On Christmas Eve, or Julafton, Swedes celebrating Christmas attend church services. They return home to a traditional family dinner including a buffet dinner (smörgåsbord) with ham, pork, or fish, and a variety of sweets. After the festive Christmas Eve dinner, someone dresses up as Tomte.

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How Christmas is celebrated in Scandinavia?

The traditions of Christmas in Sweden are similar to those of Norway, down to visiting family between Christmas and New Year, or perhaps setting off for a ski holiday. Burning candles may be seen in most homes, and Christmas trees must be as straight as possible.

Why does Scandinavia celebrate Christmas on the 24th?

Celebrating on the 24th of December It is, in fact, a part of the Nordic culture to celebrate most holidays on the eve of. The reason for this is the way the Nordic countries used to measure time and dates. Based on ancient ways of counting time, a day would typically start after sundown.

What are Sweden's Christmas traditions?

Each Sunday until Christmas, a candle is lit (and blown out after a while), until all four candles are alight. And on each of these Sundays, many Swedes enjoy glögg – a hot, spicy mulled wine with blanched almonds and raisins – and pepparkakor (gingerbread biscuits).

What is Norway's Christmas traditions?

Before Christmas we decorate the house with wreaths, angels, gnomes, hearts, stars, and maybe a nativity scene or a gingerbread house. More and more people also decorate their houses on the outside with lights and wreaths. Most families have a Christmas tree in the living room.

How do Finland celebrate Christmas?

Finland is where Santa lives. … In Finland, Christmas Eve is the main event of the holidays, and the night Santa comes with his presents. It is spent with the family, decorating the tree, drinking “glögi” (mulled wine) and doing the quintessential Finnish thing, bathing in a Christmas sauna.

Why do Scandinavians open presents on Christmas Eve?

Because Norwegians believe that the arrival of Christmas coincides with the arrival of evil witches and other spirits, there is a tradition of hiding all the brooms in the house. Christmas Eve is when Julenissen (Santa Claus) brings gifts to the children, which they are allowed to open after dinner.

What are 3 holiday traditions in Sweden?

What is Santa Claus called in Sweden?

Christmas in Sweden: The tomte, Sweden’s version of Santa Claus, is a scary gnome.

What is a Nordic Christmas?

Nordic Christmas roots go into the pagan holiday of Yule, a days-long feast that was perhaps the most important celebration of the year, the winter solstice. … Christmas in the Nordics is still referred to by its pagan name: Jul in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, Jól in Iceland, and Joulu in Finland.

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What does Santa look like in Sweden?

Father Christmas comes in two forms in Sweden: a gnome-like figure from Swedish folklore, called a jultomte, and a rather jolly old man with a white beard and wearing a fur-trimmed red suit, known the world-over as Santa!

How do Swedes celebrate Christmas Eve?

You may be familiar with the Swedish concept of smorgasbord, and on Christmas Eve Swedes celebrate with a julbord. Fish features heavily (smoked salmon, pickled herring and lye-fish), plus ham, sausages, ribs, cabbage, potatoes and of course, meatballs.

Is Santa's real?

Let’s begin with something we all know is true: Santa Claus is real. New York Sun’s newspaper reported it in 1897. There are historical records about St. … But, as kids get older, they may have more questions about Santa and how his magic really works.

How do Norwegians say Merry Christmas?

1- Merry Christmas! God jul!

How do you say Santa in Norwegian?

Norwegian Julenissen means Santa Claus | norwegianabc.com.

Why do Norwegians hide their brooms on Christmas Eve?

Wicked Christmas Norwegians believe that Christmas Eve coincides with the arrival of evil spirits and witches. Logically, therefore, households will hide all their brooms before they go to sleep. Another tradition popular in Scandinavia is that of the Christmas goat (Julebukk in Norway or Julbock in Sweden).

What do Scandinavians do in winter?

Dark, cold days don’t discourage Scandinavians from getting outdoors. They go hiking, ice skating, and cross-country skiing, treating themselves after with food and drink by a campfire, Brynger said. In Norway, there’s a term “friluftsliv” that describes an attitude of seeking, and embracing, time outdoors.

What do they celebrate in Norway?

The day of the Constitution is a national holiday that is held on the 17th of May and one of the biggest festivals in the country. Norway’s national day is the celebration of national pride and respect. … Also, it’s good to know that in Norway, 17th May is also known as the Norwegian Independence Day.

How do they celebrate Christmas in Denmark?

In common with much of Europe (but not the UK), Denmark celebrates Christmas on December 24, Christmas Eve. Traditionally, that means eating an elaborate Christmas dinner in the evening and opening presents, often late into the night, afterwards. In Denmark, the name for Christmas is jul.

What is Santa Claus called in Finland?

Joulupukki – Santa Claus Finland.

How do you say Santa in Finnish?

The Finnish equivalent for Father Christmas, Santa Claus, St. Nicholas etc, is joulupukki, who has his origin in the pagan Nordic shaman tradition of people dressing up in animal disguises.

What are Swedish elves called?

What are gnomes in Sweden? Swedish gnomes are small elf-like creatures that often lived around houses and in barns, according to legend. The Tomte is fond of caring for children, and if you befriended one of these creatures, then they would help to protect you against misfortune.

Who brings presents on Christmas in Sweden?

In 2016, its 50th year, it was burnt down in less than two days! In Sweden, presents are brought by Santa who’s known as ‘Jultomte’ or by the ‘Tomte’ (Christmas Gnomes). Tomte are also sometimes called ‘Nissar’ (male elves/gnomes) or ‘Nissor’ (female gnomes/elves).

What food is eaten in Sweden?

How do Sweden celebrate?

Swedes don’t miss any opportunity to celebrate their traditions. The five most common ones are Easter, the Swedish National Day, midsummer, the crayfish party and Christmas.

How do Swedes decorate for Christmas?

Swedish Christmas is full of straw. In addition to straw wreaths and straw goats, many Swedes decorate their trees with straw ornaments. The traditional ornaments come in a variety of traditional shapes including several varieties of stars, angels, pine cones, and – of course – goats.

How do Swedes celebrate midsummer?

Midsummer is one of the most celebrated holidays in Sweden. People traditionally pick flowers and create their own floral crowns which they wear throughout the day. It is also said that if you place seven types of flowers under your pillow at midsummer, you will dream about your future spouse.

What do Scandinavians call Santa?

Danes, Swedes and Norwegians base their Santa on a mythological figure – a gnome known as a “tomte” or “nisse” in the Scandinavian languages – whereas Finns, who are ethnically and linguistically a different people, know Santa as “joulupukki,” a Christmas buck or goat, derived from old pagan Norse mythology.

What are Scandinavian Christmas colors?

A classic Scandinavian color palette includes white and just one other color. For the holidays, it’s red: Think bakers twine and peppermint candies. Organic elements, particularly natural wood, are also a hallmark of this look.

Do the Danish celebrate Christmas?

Danish Christmas is celebrated in the evening on December 24, and the country virtually shuts down.

How does Germany celebrate Christmas?

Germany celebrates Christmas with two public holidays, 25 and 26 December. For many people, 24 December, Christmas Eve, is divided into a hectic morning and a festive evening. … Afterwards attention focuses on decorating the Christmas tree with fairy lights and colourful baubles, wrapping up presents and preparing food.