Christmas in Sweden

Of all the countries that celebrate Christmas, Sweden surely has some of the most interesting traditions that date back centuries. The celebrations begin on St. Lucia Day, December 13th. In each family with at least one daughter, typically the youngest daughter, dresses up as St. Lucia in a white robe with a red sash. She also wears an evergreen crown with real lighted candles!. This little St. Lucia brings breakfast to her parents on December 13th, along with other brothers and sisters dressed in white robes and singing Christmas carols.


image courtesy of Andrea Gerak

Like most countries in Europe, Chistmas is primarily celebrated on the 24th in Sweden. Their Christmas feast normally includes fish and rice porridge called risgryngrot! After the Christmas Eve meal, the Tomte comes to bring gifts to good boys and girls. In the past, the Tomte was considered to live under the house or barn, but these days he's considered more like a Santa Claus who comes to each house with gifts from the North.