Traditions

Christmas Gift of the Year | Årets Julklapp 2025
Toys for adults are the "Årets Julklapp 2025," the Christmas Gift of the Year in Sweden, says the Swedish research company HUI. The toys can range from advanced building kits to coloring books with detailed patterns intended for adults. “We are seeing a shift where an increasing proportion of sales in the toy trade are made up of products that are marketed to adults,” says Emma Hernell, CEO of HU. The "kidult" trend of adults engaging in activities that we have traditionally associated with children ...
Advent
This year on Sunday, November 30, just after Thanksgiving, the time had come to light the first candle of Advent. The four Sundays of Advent are just as important as Lucia in Sweden. Advent - the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
Christmas in Scandinavia
There’s no better time than Christmas time to get your feet wet when it comes to trying out Scandinavian traditions. Just like in America, Scandinavian Christmas celebrations have become more secular events during recent decades, opening up this festive time of year for everyone to enjoy, regardless of faith, nationality, or background. Leave it to the Scandinavians to know best how to brighten the darkest time of the year – after all, they’re pros!
New trends about Julmust
While Coca-Cola's Christmas campaigns are going strong around the world, another drink rules in Sweden. With its unique taste and obvious part of Swedish culture and Christmas tradition, the Swedish Christmas soda Julmust received its own day this year: November 24 was celebrated as Day of the Julmust throughout the country. 61 percent of Swedes drink Julmust during the Christmas holidays, an estimated 50 million liters are consumed in just a few weeks, and almost 1 in 5 say Christmas would not be the same without it. On the list of which Christmas drinks are popular, Julmust is far and away the most popular beverage in Sweden.
All Saints' Day Traditions
Swedes are celebrating 'Allhelgonahelgen' while Americans observe Halloween this weekend.
'Kraftskivan' - An Ode to the Crayfish
Foreign tourists visiting in August say that crayfish parties are the closest a Swede gets to really letting loose. Nowhere is the crayfish so ardently worshipped as in Sweden and August and September offer opportunities to sample the delicacy in the U.S..
Swedish traditions: 'Kraftskivan' - your own crayfish party
Crayfish, crawfish, in Swedish simply kraftor [kr'ef:tor] Checklist, how to create your own.
Crayfish season in Sweden
Sweden is known for its various seafood specialties, especially in the late summer when certain crustaceans are mature and fresh.
A Swedish Midsummer!
..music, dance and the long hours of sunlight and joy. Is there anything prettier than Swedish Midsummer? Is there anything more Swedish than a maypole? 'Svensk Midsommar' - the traditions, the table and a selection of the most popular recipes.
Midsummer 101
A Swedish midsummer is "endless" summer with sun, fun, great food, flowers, dancing and joy ... a piece of Swedish culture to be proud of.
Taking the waters
What happened to 'taking the waters' in Sweden? Did it ever cure anything or was it just a way for the rich to mingle?
A Swedish Easter, the start of Holy Week
The symbols, the food, the traditions, starting on Palm Sunday.
Preparing for Easter
The holy days before Easter have a unique history in Sweden.
What does Knut have to do with the holidays?
Epiphany, which is 12 days after Christmas on January 6, marks the end of Christmas. In Scandinavia, however, celebrations continue for another week after Epiphany. Swedes in particular stretch out the festivities for another week until January 13, which is the Swedish name day of Knut.
Happy Continuation of The New Year
Wishing all friends, readers, contributors, advertisers and suppliers all the very best for 2025! "God Fortsättning på nya året" - Happy Continuation of the New Year! Another of the common well-wishes in Sweden this time of the year. "Gott Slut" is just a wish for a happy ending of the old year, in preparation for the new.
A traditional Swedish Christmas
The Christmas tree, the decorations, Advent Stars and candle sticks, wrapping paper for the gifts and soon.. the tomte.
Sweden's National Soup
Pea soup with pork could be considered Sweden's national soup. While only eaten on Thursdays in Sweden, the soul-warming, comforting meal in a bowl is good any night of the week. According to Kristi Bissell, whose recipe and images we’ve used here, this soup can be on your table in about an hour.
