- Candle holder, Ljusstake. This candle holder can be found in the windows of many Swedish homes.
- Angel chimes, Änglaspel. Rotating metal angels. The larger one creates a ringing sound with its two bells.
- Christmas goat, Julbock (Gävlebock) In 1966, the first Christmas goat was set up in the city of Gävle. 13 meters high, seven meters long and four meters wide.
- Little Santa Claus, Jultomte. You find this little Santa in every Swedish shop that sells decoration items – made of wood, textiles or even glass.
- Christmas star, Julstjärna. This is a standard decoration item for almost every Swedish home. Placed in the window, it creates a beautiful atmosphere inside and outside the house.
What are some Christmas traditions in Sweden?
The Swedish Christmas Traditions You Didn't Know About
- Julafton. Unlike many other countries, the Swedish Christmas climax happens on Christmas Eve. ...
- Lussebulle. No Swedish Christmas is complete without the traditional saffron bun. ...
- Lucia. ...
- Julbord. ...
- Advent. ...
- Adventskalender. ...
- Kalle Anka och Hans Vänner Önskar God Jul. ...
- Julskyltningen. ...
- Tomten. ...
How do Swedes decorate on Christmas?
Swedish Christmas is full of straw. In addition to straw wreaths and straw goats, many Swedes decorate their trees with straw ornaments. The traditional ornaments come in a variety of traditional shapes including several varieties of stars, angels, pine cones, and - of course - goats.
What are the most expensive Christmas decorations?
Xmas Bells: The World's Most Expensive Christmas Decorations
- Diamond Christmas Bauble ($136,000)
- Denmark’s Christmas Tree ($150,000)
- Santa Figurine In Gold ($1.6 million)
- Mini Christmas Tree From Preserved Roses ($1.8 million)
- Swarovski Crystal Tree ($1.8 million)
- Gold Coin Tree ($2.6 million)
- Gold Christmas Tree ($4.24 million)
- Diamond Christmas Wreath ($4.6 million)
- Abu Dhabi Christmas Tree ($11 million)
How to say Merry Christmas in Sweden?
Merry Christmas in Swedish. When people in Sweden want to wish Merry Christmas to someone, they use the phrase “God Jul”. If you forget how to say ‘Merry Christmas!’ in Danish, this is a safe, generic phrase to use instead. God Jul is a Swedish equivalent of 'Merry Christmas'.It translates as God Jul Here's how to tell people
What decorations does Sweden use for Christmas?
Commonly used decorations today include: baubles, candles, apples, Swedish flags, small gnomes, tasseled caps, and straw ornaments. The house may be filled with red tulips and the smell of pepparkakor - a heart-star, or goat-shaped gingerbread biscuits. St.
What are 3 Swedish Christmas traditions?
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 are some Sweden decorations?
In addition to straw wreaths, pigs, and goats, many Swedes decorate their trees with straw ornaments. Traditional ornaments come in a variety of traditional shapes including several varieties of angels, stars, pine cones, pigs and goats. The golden straw is typically bound with red string.
How do they celebrate Christmas in Sweden?
Christmas traditions in Sweden revolve around the celebration of Swedish Jul — Christmas for the Swedes. The first Sunday of the Swedish Advent begins around four weeks before Christmas, when people first light their candle in the calendar advent stick.
What is Santa's name in Sweden?
Christmas in Sweden: The tomte, Sweden's version of Santa Claus, is a scary gnome.
Why do Swedes celebrate Christmas on 24th?
Celebrating on the 24th of December It is, in fact, a part of the Nordic culture to celebrate most holidays on the eve of. The reason for this is the way the Nordic countries used to measure time and dates. Based on ancient ways of counting time, a day would typically start after sundown.
How do Swedish people decorate their homes?
The most popular color palette in Scandinavian interiors is primarily black and white with neutral accents. 99% of the time, the walls are bright white. White is an elegant backdrop, but it's also practical because it reflects natural light.
How do Scandinavians decorate for Christmas?
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.
