Christmas in Sweden starts early with the first lit candle at the first of four Advent Sundays. It is a warm feeling and it makes you count the days before the Big day.
Then comes the celebration of Santa Lucia and all the positive things around it.
Every day is special, preparing for Christmas. Many gatherings with family and friends. A warming feeling with lit fire places, candles and many wonderful sweets to eat. Beautiful Christmas concerts are playing in churches.
The night before Christmas Eve is normally the night when the family is decorating the tree. If you live in the country, the father brings it back together with eldest son from the woods in the morning. Opening the box of ornaments, stored away for a year, used last year. It is fantastic to remember the goat, the handmade ball, all the special decorations used year after year. Should we call it being nostalgic... is part of the tradition. Delicious scents are coming from the kitchen. cookies are baked, the ham is in the oven , herring is pickled and so on.
Finally when Christmas Eve is happening , family members start dropping in. Everyone is happy. My sister and I used to laugh and say...It's Christmas ...use the big smile !
Perhaps the tradition of celebrating is more important and more fun when there is small kids around. When they do believe in Santa Claus. Lights are lit in the windows so he can find his way. Porridge is placed on a dish on the door step for Santa Claus. He always has his meal. The dish is always empty in the morning. He finally brings the gifts after spending endless hours around the table eating the famous " Smorgards bord". Believe me, then we eat leftovers for another two weeks. Lots of singing, dancing and laughter.
We are enjoying the festive until the 13th of January, when the last party is happening. The tree need to be undressed and the tradition is to throw it out the window. Lots of plays and small gifts again for the children.
G
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