Christmas and Advent in Sweden. Is it your first Christmas away from home or are you experienced to the Swedish way of advent and Christmas by now? Few things can make us feel at home as much as traditions which also means that being a part of new traditions in a new country, can be very disorienting and lonely. So let us do our best to give you a comprehensive guide to Swedish Christmas and advent traditions.
Swede’s do things differently, but how? We’re going to consider everything from music, food and drink, recipes and fun facts to customs and festivities both old and new. Even when it comes to the main event, Christmas is actually celebrated here on December 24th. So let’s get started!
What is advent in Sweden?
Let us start with what advent actually means. Advent comes from the Latin word ‘Adventus’ and simply means ‘arrival’. It’s celebrated here by lighting a candle every Sunday, beginning 4 weeks before Christmas. The candles are said to represent HOPE, LOVE, JOY & PEACE… Exactly what our world needs right now!!
Julkalendern
Julkalendern is a big deal in Sweden. Every year on the first of December, children and adults in Sweden eagerly anticipate the launch of SVTs annual Christmas series.
Julkalendern has been a tradition in Sweden since the 1960s, showing a new series every year. If you have children who are old enough to enjoy Julkalendern, it can be a good idea to introduce them to it. It is common that kids in daycare and school talk and re-enact the show. And don’t be surprised if your colleagues start discussing the day’s episode during work lunch. Julkalendern truly is for both young and old.
The calendar is broadcasted every day 1-24 December on SVT Play and weekdays on SVT1 and SVT barn at 07.15 and 18.45 and at the weekend 08:45 and 18.45. Of course, it also appears on SVT Barn’s website and in its app.
If you are a newbie in Sweden and need a little support with the language, we recommend watching on SVT språkplay where subtitles with translation options are available.
Lucia
December 13th known as Saint Lucias Day and is a celebration of light at the time of year when this part of the world is at its darkest. This celebration will be hard for you to miss. Schools, kindergartens, churches, town halls and care homes will be honouring this historic custom with their own Lucia services. The ceremony involves a procession, which is led by ‘Lucia’ whose defining feature is the candlelit wreath resting on her head. The tradition is that Lucia wears a long, white gown. She is followed by children who carry candles and wear Lucia/Christmas costumes. The costumes vary between ginger bread people, Santa elfs, stars and there is usually a rebel with some kind of super hero costume.
The procession sing songs and serve some sort of fika afterwards. The traditional fika is Sweden’s most famous S shaped saffron buns – Lussekatter. Oh, and pepparkakor (ginger bread) of course.
In daycare and the early school years, it is tradition to start practicing the Lucia songs way in advance and parents are often encourage to practice with their kids at home. So if you want to prepare, here is a good list that’s been going on repeat for years in our home, aaaaaaall through December:-)
Julbocken
Most Swedish homes have their own julbock (made of hay and bound together with red ribbon) in their collection of decorations, supposed to symbolize fertility and good luck, they are usually placed at the entrance of people’s homes to greet guests.
The world’s largest straw goat has been built in Gävle every year at the beginning of Swedish advent. This has taken place since 1966. It is called Gävlebocken, is thirteen metres high, seven metres long and weighs 3.6 tonnes. One thousand man hours are needed for its construction. The goat was intended to attract customers to the local shops and restaurants but has now become a worldwide celebrity.
The julbock in Gävle has been destroyed or damaged thirty-eight times over the past fifty-six years being subjected to repeated arson attacks. Needless to say, the security becomes more intense and costly each year.
In 2023, the Gävlebocken’s demise wasn’t due to fire, but due to flocks of blackbirds and magpies desperately looking for some winter sustenance. Because of hay shortages due to bad harvests in 2023, the organisers of Gävlebocken had to use straw that had old grain still attached.
Julmusik
Sweden is one of the world’s leading exporters of popular music. From the success of Roxette, Ace of Base and ABBA (who became one of the most successful pop groups of all time) to recent superstars Zara Larsson and Avicii. So it will come as no surprise that Sweden boasts an extensive and varied range of festive music guaranteed to fill our snow boots with Christmas cheer!
It’s almost impossible to narrow it down but here are five of our best loved newbie picks. Of course, all sang by Swedish artists.
- Välkommen hem – E.M.D
- Jul, Jul strålande jul – Carola Häggkvist
- Jag kommer hem igen till jul – Peter Jöback
- Fira jul med mig – Linnea Henriksson
- Stad I ljus – Tommy Körberg
If you are looking for some background music to play whilst tucking in to your julbord this year then here is a link to twenty of the most played julsånger of 2022.
Julkonsert
In December, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a Christmas concert (Julkonsert). Children’s concerts, church choirs, orchestras in city halls, galas, comedy clubs, casinos and even circuses all offering their own Christmas shows.
You can see which Julkonserts are happening in your area here or you can simply google the name of your town and the word julkonsert and you will have plenty of options to choose from.
Julmusik comes in many guises. Classic, quirky and somewhat more serious. If you are an English speaker, you’ll notice that a lot of the carols are translated versions of the old classics. Here are links to some we are sure you will recognise…
Ok, you know the tunes, why not learn the Swedish lyrics. Another top newbie tip for improving your Swedish vocabulary this Christmas!
Musikhjälpen
Musikhjälpen is fundraising event which started in 2008 as a collaboration between P3 Sverige’s radio and SVT. It is broadcasted live and filmed around the clock for 144 hours! The presenters (usually two or three) are locked in a glass cage for the duration of the event. Did anyone say sleep deprivation?