What is Swedish style?
With a history of quality and clean design, an eye for vintage, and an appreciation of delicious denim, it's easy to build an effortlessly cool outfit. Versatile and timeless. Swedish design has traveled across the globe, with household names like H&M and Acne dominating most high streets and fashion weeks.
What is a fact about Christmas in Sweden?
The Christmas celebration in Sweden begins on the first Sunday in December, which is Advent. On this Sunday, families in Sweden light one candle. Then, on each Sunday in December, they light another candle. Christmas finally ends on January 13 when people take their Christmas trees down.
What does Santa look like in Sweden?
Father Christmas comes in two forms in Sweden: a gnome-like figure from Swedish folklore, called a jultomte, and a rather jolly old man with a white beard and wearing a fur-trimmed red suit, known the world-over as Santa!
Why does Christmas end on January 13th in Sweden?
“We previously ended Christmas on the 13th day [after December 24th, ed.], but due to the calendar reforms [to adopt the Gregorian calendar in the 1700s, ed.], we have also moved the end of Christmas.
What are some 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 are some fun facts about Swedish Christmas?
Fun Facts About Christmas in Sweden for KidsFamilies in Sweden decorate Christmas trees. ... Children open their presents on December 24. ... At 3:00 on Christmas Eve, almost everyone in Sweden stops to watch an American television show, “From All of Us to All of You,” which is a Disney show featuring Donald Duck.More items...
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 5 interesting facts about Sweden?
Here's some of our favourite Sweden facts.Sweden has twice the population of Norway. ... Sweden imports waste – from Norway! ... More than half of Sweden is covered in forest. ... There's a hotel made of ice. ... Donald Duck is more popular than Mickey Mouse. ... A Swedish drink outsells Coca-Cola. ... Stockholm's metro doubles as an art gallery.More items...•
When was the first Christmas goat set up?
In 1966, the first Christmas goat was set up in the city of Gävle. 13 meters high, seven meters long and four meters wide. A few days after Christmas an unknown person set it on fire – and thereby created a returning tradition of yearly attempts of burning down the Gävlebock.
Do Swedish people decorate their homes?
Swedish homes are often well designed and equipped with thoughtfully chosen and placed decoration items.
How is Christmas celebrated in Sweden?
Christmas in Sweden is an incredible experience if you’re lucky enough to enjoy it yourself. Swedes expect a lot out of Christmas, and many families spend all year planning the celebrations.
When does Christmas end in Sweden?
Officially, Christmas doesn’t end until the 13 th of January in Sweden, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the festivities just a little longer before you begin the new year.
What is the Swedish version of Santa Claus?
Most countries around the world have distinct traditions when it comes to Santa Claus, and Sweden is no exception. Christmas in Sweden often includes “Tomten”, the Swedish version of the jolly man many people know today.
What is the Swedish tradition of Lucia?
Taking place on the 13 th of December, Lucia is one of the oldest Swedish Christmas traditions, which involves girls dressing up in white dresses and robes, with candles placed in their hair.
What do Swedish people do at Advent?
By the time the Advent begins, most Swedish locals have thoroughly cleaned their homes and decorated the property with all kinds of ornaments, including Advent stars.
What does the candle symbolize?
The lighting of the candle represents the beginning of over a month of celebrations and amazing traditions, packed with special drinks, party games, and snacks.
When is Swedish Christmas dinner?
A traditional Swedish Christmas dinner will usually take place on the night before Christmas (Christmas Eve).
What is the Swedish Christmas?
Swedish Christmas is a time for candles, cookies, and coziness. Family activities span over generations, It all builds up to the big moment when Santa Clause himself shows up at your house.
How to get into the Christmas spirit in Sweden?
Another place to get into the Christmas spirit is to visit one of the many Christmas markets in Sweden. Drink a hot chocolate, enjoy the decorations and the Christmas atmosphere. Shop candy, food, crafts, unique art from one of the many stalls. If lucky, Santa might show up as well.
What is Lucia's costume?