Swedish Lucia, the Queen of Light
The Lucia celebration is something that Swedes themselves, and also the rest of the world consider as the most typical Swedish tradition. ..typically Swedish today, but is really international when you look at the background and development of the tradition. Additionally, our customs around Lucia are among the most complicated of the year.
Swedish Christmas: Holiday like no other
—Few holidays mean as much to us as Christmas. All over America groups are organizing Christmas Fairs, Lucia and Christmas celebrations. For a celebration near you, go to our Events page.
The American Thanksgiving
Our 153rd Thanksgiving in the U.S. For our readers outside the U.S., here’s a brief history of the American Thanksgiving: The first Thanksgiving on American soil goes back to the first Pilgrims and their second year, 1621, at the settlement in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Swedish Christmas Treats
Pepparkakor - regular ginger snaps; strongly addictive and a classic. White gingersnaps. Ice chocolate. Knäck. Not without my wiener nougat! Saffron pears.
My Not-So-Swedish Family Christmas
A Swedish traditional Christmas. “This is how the Swedes do it, how your relatives did it. So this is how we do it.” Really? The traditions of a generations-old Swedish family Christmas comes with surprises when a young native Swede joins the celebration one year.
A thousand years of the Swedish 'julbord'
With the month of December we face a collection of important annual rituals and remarkable meals. Common to all of them, from glögg mingles to corporate holiday parties, is they contribute to a loaded Christmas atmosphere that can only be redeemed in the perhaps most unusual meal that Swedish food culture can boast: Julbord, the traditional Christmas table.
Happy Independence Day to one and all!
... a celebration everyone can appreciate.
The month of June in Sweden
The Swedish summer is at its greenest, the nights are at their shortest and the land comes alive with a throbbing energy as the summer solstice approaches.
Bountiful garden with a touch of the exotic
A lavish arboretum in the northern Stockholm archipelago — a fertile Eden where magnificent flowers and beautiful deciduous trees bend and bow wherever you turn your gaze.
The Swedish Semla
Whether you call it 'Fettisdag,' Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday or Mardis Gras, if you're in Sweden (or anywhere in Scandinavia) you celebrate with a 'semla' or 'fettisdagsbulle.'
God Jul
Merry Christmas and 'happy continuation' of the days between Christmas and the New Year, God Fortsättning!
Jaerv + the OK Factor
Minneapolis, Minnesota-based string duo The OK Factor, and award-winning Swedish quintet Jaerv, are embarking on their third U.S. tour.
Väsen tours the U.S.
... continuing its unparalleled musical expressions of Swedish folk and traditional music with a new tour in the U.S.
Happy 'Scandinavian' Thanksgiving in America!
The fourth Thursday of each November is a time of migration all over the United States.
Kicking off fall in the Chicago area
The date has been set for Scandinavian Day Festival in Illinois: Sunday September 11, 2022
The world’s oldest painted Dalahäst
While excavating in Falun in central Dalarna in July 2020, Swedish archaeologists accidentally found what may be the world’s oldest painted Dalahäst.
Happy New Year!
'Gott Nytt år' .. let's make 2022 a peaceful, happy and successful year for all.
God Fortsättning / Happy continuation of the holidays ...
Readers, partners, friends - Merry Christmas!
The quick and easy Glogg Party
Any of the four Sundays of Advent is a perfect excuse for putting together your own party.
Back to an (almost) usual Midsummer
The Swedish government eased regulations on meetings and the limitations on restaurants and amusement parks on June 1, just in time for the summer season.
Skansen reopened
The popular outdoor park has been open for visitors again since April 1.
6:e Juni, Nationaldagen
Sweden's National Day is June 6. Only since the early 20th century has it been considered the Day of the Swedish Flag, becoming a national holiday as late as 2004.
Easter or Påsk, a Swedish tradition of traditions
Wherever you are and on FaceTime, Zoom, Skype or phone, wishing you and yours a safe and healthy, happy Easter.