CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN!
Lucia Day
Around Lucia Day, 13 December, special Lucia parties are
arranged at day nurseries and in schools. At workplaces, people usually celebrate Lucia by
drinking spicy mulled wine (glgg) and eating gingerbread and saffron buns. Many people
celebrate Lucia at home. Children sometimes get up early in the morning and surprise the
grown-ups with coffee in bed.
From Lucia Day until Christmas Eve, you clean the house and make everything ready for the
holiday. Many people buy flowers, often poinsettias (julstjrnor), amaryllises, hyacinths
or tulips.
In the window, you hang electric Advent stars and on the walls you hang special Christmas
tapestries. Some are hand-sewn, others are made out of paper.
Making your own Christmas candles is another popular tradition. In the old days, people
made a giant Christmas candle that was supposed to burn throughout Christmas night and
keep evil spirits away.
In many families, Christmas cribs are brought out of storage. These represent the stable
where Jesus was born. Besides the baby's crib there are usually models of Joseph and Mary,
his parents. Outside stand the three wise men, who have come bearing gifts for the baby
Jesus. Around the stable stand various animals.
During the days leading up to Christmas, people make different kinds of Christmas sweets,
including nut toffee (knck), plain toffee (kola) and sweets with marzipan inside. (We have
a number of recipes for Christmas sweets, under 'Recipes'.)
The day before Christmas Eve is sometimes called 'Little
Christmas Eve' or 'Dip Day' (Dopparedagen), when people often boil the ham that is to be
served on Christmas Day. You dip pieces of bread in the ham stock, a tradition called
'dipping in the pot' (dopp i grytan).
Another tradition is spending the evening wrapping presents and composing rhymes or
couplets to go with them. You put them on the outside of the package and they're supposed
to give clues to its contents. The person who gets the package tries to guess what's
inside with the help of the verse.
Most Swedes tend to buy their Christmas trees just before Christmas, usually on the day
before Christmas Eve. But many buy them earlier and place them on the balcony or in the
garage, bringing them out on 'Little Christmas Eve'.
That evening or on Christmas Day, people dress the Christmas tree with candles or lights,
tinsel, paper flags, coloured bulbs and other small trinkets, straw angels and stars. Many
people place straw goats under the tree. Christmas trees in Sweden are usually topped by a
big gold or silver star.
On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Swedes sit down to watch Donald Duck and his friends on
TV. This Disney hour is something of a sacred Christmas tradition in Sweden.
After Donald Duck, Santa Claus rolls up with the presents.
(The Swedish word for Santa Claus or Father Christmas is 'jultomte', which literally
translates as Christmas Gnome.) When the children are young, it is often the father of the
family or a neighbour who dresses up as Santa Claus.
Nowadays, Santa Claus is a man dressed in red with a big stomach, a white beard and a red
cap. He turns up with a sackful of Christmas presents for the children. In the old days,
though, people thought the 'tomte' was an irascible, grey little man. He was called the
'farmyard gnome' as he was supposed to guard the grounds all year round. He made sure the
livestock were in good health, that there was water in the well and that the house did not
catch fire. When Christmas came round, you had to remember to put out a bowl of creamed
rice to keep him in good spirits. The rice was his pay for a year's work. If the farmyard
gnome didn't get his creamed rice or if it didn't taste good, he might get angry and move
elsewhere. Then there was nobody to protect the place and all kinds of misfortunes could
befall the family.
In Sweden, Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve, but in many countries he does not turn up
until Christmas Day.
When Santa Claus has departed, people dance round the Christmas tree, sing Christmas
carols and play ring games.
After the dance, it's usually time to eat the Christmas meal - julbordet.
Among the dishes traditionally served are sweet creamed porridge,
ham, stockfish, pickled herring, cheese and rye bread flavoured with brewer's wort
(vrtbrd). If you didn't dip bread in the ham stock the day before, you can do it now. Many
people also eat meatballs, chipolata sausages, red cabbage, liver ptÈ and other
delicacies. At Christmastime, you can usually find a special soft beer (jull) in the
shops. The children like to drink root beer (julmust) - a Swedish invention dating back to
1910. The recipe is a secret but the 'beer' is supposed to contain malt and hops. These
are also present in ordinary beer, but root beer contains no alcohol.
