Christmas (Jul) in Sweden is a cozy time – filled with lots of white lights, snow, freezing temperatures, trees lit up in every town centre. It is also the darkest month of the year, meaning Swedes go crazy with the tea lights and stars in the windows to make up for the lack of sun. […]
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December in Stockholm
Before we know it, December will brighten up our lives again. Although probably cold, with all the lights and festivities around it’s always a warm welcome after an often grey November. Yes, it will be dark before 3 pm, but all the Christmas decorations make it much more bearable. People in the city have already […]
Is Sweden religious after all?
An American friend landed at Arlanda airport in Stockholm and jumped into a taxi towards the city. On the road, he looked out of the window and watched the Swedish countryside pass by. When I met him later in the day, he looked confused. I asked him what the issue was and he said – […]
Swedish Playlists for the Holiday Spirit
The end of the year is here and we yearn for the white winter. It is almost like the way they celebrate Christmas Eve and New Year in every other country — the festive lights and red-white decorations surround you. Except, it’s freezing cold and the nights are darker and longer here. Yes, you know […]
Is there such a thing as something genuinely Swedish?
With the winter solstice around the corner and the streets waiting for snow glistening like Christmas cards, the Swedes are turning inwards, in space and time. Knowing there is no way we can overcome the darkness, we embrace it. We collect and bring home warming fragrances of citrus, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, saffron, conifer needles. Stars […]
Christmas in Sweden
Christmas time is here, finally, many of us think. But look around you. If you live in Sweden you probably know someone who actually doesn’t celebrate Christmas. I had never thought about it until I had a Swedish class in which we discussed celebrations and festivities. There and then, I understood that those who do […]
Advent – and how to survive December in Sweden
It’s December and let’s face it – the darkness sucks. In some parts of the country the snow has arrived already and in the rest of Sweden it’s simply cold and wet. All in all, not a great set up. So it’s not surprising that Swedes, being resourceful creatures, have come up with a a […]
