All over the world Christmas is celebrated in special ways. Passed down traditions are part of what we share with each other, making memories for future generations.

The Swedish Christmas season begins in the wee early morning hours as “Lucia” (one of the family’s daughters) dresses in white wearing a red sash around her waist and a crown of candles on her head. She brings cocoa and special saffron buns (Lussekatte) to wake the family up as she visits each sleepy (but expectant) family member. This is a ‘borrowed’ and custom which has evolved from the time a young girl who ultimately became “St. Lucia”, compassionately brought food to the prisoners in the dark dungeons. With both hands full the crown of candles she wore lighted her way through the darkness bringing light and blessings to the captive.

With everyone awake it’s time to get ready to attend Julotta, the Christmas service at the Church where the Christmas story is told, songs are sung and everyone shares the excitement of the season with family and friends, and neighbors. Most likely there will be plenty of snow for the cozy ride together in the horse drawn sleigh…in the silence of the early morning with the merry bells of the sleigh in harmony with the call of the welcoming church bells!

The Christmas baking is prepared well before Christmas Eve which is the day Christmas is celebrated in Sweden. Actually from the 13th of December until the 13th of January, Christmas is ongoing! There is no lull in the celebration with holiday activities, concerts, and events. With Pepparkakor cookies which are gingerbread flavored and are made in all kinds of traditional shapes. If you put a heart shaped one in the palm of your hand and make a wish…then with your knuckle give it a crack and it breaks into three pieces…you get your wish! If it doesn’t…at least you can have another cookie and keep trying!

Well of course Tomte are real! We’ve talked with people who have actually seen them, or they know people who have! Tomte – are the little gnomes who come with the farm and home where you live. You will answer to them with their mischievous ways if you fail to take good care of your place, be good to your animals, and not forget them at Christmas by leaving them a small bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve.

For generations Swedish children have looked forward to the treat of a marzipan pig. This almond flavored, sugary treat is still very popular. And what does a goat have to do with Christmas? In years past it was usually a goat, working together with the tomte, who carried the presents to the anxiously waiting children. But the goat itself goes way back to pagan times, perhaps to the vikings or even earlier, and now seems to be just a harmless tradition. We see it continuing with ubiquitous goats everywhere made of straw and decorated with red ribbon, a very common Christmas decoration. In fact, the use of straw in decorations is quite an art form around here at this time of year. And pigs – it wouldn’t be Christmas without ham. In the old days the family looked forward to the slaughtering of the pig, for it was one of the few times when they got to eat fresh meat. The ham was boiled, then served cold along with sausages, cheese, and a variety of breads. The juice from the ham was used for dunking slices or chunks of bread, a tradition called “dop i gryttan”, or dipping in the pot. There was also fish (pickled, or pan fried or baked), eggs, potatoes, cabbage salad (both red cabbage and brown) and beet salad. One popular dish is Janssons Frestelse (Jansson’s Temptation), like au gratin potatoes but with the addition of salty little anchovies. A real Swedish julbord, or Christmas dinner/smörgåsbord would not be complete without it. And finally, for dessert, rice porridge, or ris ala Malta, a dessert made with boiled rice with cream and bits of orange or raspberries.

Up and over here in Sweden during the quite lengthy winter months the sun rises for just a while before it sets early in the afternoon. The farther north you live the longer the dark and shorter the light of day. Celebrating Advent is a long held tradition of remembering the birth of the Jesus Christ. On the first Sunday in December the first of a set of four candles is lit and allowed to burn. The following Sundays both the first and the next of the candles are lit.