Winter in Sweden
Christmas in Sweden
Christmas is a time to get together and celebrate the holidays with good food, great company and lots of cheer. If you're looking for a festive destination to do so, look no further than Sweden. There are markets, lights and decorations everywhere you turn. The smell of glögg (a traditional Swedish Christmas drink) fills the air and the sound of Christmas carols can be heard everywhere you go. There will be plenty of stalls for you to visit so you will be certain to find a perfect Christmas gift for that special someone!
Traditional Swedish Food
Visiting Sweden at Christmas is not just fantastic to visit the Christmas markets and take in the sights, but also, to eat traditional delicacies, such as ‘julskinka’ (Christmas ham), ‘gravad lax’ (cured salmon), ‘sill’ (pickled herring),’lussekatter’ (saffron buns) and ‘risgrynsgröt’ (rice pudding). With many Christmas markets to choose from, be sure to try these tasty meals and experience a true Scandinavian Christmas!
Don’t forget to browse the Christmas Market for delicious sweet-treats to make up your traditional Swedish ‘gottebord’ (a table of sweet and chocolate treats) for when you return home. There are plenty of sweet goodies to choose from, like Swedish Gingerbread, known as Pepparkakor, or traditional lussekatter, which are saffron buns rolled up in an S shape with raisons as eyes (Lussekatter translates to Lucia Cat, to represent Lucia celebrations).
Swedish Christmas Traditions
If you happen to be in Sweden around the 13th of December, you will be able to see the wonderful procession to celebrate St Lucia’s Day, where a choir will be singing Christmas carols through the streets with the procession led by Lucia herself wearing a candlelit crown. The event symbolises light in the midst of a dark winter – it will be a beautiful sight with candles lighting up the streets.
Whilst browsing the market stalls and walking the beautifully decorated streets, why not try some glögg – Swedish spiced wine enriched with blanched almonds and raisins – to warm up and celebrate the jolly Christmas period!
