, one of four candles are lit. Every Sunday, and candle, representing a main event in Jesus’s life.

What do Swedish people eat for Christmas?

If you’re celebrating Christmas at a Swedish, non-vegetarian household, expect a Christmas ham, lamb, meatballs (no surprise there), small sausages, potatoes, Janssons frestelse, pickled herring (of course), smoked salmon, bread and cheese, and the list goes on… Of course, there will be schnapps, wine, and beer aplenty.

Why do Norwegians hide brooms?

According to Norwegian folktales, Christmas coincides with the arrival of evil spirits. Therefore, on little Christmas, the Norwegians will hide all the brooms in their house. You know, to keep the witches from flying places.

What is the most beautiful holiday in Scandinavia?

Lucia is one of the most beautiful holidays in Scandinavia and is particularly celebrated in Sweden. Because of the darkness in the North during this time of year, a day that celebrates light and hope is also a holiday considered one of the most important.

Which countries celebrate Christmas?

Although some Christmas traditions differ between Sweden, Norway, and Denmark – all three Scandinavian countries celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December. Their Nordic neighbor Finland also celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve.

Is Christmas right around the corner?

Christmas is right around the corner, and for those who celebrate Christmas, preparations are in full swing. If you are celebrating with Scandinavians this year or simply just want some Christmas inspiration from the North, look no further.

Does Denmark still dance?

Even though this isn’t as much of a thing in Sweden anymore, Denmark still holds on to the sweet tradition of dancing or walking around the tree while singing Christmas songs.

What is Christmas in Scandinavia?

Christmas in Scandinavia is a special experience. The Christmas markets and traditional Scandinavian cuisine makes it an exclusive privilege for the natives.

Which hemisphere is Christmas in?

Located at the northern Hemisphere, Scandinavia is obviously in the peak of winters when Christmas comes. It is the darkest and coldest period of the year. Christmas lights up the long, dark nights with cheers and warmth.

Is Christmas celebrated in Scandinavia?

The exaltation of celebrating the birth of Jesus makes people active even in the extremities of weather. Christmas in Scandinavia starts with Advent and both men and women, young and old take part in this with gusto. Though 24th December is the main celebration, there are many preparations to do before the holy day arrives. Scandinavia was originally a pagan country and celebrated “Jul” or “Yule”, a winter festival, before Christmas was introduced. And, glimpses of pagan customs and traditions in Scandinavian Christmas celebrations can be seen even now.

Open sandwich starter

To start, we make our own ‘open’ sandwiches. This is something quite traditional in Scandinavia, and is known as a smørbrød, smørrebrød or smörgås, depending on which country you’re in.

A whole salmon

You might want to choose something else for your starter unless you can’t get enough of salmon, but if I had to pick one or the other, it’d be this gorgeous whole salmon main. You can see it in its full glory at the top of this page.

Fyrstekake

Fyrstekake is a traditional spiced tart not dissimilar to frangipane. The name translates to something like “Prince Cake” or “Royal Cake”.

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What is Scandinavian Christmas?

Scandinavian Christmas is known for its wintery scenes that blend modern design with natural elements, warm woods and furs. It’s a refined minimalist aesthetic that makes your home feel festive, without feeling overwhelming.

What is the traditional Christmas color in Scandinavia?

Whites, silvers and golds are the traditional palette of a Scandinavian Christmas. You’ll often find pops of red, too… but don’t feel confined by a palette of red and white! For our Scandinavian inspired Christmas decorations, I took a queue from the style of our lake cottage.

What is the traditional Scandinavian Christmas tree?

A traditional Scandinavian Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments, candle holders, and strings of light utilizing a color theme and integrating gold and or silver. Wood, straw and felt ornaments are most often used. Scandinavian Christmas trees are lightly decorated with or without lights!

Is fur a Scandinavian style?

They add beautiful texture without a lot of color. Fur is also a hallmark of the Scandinavian Christmas style. Luckily, it’s so easy to find faux fur styles for affordable, cozy additions to your decor! In the bunk room, we use this fur throw as a rug and it adds such a soft and comfortable touch.

When do Christmas celebrations take place in Denmark?

Similar to locations like Sweden, most of the Christmas celebrations in Denmark happen on Christmas Eve, when the family gets together for a delicious meal.

What time do people sit down on Christmas Eve in Denmark?

One of the most important Christmas traditions in Denmark is setting the table. Most people will sit down on Christmas Eve between 6 and 8pm to eat their Christmas lunch, and the table needs to be decorated to perfection.

What is the St Lucia celebration?

The St Lucia celebrations are similar to the kinds of Christmas nativities and plays we see in other parts of the world. Children look forward to taking part in the parade throughout their local area, and one special girl gets to play Lucia each year.

How long is Christmas in Denmark?

From counting down the days to Christmas with advent calendars, to drinking plenty of gløgg, Christmas in Denmark is a month-long celebration.

Why do people walk around the Christmas tree?

According to Danish stories, walking around the tree gives Santa Claus time to pop in and deliver his gifts. Since the tree will usually feature several real, burning candles, it might be a little tricky to walk briskly around the fir when you’re nervous about burning the house down.

Where to visit in Denmark for Christmas?

If you really want an amazing place to visit during Christmas in Denmark, it’s worth checking out Tivoli Gardens. This Danish theme park inspired Walt Disney to create his resorts, and there are few things like drinking a warm cup of gløgg as you check out the winter wonderland during December.

Which country does not wake up early on Christmas morning?

Similar to Sweden, Denmark bypasses the early morning wakeup call from excited children on Christmas morning, by handing out gifts the night before.

How do they celebrate Christmas in Scandinavia?

While many of the Nordic countries share similar traditions and ideas, each location comes with its own special points to remember.

Why is Christmas celebrated in Scandinavia?

Scandinavian Christmas tradition is an opportunity to find warmth and love with the people you care about.

What is the Scandinavian Christmas?

Where other parts of the world have evolved to celebrate a Christmas that concentrates heavily on commercialism and toys, Scandinavia is one of the few parts of the world that holds true to the original meaning of Yule. Let’s take a look at the common Scandinavian Christmas traditions for each Nordic country .

What is the drink of choice for Christmas in Scandinavia?

The drink of choice is a popular one across Christmas in Scandinavia — glogg. This is a mulled wine that you can dip cookies into. Interestingly, if you’re celebrating a Nordic Christmas in Norway, the 24 th is actually a bigger event. It features a lot of last-minute shopping for gifts, and fairytale telling.

How long does Christmas last in Scandinavia?

Christmas in Scandinavia also lasts for a full 13 days — not just 12. Many Nordic locals even manage to get two whole weeks off work for Christmas. Festivals often last up to January 6th, which the locals refer to as the day of Epiphany.

What is the most popular alcohol drink in Scandinavia?

Glögg is a must-have: Every region across Scandinavia has its own form of traditional alcohol drink for the Christmas season. Usually referred to as Glögg, the biggest Nordic Christmas drink features cloves and cinnamon, as well as vodka, bourbon, brandy, or aquavit — depending on what you have handy.

How many candles are on top of the Christmas tree?

Usually, the celebration starts with an advent wreath of red berries and spruce leaves with four candles on top. You light one of these candles every Sunday leading up to Christmas Eve.