In Sweden we build up the christmas feeling from around the first of december to the 24th of dec with different activities. This period is called Advent. We have a special candleholder with four candles. And we light up a new candle every sunday. So the last sunday before christmas all four candles are lightened up. The weekends in Advent are filled up with social things. Fika with typical christmas drinks, coockies, buns and sweets. And the 13 th of december we celebrate Lucia, with it s own traditions and songs.
I agree, but what many young swedes seem to have forgotten is that the actual jul (christmas) is between the 25th of december and *tjugondag knut* in the 13th of january. That's the best days in my opinion, when the commercial stress is long gone and you can enjoy the nice food and drinks and ambience. However, some kids gets really perplexed when I tell them it's still jul during nyårsafton, new year's eve :D
About the julbord/smörgåsbord though, there IS a very strict order in when you eat what. Non-swedes often miss that part and will start anywhere, or put everything on their plate at once. Swedes know to start with herring and potatoes and then go several rounds (with a change of plates) for different sections. Julbord can be eaten for hours.
In Sweden we build up the christmas feeling from around the first of december to the 24th of dec with different activities. This period is called Advent. We have a special candleholder with four candles. And we light up a new candle every sunday. So the last sunday before christmas all four candles are lightened up. The weekends in Advent are filled up with social things. Fika with typical christmas drinks, coockies, buns and sweets. And the 13 th of december we celebrate Lucia, with it s own traditions and songs.
I agree, but what many young swedes seem to have forgotten is that the actual jul (christmas) is between the 25th of december and *tjugondag knut* in the 13th of january. That's the best days in my opinion, when the commercial stress is long gone and you can enjoy the nice food and drinks and ambience. However, some kids gets really perplexed when I tell them it's still jul during nyårsafton, new year's eve :D
About the julbord/smörgåsbord though, there IS a very strict order in when you eat what. Non-swedes often miss that part and will start anywhere, or put everything on their plate at once. Swedes know to start with herring and potatoes and then go several rounds (with a change of plates) for different sections. Julbord can be eaten for hours.
"Afton" is an other word for evening so basicly "Julafton" is "Christmas Evening"
Its pyed here in Sweden to and we have also many holidays