VOL. V, NO. 6
DECEMBER 13, 1963
Jultomten, Pepparkakor
Are Swedish Traditions
Are Swedish Traditions
By Inger Svenson '64
Christmas is one of the longest and most celebrated holidays in Sweden. The season starts on the first Sunday of Advent (the first of the four Sundays before Christmas, which are celebrated for the coming of Jesus) when one candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent two candles are lit, and so on.
Santa Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13. On this day, a girl (usually the oldest) in every household is picked to play the part of Santa Lucia, the Queen of Lights. She is dressed in a long white frock and wears a crown of burning candles on her head. From an old tradition, people believe that the white of her dress and the light of the candles will drive the darkness away. She wakes up before the rest of her family and prepares a plate of cookies and coffee and wakes everyone I with a beautiful song.
In the weeks before Christmas, the mother of the house is usually busy making all sorts of cookies, especially pepparkakor, gingersnaps, which can be found in every Swedish house. She is also busy turning the house practically inside‑out cleaning.
If you live in the country, you would probably cut your own Christmas tree. In the city most people buy their trees. The whole family takes a lot of pride in decorating it, usually a couple of days before Christmas.
Christmas is one of the longest and most celebrated holidays in Sweden. The season starts on the first Sunday of Advent (the first of the four Sundays before Christmas, which are celebrated for the coming of Jesus) when one candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent two candles are lit, and so on.
Santa Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13. On this day, a girl (usually the oldest) in every household is picked to play the part of Santa Lucia, the Queen of Lights. She is dressed in a long white frock and wears a crown of burning candles on her head. From an old tradition, people believe that the white of her dress and the light of the candles will drive the darkness away. She wakes up before the rest of her family and prepares a plate of cookies and coffee and wakes everyone I with a beautiful song.
In the weeks before Christmas, the mother of the house is usually busy making all sorts of cookies, especially pepparkakor, gingersnaps, which can be found in every Swedish house. She is also busy turning the house practically inside‑out cleaning.
If you live in the country, you would probably cut your own Christmas tree. In the city most people buy their trees. The whole family takes a lot of pride in decorating it, usually a couple of days before Christmas.
Christmas Eve, December 24, is the big day for the Swedish children. Santa Claus "Jultomten" comes to visit them and gives them their presents when it has become dark outside. The children believe that there are little elves (so small that you can hardly see them) that tell Santa who has been good and who has been bad. That is why they, like other children all over the world, are especially good when Christmas nears.
When Santa has finally left, the traditional "lutfisk" (dried cod that has been specially prepared before boiling) is eaten. "Risgrynsgrot" (Christmas porridge) is enjoyed for dessert. It usually contains a bitter almond. An old tradition says that the one who gets the bitter almond is the one who will get married the earliest.
The most delicious foods are eaten on Christmas Day. The usual meal consists of an especially delicious ham. Along with this ham there are usually many other foods. After dinner, everybody dances around the Christmas tree and sings peppy Christmas songs such as "Nur Ar Det Jul Igen," "Raven Raskar Over Isen," "Hej, Tomtegubbar!", and "Domaredansen."
Although most of the festivity of Christmas is over after Christmas Day, the day after Christmas Day is celebrated as a national holiday when nobody works. Christmas is talked about and the memories are enjoyed long after the holiday season is over.
When Santa has finally left, the traditional "lutfisk" (dried cod that has been specially prepared before boiling) is eaten. "Risgrynsgrot" (Christmas porridge) is enjoyed for dessert. It usually contains a bitter almond. An old tradition says that the one who gets the bitter almond is the one who will get married the earliest.
The most delicious foods are eaten on Christmas Day. The usual meal consists of an especially delicious ham. Along with this ham there are usually many other foods. After dinner, everybody dances around the Christmas tree and sings peppy Christmas songs such as "Nur Ar Det Jul Igen," "Raven Raskar Over Isen," "Hej, Tomtegubbar!", and "Domaredansen."
Although most of the festivity of Christmas is over after Christmas Day, the day after Christmas Day is celebrated as a national holiday when nobody works. Christmas is talked about and the memories are enjoyed long after the holiday season is over.