CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS OF SWEDEN

by Phillip

Swedish celebrations of Jul (pronounced ‘Yule’) – what we call Christmas - center around three key dates. But before we get to the first date we should talk about Advent. On the fourth Sunday before Christmas Swedish households display a candleholder that holds four candles. They light the first candle and extinguish it once the candle has burned down one quarter length of the candle.

On the next Sunday the first and second candles are lit and allowed to burn down another quarter length. The following Sunday the first three candles are lit, and on the Sunday before Christmas all four are lit.

Here is a picture our ours on the fourth week.

There are a lot of variations for observing traditions of advent, but this is how most of our friends observe it.

On December 13, (Winter solstice on the Julian calendar) Santa Lucia is celebrated. Lucia was a young Christian maiden in Italy who was killed for her beliefs in 304 A. D. Her crime was aiding and abetting the survival of the persecuted Christians by nightly descending into the catacombs where they hid from that authorities, bringing them sustenance.  To facilitate her work in the dark she would wear a headdress of candles to keep her hands free for her task.

Prior to the thirteenth of December, churches select young women to present a musical program. They sing about the blessings of light, charity and virtue. One of the girls is selected to represent Lucia and several others (in the program we saw this year there were eight) are chosen to accompany her.  They all dress in white gowns. Lucia’s gown is belted with a red sash, and in some cases the other girls bear the red sash as well. These girls accompany her, each holding a single candle, while Lucia alone bears the flaming headdress.

There are many variation in the program, but a common pattern has Lucia leading her companions through the city streets to the church doors. As they enter the choir of girls begin singing. Lucia leads her retinue to the front of the church.  The program continues with the Lucia’s companions kneeling then standing, extinguishing their candles and relighting them.  The pastor relates the tale of  Lucia and encourages the congregation to go out and bless others likewise.  

The program ends as Lucia leads her companions around the congregation and then out of the church while the girls choir sings Santa Lucia; the same song which I assume we all learned, as I did, in grade school. The song has little to do with Lucia’s life. Instead it is the prayerful outcry of a sailor asking that Saint Lucia will guide him safely into his home port, symbolic of each mortal’s need to seek aid from the divine in our hopes to return to our heavenly home.

A local girl summed up her opinion of the tradition with, “Kudos to all y'all who think walking around with fire on your head to celebrate a dead Italian chick is a good idea.”

The theme of light during this darkest period of the year is predominant .  Almost every window is illuminated  and remains so, in some households through February.  The two most popular forms of window decoration is the Light Bridge and the large illuminated paper stars.

The twenty-fourth of December is the next big event, ‘Jul Afton.’ Or as we call it, ‘Christmas Eve.’

Family members will come from near and far to celebrate Jul together.  Among the kindlier households, invitations  may be extended to those who have no one else to celebrate with; folks such as any poor wayfaring missionaries who might be in the area.

A Julbord (translated as “Christmas Table“) is set out for the evening featuring a rich array of traditional foods, including bread and cheese. a spiced ham and a raw herring dish called sill. (Sill is pronounced "seal", so the first time I ate it I thought i was feasting on an arctric mammal.) Warm rice porridge is traditional as well. A single almond will be dropped into the pot.  Whoever finds the almond in their bowl is traditionally destined to be the next person to marry.

Nearby will be a Christmas tree decorated with gingerbread cookies and paper heart baskets filled with nuts and candies. The families will dance around the tree singing “Now is it ‘Jul again!,” and playing musical chairs.

The most exciting part of the evening is the visit from Tomten.

The tomten tradition has undergone some evolution over the centuries.  Originally he was perceived to be a friendly spirit that would reside in farmyard barns. In time he began celebrating jul with the family by bringing toys and candy to the children. He would often use a goat to help carry the gifts. The goat itself is significant as he is the protector of the Christmas tree.  That’s why most household will have goats made out of straw set amidst the tree’s branches or on the floor near it.

Over the years Swedish artists have tried to visualize Tomten.

This is a classic image by Jenny Nyström.

Harald Viberg presents a 20th century version of Tomten.

John Bauer’s paintings of Tomten featured a more youthful character. 

This adolescent Tomten was featured on wrapping paper we bought this year.

Sadly, the trend for future conceptualization of Tomten is drifting towards this look. 

It’s all right for the U.S., but I hate the thought that it might drown one of my favorite aspects of the Swedish culture.

On Christmas Eve the local newspapers reserve the most significant and well written articles to be published for this special night, but it is a limited edition, so the demand for it is high. Inevitably someone in the household realizes that no one has picked up the Christmas edition. With a little persuasion someone is sent out to get the paper.  

While he is gone, there will be a knock at the door and Tomten will be found  carrying a bulging sack, He will distribute some gifts for everybody, even the family member that has stepped out to fetch the paper.  Tomten wishes all a Good Yule and is off to the next home.

 

Shortly after Tomten’s departure the absent family member returns with the paper, only to learn that they have just missed the festive visit.  In all the excitement of opening presents, the newspaper is set aside and is rarely ever read. 

(Did you figure out that the person getting the newspaper was dressed up like Tomten?)

Christmas eve is the main event of Sweden’s celebration. Christmas day is simply a day off from work and school, as is the next day.  Second Day Christmas is but one example  of how the Swedish people like to double up on their holidays.

The Christmas holidays are over on January 6.  This date, twelve days after Christmas day, represents the date the wise men arrive in Bethlehem to worship the child, Jesus. These twelve days after Christmas are the days we sing about in "The Twelve Days of Christmas." There is minimal celebration of the event among the Swedes. It is simply another day off from work and school. Actually it is another two days off from work and school, because they also celebrate Second Day Kings day.

For me, I find structure in the knowledge of the Thirteenth day of Christmas, Kings Day, or "Epiphany" as iti is also called.  For me it provides a clear-cut day to end my Christmas celebrations. The tree comes down, The Christmas carols are set aside. The decorations are packed away. The nativity set is tenderly prepared for another ten months in storage.

Oh, that’s one other thing about Swedish Christmases. Very few households  display Nativity sets. This is a sample of one Swedish version.

I love the Christmas traditions of Sweden.  I hope that in the future the Swedish people will continue to cling to those traditions that distinguish them as a unique culture.