What do they call Santa Claus in Sweden?
Santa Claus (Tomten) 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 Christmas like in Sweden?
Unlike many other countries, the Swedish Christmas climax happens on Christmas Eve. The 24th is the Day, with a capital D, and the Swedish Julafton is when people get together, eat a lot of food, open presents, and just have a great time.
Why do Swedes celebrate Santa Claus with rice pudding?
Santa has been in Swedish traditional culture for many years and has evolved from a little angry man guarding the local agriculture to a homey warm icon with a taste for good food. While milk and cookies are left out for Santa in other countries, in old Sweden, it was common to leave out a bowl of rice pudding on the front porch for him to eat.
What is the Swedish Christmas tradition of giving presents?
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 ). Advent lights and Christmas decorations in a Swedish window.
Do Swedes have a Santa Claus?
Jultomten, also known simply as ”Tomten”, is Sweden's Father Christmas, visiting houses in the afternoon on Christmas Eve (when Christmas in Sweden is celebrated) to distribute presents to children.
What do they call Santa Claus in Sweden?
Christmas in Sweden: The tomte, Sweden's version of Santa Claus, is a scary gnome.
What is Swedish Christmas tradition?
Each Sunday until Christmas, a candle is lit (and blown out after a while), until all four candles are alight. And on each of these Sundays, many Swedes enjoy glögg – a hot, spicy mulled wine with blanched almonds and raisins – and pepparkakor (gingerbread biscuits).
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.
How do Swedes say Merry Christmas?
god jul!You may already know the Swedish holiday greetings god jul! (Merry Christmas!) and gott nytt år!
Do Sweden celebrate Christmas 24th December?
Knut's Day on January 13. The 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....Christmas in SwedenFrequencyannual5 more rows
Is Christmas big in Sweden?
Sweden has one of the most profound and long celebrations dedicated to Christmas. 13th January marks the end of Christmas holidays in Sweden after 20 days of gala events and merry-making.
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...•
What are some fun facts about Swedish Christmas?
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.
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.
Do Swedes dance around the Christmas tree?
A Knut's party or Knut's dance (Swedish: Julgransplundring, literally: "Christmas tree plundering") is a tradition in Sweden on St....Knut's partyOfficial nameJulgransplundringObserved bySwedenCelebrationsDancing around the Christmas tree, children's party, removing Christmas decorationsDate13 January4 more rows
What do Swedes eat on Christmas Eve?
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 is Santa called in Sweden?
Jultomten – Sweden's Santa Claus. Jultomten, also known simply as ”Tomten”, is Sweden's Father Christmas, visiting houses in the afternoon on Christmas Eve (when Christmas in Sweden is celebrated) to distribute presents to children.
What do Swedes eat on Christmas Eve?
Traditional foods include a julbord which 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 rye bread (vörtbröd), potatoes and a special fish dish, lutfisk.
What are some traditions in Sweden?
The five most common ones are Easter, the Swedish National Day, midsummer, the crayfish party and Christmas.
What do Swedish people eat?
What do Swedish people eat? Yellow pea soup with pork (or pork sausage) and mustard – traditionally eaten on Thursdays. Pork strips with onion gravy and brown beans – traditionally eaten on Tuesdays. Meatballs with boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes or macaroni stew.
What are some good Christmas sayings?
Non-Denominational Holiday Sayings Peace on Earth, good will toward all. Best wishes to you this holiday season. May this holiday season be filled with laughter, joy, and peace. Sharing this season together is the greatest gift of all. Peace and love to warm your heart this holiday season.
Are gnomes only for Christmas?
Don't you think these adorable gnomes are welcome any time of the year? They are not only for Christmas.
What is a Christmas gnome?
Gnome is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore, also known as a tomte or nisse makes the most thoughtful christmas gift ever, he lives in the house and secretly act as his guardian, protects the family and animals from evil and misfortune day and night!
How does Sweden celebrate Christmas?
The concept of advent is based on ‘waiting’ and is an old tradition stemming from the religious waiting of the birth of Jesus. However, in modern Sweden, it is just an excuse to sit down once a week and eat some lussebullar. 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 is the Swedish Christmas climax?
Unlike many other countries, the Swedish Christmas climax happens on Christmas Eve. The 24th is the Day, with a capital D, and the Swedish Julafton is when people get together, eat a lot of food, open presents, and just have a great time. Every family has their own traditions, but most often, the festivities begin around early afternoon ...
What is Bord in Sweden?
