Christmas Carols, Traditions and Poems Sweden

Christmas Traditions
Carols and Poems

There is a little bit of Santa Claus in all of us.

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Sweden

When does Christmas begin in Sweden?
Why is it a light occasion?
Answer

In Sweden, Christmas begins on December 13 with the celebration of St. Lucia Day, also known as the Festival of Lights. It is a celebration of a strong woman, named Lucia who lived a long time ago and brought light to the cold Swedish winter. Her name actually means "light." Some believe she glowed and had a halo.

December 13 is believed to be the longest and darkest night in Sweden. St. Lucia brings light on this dark day.

On this day, the oldest girl in the family dresses up as St. Lucia in a white dress with a wreath of candles on her head. She serves coffee and saffron buns or ginger cookies to her parents.

A traditional song is sung:
Santa Lucia, thy light is glowing
Through darkest winter night, comfort bestowing.
Dreams float on dreams tonight,
Comes then the morning light,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.

In some towns and schools, a girl is chosen to represent St. Lucia in a procession. She is dressed in a long white dress with a large red sash. Upon her head she wears a crown of green leaves and seven glowing candles. In her hands she carries a tray of little saffron flavoured buns called lussekatts. She is followed by younger girls, also in white, carrying candles and boys in tall pointed hats.

Christmas presents in Sweden are known as "Christmas knocks" (julklapp). The name originates from the way Christmas presents were delivered many years ago. To deliver your present on Christmas night, you would tiptoe up to the door of the recipient, knock hard and then throw the present inside, without being seen.

Presents are given out on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.

Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. They eat a lot of pork (pig). They eat boiled pork sausage, pork brawn, cold roast spare ribs and pigs trotters.

Father Christmas is called Jultomten in Sweden.

Swedish children remember that Jesus lay in a manger of straw, so they make many of their Christmas decorations from straw.

Twenty days after Christmas, people in Sweden dance Christmas out. They call it "Julgrans plundring". They invite friends round to their homes and have a party.

12 days till Christmas!

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Merry Christmas Wreath My vote is to have Christmas traditions all year round. You see at Christmas time most people at least the ones I have met, always change just a little for the better around Christmas. I do not know whether or not it is the great yuletide Christmas carols, the festive atmosphere every where you go, or just some hidden part in all of us that screams out,
( I BELIEVE IN MORE THAN WHAT I SEE AROUND ME. )
You see, somewhere deep down inside we all believe in something better than we now have or see, and most of us feel a lot better when we help someone. Whether the person is in need or not, this feeling is what I call the feeling of Christmas, and we all should strive to feel this way all year long.

"TREAT ALL OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TREAT YOU"
"Merry Christmas"

Enhance your Christmas, with Christmas poems and stories highlighted with your favorite Christmas carols. Christmas traditions are fast becoming a family way of life.
Poems are a simple way of inspiring others to join in on the Christmas traditions that love and poems can bring to this Christmas holiday.

Christmas Traditions of Joy,
both big and small
so precious from the start,
are moments to recall
and treasure in the heart.

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