Artists and other guests visit the presenters in their glass cage and participate by for instance singing song requests from you, the audience. Celebrity memorabilia is auctioned, it’s even possible for you to bid for dinner dates with famous people! You can read more about Musikhjälpen and how to donate here.
Årets julklapp
Have you heard of årets julklapp – the years Christmas gift? When Christmas is getting near you may have heard Swedes speculating as to what will be nominated as årets julklapp. Each year Sweden’s trade research institute analyses social trends which reflect Swedes current consumer behaviour and then release details of the year’s predicted most popular Christmas gift.
Here’s a few examples of what made it to top of Sweden’s list in previous years, the very first was the baking machine back in 1988.
Årets julklapp over the years – this list is a real sign of the times
- 1990 The wok
- 1996 Internet packet
- 2000 DVD player
- 2006 Audio books
- 2017 Electric cycle
- 2021 Event tickets (Tickets to the theatre, football matches, concerts and other live experiences)
- 2022 The home knitted gift.
See the entire list here and if you are looking for inspiration for other types of sustainable gifts (you know just in case your knitting isn’t quite there yet) then you can check out our post with 10 sustainable gift ideas for the holidays.
Julmarknad
It’s time to embrace the dark, cold Swedish winter, wrap up warm and head to your local Christmas market. Browsing open air stalls, fire-pits, listening to Christmas music with a hot chocolate or steamy mug of glögg in hand. The perfect aroma of grilled sausage, freshly baked pastries and waffles makes snacking just impossible to resist! Isn’t that just the ultimate Christmas feeling?!
The first Christmas market in Stockholm’s old town (Gamla Stan) dates right the way back to 1837 and bigger and better every year it is still operating today. Nowadays, these markets are held throughout advent in all Sweden’s major cities, scaled down versions are also held in smaller towns and villages.
Although all have the right ingredients to fill you from head to toe with Christmas cheer, they do all have a totally different vibe. You can decide on medieval style, like that of the Gamla stan in Stockholm or for the more adventurous thrill-seeking shoppers Göteborg’s theme park Liseberg hosts its own market and is never more popular than at Christmastime.
Another newbie favourite, is the cosy, picture-perfect Gustav Adolf square in Malmö. However, our favourite with kids in mind has been a calendar highlight since 1903. You find it in Stockholm’s open-air museum Skansen and it’s a beauty. Alongside all that is traditional, children relish the opportunity to meet the resident animals and participate in craft workshops.
So, whether you are city or country folk there is sure to be a julmarknad near you this weekend. Christmas markets near you.
Bingolotto and uppesittarkväll
Bingolotto is a prime-time TV show aired weekly with entertainment, with live music, interesting guests, well-known artists and of course bingo! This show is perhaps weirdly popular with Swedes but the most popular event of them all is the so called uppesittarkväll – the Christmas special, broadcasted live every year on December 23rd.
All the surplus profits (about 60 million sek each year) from ticket sales go directly to Swedish clubs, associations and organisations. So, here’s your chance to celebrate Christmas and win a little something too.
Julvärd
Julvärd (Christmas host) is an honoured role. Every year there are months of speculation as to who will be announced as this year’s julvärd. And what is a Julvärd? The julvärd is the presenter that hosts SVT’s julafton program of entertainment.
The julvärd has been a long-standing tradition since 1959 and the Christmas host is always a respected TV personality. Since 2003, a different celebrity has hosted each year. But before that, Arne Weise hosted the show live for 30 years. In an interview in 2019 Weise said his job as julvärd was the highlight of his career. Although his absence from his family every Christmas took its toll.
Kalle Anka (Donald Duck)
What does Kalle Anka (Donald Duck) have to do with Christmas? At 3 pm on Julafton (Christmas Eve) life across Sweden is paused for one hour. Families sit together glued to a program that Swedes have watched since 1959. This shows’ cultural significance cannot be overstated.
Watching the Walt Disney special is a hugely popular TV event with 40-50% of the population tuning in. In fact, many families’ entire Christmas eve will be planned around Kalle Anka. No julbord or visits from Tomten (Santa) until after the show!
But why is this so popular? Back in 1959, Sweden had one TV channel and Christmas was the only opportunity to see cartoons. Over the years, any attempts to cancel the show or alter the viewing time has been strongly opposed. So, a word of warning newbies. Even if you don’t watch the show, you’ll struggle to find anyone to hang with at 3 pm on Julafton! So just tune into SVT1*, sit back, relax and enjoy.
You cannot stream this after the aired time. Due to licensing agreements with Disney the show is only shown (in full) live on SVT 1 at 3 pm on Christmas Eve.
Julafton vs juldag – Christmas Eve or Christmas day
If you find yourself in Sweden this Christmas just remember that the main event is celebrated on December 24th and it’s called julafton. Christmas Eve is one of the oldest holidays and has always been the day to socialise, the day of the julbord, Kalle Anka and the giving and receiving of presents. Swedes have always regarded juldag (Christmas Day) as a holy day. It is a tranquil day of rest and reflection, eating leftovers and relaxing at home after the frivolities of the day before.
If you are a newbie in Sweden and you come from a country that celebrates on the 25th then you can make the best of both days! We know for example, that the majority of the 25,000 Brits living in Sweden will be tucking into a traditional julbord on julafton whilst roasting a turkey, making stuffing and peeling vegetables and potatoes for the following day!
As a newbie, we can view Christmas from the perfect vantage point, what an exciting opportunity to amalgamate traditions and cultures. To share our stories and experiences from Christmases past and to marry our ideals for Christmases yet to come.
So, julafton vs juldag – Christmas eve or Christmas day? We’re going to embrace both and we think that you all should too!
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