Christmas in Sweden

Are you celebrating Christmas in Sweden? If you are planning to celebrate Christmas in Sweden then it is best to get familiar with Swedish customs. Christmas in Sweden is distinctive as Sweden's Christmas customs are different from other parts of the world. Christmas begins with Saint Lucia ceremony on 13th December in Sweden. Lucia was a Christian virgin, who sacrificed her life for religious faith. Ceremony is held in her honor and often connected with the conventional thanksgiving for the return of the sun. The youngest daughter from every family, on this day puts a white robe with a red sash before dawn and then wears a crown of evergreens with candles attached to it. She wakes her parents accompanied by other kids and followed by star boys in pointed hats, white shirts and carrying star wands and serves them with Lucia buns and coffee.

Swedish people move in procession to church with lighted candles in hand. There is a smile on everybody's face during Christmas in Sweden. Mothers light candles on Christmas Eve at home. Christmas trees are decorated with straw ornaments, Swedish flags, red tasseled caps and candles in Sweden. Christmas home decorations include Pepparkakor and goat shaped gingerbread biscuit. In Swedish, Christmas Eve is called as Julafton. Conventional Christmas Eve dinner includes smorgasbord. Buffet is arranged featuring Julskinka, lutfisk, ham and a variety of sweets. Christmas in Sweden is celebrated with great fervor.

There is a Christmas table laid in all Swedish families on Christmas Eve. The table has all the delicacies made for Christmas. A famous Christmas custom is to serve Risgryngrot, special rice porridge with a concealed almond. Anybody, who finds out the almond in his or her bowl, is believed to marry in coming year. Once the Christmas dinner finished, family member or a friend dresses up as Tomte, who is believed to live under floorboards of the house and used to ride a straw goat named Julbok. Tomte wears red robes and white beard and carries sack with many gifts in it. He gives gifts to kids. Tome and Julbok are no longer connected together although a little brownie named as Jultomten assists Santa for giving gifts to kids in Sweden. Modern American figure is rapidly catching up in Sweden and Tome is losing his original personality.

Like several countries in Western is reserved for religious observances in Sweden. Families come together on Christmas Eve to celebrate it. Candles are lit on Christmas tree. The windows of each shop in Sweden are seen to be lighted with electric candles as well as glowing stars. Christmas trees are bought generally two days before Christmas in Sweden. Everybody in the family take part in adorning Christmas tree with beautiful ornaments. The indoors of houses are decorated with flowers like red tulips. Christians in Sweden invite their friends and relatives on Christmas Eve for dinner. The atmosphere is filled with happiness during Christmas in Sweden.