People often put a blanched almond in the porridge. The person who finds the nut in his or
her dish can look forward to marrying the following year.
On Christmas Day, some people get up very early in the morning to go to church. This
service is called 'julottan', and there is lots of candlelight and singing. The church is
usually packed - many people attend who are not otherwise churchgoers.
we got this info at:
http://www.inv.se/svefa/tradition/engtrad/engjul.html
The biggest and longest holiday of the year is the magical Christmas of Sweden. The excitement begins the first Sunday of Advent with the lighting of the first Advent candle. Each Sunday prior to Christmas, another candle is lit with growing anticipation.
Feasting and celebrating begin on December 13 with Lucia Day, which legend says is the longest night of the year and a time when man and beast need extra nourishment. In years past when the celebration took place in the home, Lucia (Queen of Light) was portrayed by the eldest daughter. She was dressed in a white gown with a crown of candles in her hair. She would wake her parents by singing the familiar Italian song "Santa Lucia" and bring them coffee, buns, cookies, and occasionally "glogg" (a mulled wine).
Today, nearly every town, school, and day-care center has their own Lucia. There is also an official popular election to choose a Lucia to preside at the big parade in Stockholm. info took from:http://www.inv.se/svefa/tradition/engtrad/engjul.html
Introduced in Sweden from Germany, the Christmas tree has been a part of Christmas in Sweden since the 1700s. It was not until the present century that the custom became general, however. Nearly every Swedish household now brings in a tree one or two days before Christmas and decorates it with sparkling objects, gaily wrapped candies, glass bulbs, and straw ornaments, with electric lights or candles.
Christmas Eve, then is the height of the
festivities. Traditionally it is a day when no work should be done other than seeing to
one's livestock. This is the day of the Christmas feast, which comprises a smörgåsbord
including a few traditional dishes such as ham, jellied pigs feet, lutfisk and rice
porridge. Lutfisk (sun-cured cod served in cream sauce) is most likely a throwback to a
period of fasting from pre-Reformation times. The Christmas feast also includes a
tradition called "dipping in the kettle" (doppa i grytan), in which the
assembled family and guests dip bits of dark bread in a pot filled with drippings of pork,
sausage, and corned beef. Symbolically this calls to mind, in the midst of thanksgiving
and plenty all those who are in need and hunger. 
By tradition, Swedes attend church in the very early hours of Christmas morning. In olden days it was a custom to have a race to the church in sleds or wagons or even home from the services. The winner of the race was believed to have the best harvest the coming year. Otherwise, the day is spent quietly within the family circle, with Christmas parties and get-togethers the following day and on throughout the holidays until Knut's Day.
The biggest and longest holiday of the year is the magical Christmas of Sweden. The excitement begins the first Sunday of Advent with the lighting of the first Advent candle. Each Sunday prior to Christmas, another candle is lit with growing anticipation.
Feasting and celebrating begin on December 13 with Lucia Day, which legend says is the longest night of the year and a time when man and beast need extra nourishment. A Lucia (Queen of Light) is chosen from each home, club, school, etc. She is dressed in a white gown with a crown of candles in her hair. She brings coffee, rolls, ginger biscuits, and occasionally "glogg" (a mulled wine). She is generally accompanied by a train of white-clad attendants. The girls wear glitter in their hair and the boys wear tall paper cone hats decorated with stars. While delivering their precious fare, they sing traditional Lucia carols.
The Swedish Christmas tree is not brought into the home until one or two days before Christmas. It is decorated with gaily wrapped candies, glass bulbs, and often straw trinkets, with electric lights or candles.
After the meal, the "Tomte" comes. He is the Christmas elf who lives under floorboards of the hours or barn and looks after the family and livestock throughout the year. "Tomte" often brings presents and children graciously leave a dish of porridge for him during the night.