Bord can be translated to table and basically means that a variety of delicious foods are served in a buffet style for everyone to eat. For Christmas, there is almost everything from Christmas ham or turkey and meatballs to pickled herring and anchovies pot. There is also raisin bread ( vörtbröd ), smoked salmon, mini hotdogs ( prinskorv ), and beetroot salad. The feast ends with a dessert known as rice pudding, a porridge made of rice, cream, and sugar, sprinkled with cinnamon and served with fruit punch.
What is left out for Santa?
While milk and cookies are left out for Santa in other countries, in old Sweden, it was common to leave out a bowl of rice pudding on the front porch for him to eat. However, today the most important appearance Santa makes is on Christmas Eve when the family has finished eating and gathers to wait for the presents.
What do girls dress up as in December?
During the morning of December 13th, some girls dress up in white with candles in their hair. It’s not a fire hazard; it’s just Lucia. Originally Catholic, St. Lucia was a young saint from Italy who became convicted for illegal witchcraft. In Sweden, she is celebrated in December in the form of young girls dressing up as her and singing to an audience at schools, work places, and nursing homes. There is always one girl who is Lucia; she walks in the front of the group and gets a few solo performances, while the others are Tärnor — maids who are part of the rest of the choir. They are great singers; the performance is well planned; and most importantly, sometimes you get a free Christmas cookie afterwards.
Why do people in Sweden start counting down to the big day?
Adventskalender. Because of their love of Christmas, the people of Sweden get so excited that they begin counting down to the big day 24 days early. Advent calendars are actually common all over Europe and have recently spread throughout the world.
When is Julskyltningen?
Julskyltningen. During the first Sunday of Advent, around a month before Christmas, the holiday spirit really kicks in. Also, it is often when the Julskyltning takes place. It is a whole day when shops and stores have special discounts and offers, as well as little contests and quizzes to win prizes.
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.
When do people in Sweden throw out their Christmas tree?
The day that people in Sweden buy and dress their Christmas tree varies greatly from family to family, but most have them dressed on 13 December and throw them out by 13 January. Commonly used decorations today include: baubles, candles, apples, Swedish flags, small gnomes, tasseled caps, and straw ornaments.
Why is Jul celebrated?
The pretext for the Jul celebration was to mark the winter solstice when the days start to get longer and the nights shorter again.
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 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.
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.
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.
When is Swedish Christmas dinner?
A traditional Swedish Christmas dinner will usually take place on the night before Christmas (Christmas Eve).
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.
When do gift exchanges happen in Sweden?
As mentioned above, gift exchanges generally happen on Christmas Eve in Sweden. Rather than waking up at the crack of dawn, children and adults alike often wait until the sun sets on Christmas Eve, before they begin unwrapping presents.
What are the Christmas decorations in Sweden?
Decorations include: candles, apples, Swedish flags, small gnomes and 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.
What is the ceremony for Christmas in Sweden?
Christmas begins in Sweden with the Saint Lucia ceremony. Before dawn on the morning of 13 December, the youngest daughter from each family puts on a white robe with a red sash. She wears a crown of evergreens with tall-lighted candles attached to it. She wakes her parents, and serves them with coffee and Lucia buns. The other children accompany her. The boys dressed as star boys in long white shirts and pointed hats.
What is the name of the gnome that Santa Claus wears on Christmas Eve?
After Christmas Eve dinner, a friend or family member dresses up as tomte or Christmas gnome. The tomte, unlike Santa Claus is supposed to live under the floorboards of the house or barn and ride a straw goat. The make-believe tomte , wearing a white beard and dressed in red robes, distributes gifts from his sack. Many are given with funny rhyme that hints at the contents.
What is the Saint Lucia ceremony?
The Saint Lucia ceremony is fairly recent, but it represents the traditional thanksgiving for the return of the sun. Often she is followed by star boys, who wear pointed hats, and carry star wands.
Does Santa Claus ride Julbock?
The Julbock (Christmas Goat) has nothing to do with the Tomte (Santa Claus)... He doesn't ride it. When Sweden was changing from goat to Santa they came together but that was more than 20 years ago. So it use to but no longer. And it was originally to honor the goats that Tor (an old God) used to pull his carriage. Today basically no one knows why we have them. Sadly and the Tomte doesn't live under a barn anymore. Now it is like in America, he lives at the North Pole. In the old days the tomte took care of the farm and lived there but then he had nothing to do with Christmas (then it was the goat). He was mean and hard to work with but he made sure there would be food on the table and looked after all the animals, IF the people on the farm took care of him and behaved well. No Christmas.