She is dressed in a traditional white gown, a crown of candles on her head, and a red sash. Behind her, she has the procession of “ tärnor ” holding candles, little Santa clauses, “ stjärngossar ” star boys, and sometimes even gingerbread cookies. Lucia does not only bring light and joy.
What does Lucia bring to the table?
Lucia does not only bring light and joy. She often brings saffron buns and cookies as well.
What is Lucia's dress?
She is dressed in a traditional white gown, a crown of candles on her head, and a red sash.
What is the Swedish smorgasboard tradition?
The Swedish Smorgasboard tradition is something that, here in the US, has become a Christmas Eve highlight with some of my friends. A little surprised by the dishes included, searching for the veggies and healthy alternatives. Christmas Eve is the day when the Scandinavian healthy living goes out the window, and we indulge in fish, meat, desserts, and excessive eating.
What is the highlight of Christmas Eve?
For many adults, the following Christmas Eve dinner is the highlight of the day. This day is truly a day to celebrate family, spending time together and just have fun!
When do Christmas lights go on sale in Sweden?
Advent lights and Christmas decorations in a Swedish window. The Christmas celebrations in Sweden usually starts with the first Advent in the end of November. However Christmas decorations and julmust might go on sale in stores much earlier, often directly after All Saints Day.
When did Christmas trees become popular in Sweden?
Some families preferred to build a Ljuskrona decorated with cut paper. From around 1880, commercial Christmas tree decorations were readily available in larger Swedish cities, the finest of which were imported from Germany.
What was the rite of mid-winter?
In Nordic prehistoric times there was a "midvinterblot" rite ( mid-winter blót ), which was a sacrificial rite held in mid-winter, which may either mean the same time as Jul (in later sources called julablot ), or in mid-January which was in the middle of the winter period. The people sacrificed cattle and perhaps humans to win the Æsir 's blessing on the germinating crop. The ás (singular of Æsir) who was especially hailed at this time was Odin, who commonly went by the name of "Jólner". The Jul was Christianized, while the blót rites were forbidden and abandoned when Sweden became a Christian country.
What is the pagan celebration of Jul?
In the Old Norse sources the pagan celebration of Jul in the Nordic countries is often described as "to drink jul/yule". The central aspect of the pagan Germanic celebration of midwinter was to eat and drink well. To bake and to produce ale and mead were important preparations for the celebration.
What is the Christmas tree?
The Christmas tree is a custom that was imported from Germany in the 1880s.
What is the Christmas celebration at the end of December?
The celebration of Christmas at the end of December is a very old tradition with many origins. Among these is the Old Norse Christmas celebration - which was prevailing in Scandinavia in the 11th century - and was celebrated in connection with the midwinter offering celebration. Moreover, there is the Christian Christmas celebration in memory of the birth of Jesus Christ. The earliest records of these celebrations are from year 333. Eight hundred years later this is merged with the Old Norse Christmas celebration.
Where did the Christmas tree originate?
The Christmas tree is a custom that was imported from Germany in the 1880s. The former tradition of giving joke presents, often a log of wood, was replaced during the late-19th century and 20th century by Christmas gifts given out by the Christmas goat ( Julbocken) or, especially later, Santa Claus ( Jultomten ).
What do Swedish people eat on Christmas?
Swedes also usually have a feast on Christmas Day, consisting of ham, different meats, rice porridge, and lots of fish. At Missfoster’s first Swedish Christmas dinner in 2010 everyone received one baked potato each to accompany the Christmas feast. To an American used to mashed potatoes and other delightfully fat potato side dishes, a plain baked potato may seem very- er, plain?
When do Christmas trees come up?
Christmas trees are usually put up some time in December. As with most places both fake and real trees are available. Those who choose to have the more authentic (and more messy) live tree will usually go to the forest and cut down the tree themselves.
Is chocolate popular in Sweden?
Chocolates are also very popular during Christmas time in Sweden – I can only assume that sales must go up. Employers usually give out chocolate to their employees as part of the annual Christmas gift.