By tradition, Swedes attend church in the vary early hours of Christmas morning. Occasionally, as in olden days, the trek to church is made by horse-drawn sleighs. The ride often becomes a race to the church. It is believed the winner will have the best harvest in the coming year.
The Christmas spirit and enjoyment linger until January 14--Knut's Day--the day appointed to discard the Christmas tree and devour all the edible decorations. This is quite an occasion, especially for the young who occasionally dress as "Old Knut" and play practical jokes and chant as they fling the old tree into the snow, with a promise to reunite with their beloved pine in one year.
Traditional Dishes From Sweden:
"POTATIS KORV"
(Sweden Christmas Sausage)
2 lbs. lean pork, ground
2 lbs. lean beef, ground
6 med. potatoes, shredded (uncooked)
3 tsps. salt
2 tsps. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 med. onion, chopped
Mix all ingredients well together. Form into rolls about 4 inches long, 2 inches in diameter. Cut waxed paper or parchment paper into 6-inch lengths and warp sausage well, tying both ends tightly with string. Prick waxed paper with a fork (do not prick parchment) and place in kettle of simmering salted water. Cook slowly for about 45 minutes. This sausage is delicately flavored. Some people prefer slightly more seasoning.
"HAM A LA CAJSA
WARG"
(Swedish Ham)
7 to 9 lb. ham, slightly salted
2 tsps. whole cloves
2 tsps. marjoram
2 tsps. allspice
2 tsps. rosemary
6 bay leaves
Ham which is to be roasted in an oven must not be too salty and should be placed in plenty of cold water for approximately 12 hours.
Remove the rind. Place the ham on a large piece
of baking foil. Crush allspice, cloves,
rosemary, marjoram and bay leaves in a mortar. Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the
ham. Wrap the foil around the ham to make a tight package. Insert a meat thermometer
through the foil so that the tip reaches the thickest and meatiest part of the ham. Place
the ham in baking pan and bake it in the oven at 350F. The ham is ready when the
thermometer shows 170F. "Ham a la Cajsa Warg" can be served hot or cold with
boiled potatoes, mustard, red cabbage or other vegetables.
CABBAGE PUDDING
(Casserole)
1 to 2 lb. head white cabbage
41/2 tbls. rice
Salt
11 oz. ground beef
Butter for frying
2/3 cup water
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup milk
Cut off the bottom part of the stem of a head
of white cabbage. Cut the cabbage into shreds or pieces. Brown them in butter in a frying
pan. Boil rice in 2/3 cup water and 1/2 tsp. salt for approximately 20 minutes. Let the
rice cool. Mix ground beef with 1 1/2 tsps. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Add the rice and 1
cup milk. Lay the cabbage and meat in alternate layers in a buttered oven-proof dish. The
top and bottom layers should be cabbage. Bake in an oven at 350F. for 3/4
to 1 hour. Serve with boiled potatoes. info took from:http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-sweden.htm
A thousand years ago in Sweden, King Canute declared that Christmas would last a month, from December 13, the feast of St. Lucia until January 13, or Tjugondag Knut (St. Canute's Day). No one is quite sure why Lucia, a 4th century Sicilian saint, came to be so revered in Sweden. Some say she once visited the country, and others believe missionaries brought stories of her life which entranced the Swedish people. Her story is that in the days of early Christian persecution, Lucia carried food to Christians hiding in dark underground tunnels. To light the way she wore a wreath of candles on her head. Eventually Lucia was arrested and martyred.
On her feast day the eldest daughter in each family dresses in a white dress with a red sash, and wears an evergreen wreath with seven lighted candles on her head. She (very carefully) carries coffee and buns to each family member in his or her room. Many schools, offices, and communities sponsor Lucia processions in which carol are sung and everyone thanks the Queen of Light for bringing hope during the darkest time of the year.
On Christmas Eve a certain Christmas gnome, known as
the tomte, emerges from his home under the floor of the house or the barn. He carries a
sack over his shoulder and leaves gifts for all. info took from:http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/sweden.html
