Decorations keep the dark at bay
While the commercial decorations are there for a specific purpose, they also have a wider effect — they keep the dark at bay. Throughout the country, Swedes help by putting electrical candlesticks in their windows — sometimes one in each — and arranging lights on a Christmas tree in the garden.


Throughout Sweden Advent stars and electrical candlesticks are put in the windows. Photo: Ewa Ahlin/Johnér

In northern Sweden, where the midnight sun shines in the summer, the sun never rises above the horizon at this time of year.“It’ll soon turn”, Swedes tell one another when they meet. The midwinter solstice, on 21 December, is just round the corner, and the days will then begin to get lighter.

Countdown to Christmas
On the first Sunday, people light the first candle in the Advent candlestick. This is always a special event, eagerly awaited. Each Sunday until Christmas, a candle is lit (and blown out after a while), until all four candles are alight.

The children’s expectations grow with every candle. On TV, there is a special Christmas calendar show for the young with 24 episodes. It, too, serves as a countdown to the big day.

In towns and cities, Christmas fairs selling handicrafts and decorations are a common sight, while at home people start baking in preparation for the holiday.

Glögg and ginger snaps
December is one of the most hectic months for Swedish families. The burden of work is always heavy at this time of year. There is much to be done in a short space of time before everyone can sit back and relax. For the children, meanwhile, December involves numerous end-of-term ceremonies, shows and activities.

The longed-for peace and quiet comes later, when all the preparations have been completed and Christmas can begin in earnest. On the first Sunday in Advent, many Swedes get together to drink glögg — a hot, spicy mulled wine with blanched almonds and raisins and ginger snaps to accompany it.

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Po Tidholm is a freelance journalist and a critic with the Stockholm daily, Dagens Nyheter. Po Tidholm wrote the main sections about how we celebrate in Sweden today.

Agneta Lilja is a lecturer in ethnology at Södertörn University College, Stockholm. Agneta Lilja wrote the sections about the history of Swedish traditions and festivities.

The authors alone are responsible for the opinions expressed on this web page.

Translation: Stephen Croall/Lingon

© Photos:
Photo 2: Ewa Ahlin/Johnér

Copyright: 2004 Agneta Lilja, Po Tidholm and the Swedish Institute. This text is published by the Swedish Institute on www.sweden.se.