Sweden transforms into a winter wonderland during Christmas, blending traditional customs with a cozy, modern twist. But how Sweden celebrates Christmas? For Swedes, the holiday season, or Jul, is a cherished time filled with light, food, and family gatherings. Whether it’s the beloved St. Lucia Day, festive markets, or the grand julbord feast, Swedish Christmas traditions create a unique and magical experience.
This article answers the question “How Sweden celebrates Christmas?” and takes you on a journey through the holiday customs, food, decorations, and celebrations that make a Swedish Christmas unforgettable.
The Advent Season: A Month-Long Celebration
In Sweden, Christmas doesn’t start on December 24th; it begins weeks earlier with the Advent season. Advent is the four-week countdown to Christmas, marked with candle lighting, decorations, and cozy gatherings.
Advent Candles and Stars
The Advent calendar and Advent candlestick are staples in Swedish homes. Each Sunday, families light one of the four candles in their Advent candelabra, symbolizing hope, love, joy, and peace.
The Adventsstjärna, or Advent star, is another iconic decoration. These paper stars, often hung in windows, symbolize the Star of Bethlehem and light up the dark Scandinavian winter.
“Advent brings warmth to Swedish homes during the long winter nights. Each candle lit feels like a step closer to Christmas magic.” – Swedish Tradition Expert, Helena Lundström
St. Lucia’s Day: The Festival of Light
St. Lucia’s Day, celebrated on December 13th, is one of Sweden’s most beloved and unique Christmas traditions. It honors Saint Lucia, a symbol of light and hope during the darkest time of the year.
The Lucia Procession
Children dress in white gowns, with one girl chosen as Lucia, wearing a crown of candles. Lucia leads a procession of singers who carry candles and perform traditional hymns like Sankta Lucia.
This celebration takes place in homes, schools, churches, and even workplaces. Lucia’s message of light brings joy and unity across Sweden.
Lussekatter and Festive Treats
Lussekatter, or saffron buns shaped like the letter “S,” are baked and enjoyed with coffee or glögg (spiced mulled wine). Saffron’s golden color symbolizes light and the warmth of the season.
How Sweden celebrates Christmas: Christmas Markets – Shopping and Festive Cheer
Sweden’s Christmas markets, or julmarknader, are a highlight of the holiday season. They pop up in cities and towns across the country, offering handmade crafts, decorations, and festive treats.
Famous Christmas Markets in Sweden
- Stockholm’s Gamla Stan Market: Set in the historic Old Town, this market glows with lights and stalls selling traditional Swedish goods.
- Gothenburg’s Liseberg Christmas Market: A magical wonderland with thousands of lights, ice skating, and food stalls.
- Skansen Christmas Market: At the open-air museum in Stockholm, this market offers an authentic glimpse of traditional Swedish Christmas.
Visitors enjoy sampling foods like gingerbread cookies (pepparkakor), mulled wine (glögg), and caramelized almonds. Markets are perfect for finding handcrafted gifts, like Dala horses and Swedish candles.
How Sweden celebrates Christmas: Swedish Christmas Decorations and Traditions
Another way of how Sweden celebrates Christmas is creating warm and festive atmospheres during that time. Homes are decorated with lights, garlands, and traditional ornaments.
The Christmas Tree (Julgran)
The Christmas tree, or julgran, is a central part of Swedish holiday décor. Swedes often decorate their trees with handmade ornaments, straw figures, and strings of lights. The tradition of the Christmas tree dates back to the 1800s.
Tomte: The Swedish Santa Claus
The Tomte is a mythical Christmas figure in Sweden. Unlike the Western Santa Claus, the tomte is a small, bearded gnome who protects homes and farms. On Christmas Eve, the tomte delivers gifts to children but expects a bowl of porridge (risgrynsgröt) in return.
“The Book of Christmas” by Thomas Kibble Hervey, author: Robert Seymour (1798 – 1836)
How Sweden celebrates Christmas: Christmas Food – The Julbord Feast
Food plays a central role in Swedish Christmas celebrations, and the julbord is the ultimate festive feast. The word julbord translates to “Christmas table,” a buffet-style meal enjoyed with family and friends.
What’s on the Julbord?
A traditional Swedish julbord includes:
- Pickled Herring (Sill): Served in various flavors like mustard, onion, or dill.
- Smoked Salmon (Gravad Lax): Cured salmon seasoned with dill and mustard sauce.
- Meatballs (Köttbullar): Swedish meatballs, often served with lingonberry sauce.
- Christmas Ham (Julskinka): The centerpiece of the julbord, glazed with mustard and breadcrumbs.
- Jansson’s Temptation (Janssons Frestelse): A creamy potato casserole with anchovies.
- Sausages (Prinskorv): Small, fried sausages served alongside other dishes.
- Lussekatter and Pepparkakor: Saffron buns and gingerbread cookies complete the meal.
To accompany the food, Swedes enjoy drinks like julmust (a non-alcoholic Christmas soda) and glögg, spiced mulled wine served with almonds and raisins.
December is a really good restaurant month due to the Christmas tables. Based on the survey, we have calculated that around 5 million Christmas dinners will be served in Swedish restaurants this year [2017].
Björn Arnek, head of department for industry economics at Visita
Christmas Eve: The Heart of Swedish Christmas
In Sweden, Christmas Eve, or Julafton, is the most important day of the holiday season. Families gather to exchange gifts, enjoy the julbord, and celebrate together.
Donald Duck and Swedish TV Tradition
One unique Swedish tradition is watching Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul (“Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas”). This Disney Christmas special has aired every Christmas Eve since 1960 and is watched by millions of Swedes.
Gift Giving with the Tomte
After the julbord, the tomte arrives to deliver gifts. Unlike in other cultures where Santa sneaks down the chimney, the Swedish tomte often knocks on the door and personally hands out presents.
Christmas Day and Beyond: Rest and Relaxation
Christmas Day, or Juldagen, is a quieter day in Sweden. After the festivities of Christmas Eve, families take the opportunity to relax, eat leftovers, and spend quality time together.
In the days following Christmas, Swedes enjoy outdoor activities like ice skating, skiing, and walks in the snow-covered countryside. Many also visit friends and extended family to continue the celebrations.
New Year’s and Twelfth Night: Wrapping Up the Season
The Swedish Christmas season extends until January 13th, known as Tjugondag Knut or “St. Knut’s Day.” On this day, Swedes take down their Christmas trees and decorations, officially ending the holiday season.
New Year’s Eve, or Nyårsafton, is celebrated with fireworks, festive dinners, and parties. It’s a time to reflect on the year and look forward to new beginnings.
Christmas in Sweden – A Season of Light and Tradition
Sweden celebrates Christmas with a perfect blend of ancient traditions and modern festivities. From the luminous celebrations of St. Lucia’s Day to the hearty julbord feast and cozy family gatherings, Swedish Christmas captures the essence of light, warmth, and togetherness.
Whether you’re visiting a Christmas market in Stockholm, savoring lussekatter with glögg, or learning about the tomte, Sweden offers a unique and magical Christmas experience.
As the Swedes say, “God Jul!” – Merry Christmas!
