Swedish Holidays

Swedish National Day (Sveriges Nationaldag)

June 6 is the day set aside for the celebration of Swedish National Day. This day celebrates the ascension of Gustav Vasa to the throne of Sweden in 1523. Vasa's seizure of power ensured Swedish liberation from the Danish. In Sweden, the celebration includes a parade through Stockholm and the presentation of flags to national and patriotic organizations, such as the Boy Scouts.

Midsummer (Midsommar)

Midsummer, the celebration of the summer solstice and the longest day of the year, is a prominent holiday in Sweden. Every June, during the weekend of the summer solstice, people celebrate the holiday by collecting flowers and greens which are used to decorate doorways, make wreaths to be worn or displayed, and to create the maypole (or midsummer pole). The maypole is then erected outside, where people join together to dance and sing around it. Tables are also set up outside and filled with fruit, salads, and various other cold dishes.

St. Lucia Day (Sankt Luciadag)

St. Lucia Day is celebrated in honor of a young Sicilian saint who lived around the fourth century. Several legends surround the girl's life and her accomplishments. One of the most common legends states that Lucia was a devout Christian who was killed by a Roman solider when she refused to denounce her faith.

Another story says that Lucia was loved by a man, but she did not love him back and she refused to marry him. Learning that he would not marry Lucia, the man became angry and threatened to burn the girl alive. Lucia prayed that she would not die in the fire, and when she was put in the flames, she survived. Because of this, the man grabbed a sword and stabbed Lucia in the throat. The girl did not die for another three hours, during which she was able to speak and said many beautiful things.

Another story about Lucia explains that a man whom Lucia did not like was in love with her. The man greatly admired Lucia's beautiful eyes. Since she could not give him her love, Lucia gave the man her eyes. After doing this, Lucia grew back new eyes, which were even more beautiful than before. The man then desired Lucia's new eyes, and when she refused to give him those, he stabbed her in the heart.

To honor St. Lucia, the Swedish celebrate her feast day. On December 13 every year the eldest daughters of Swedish families dress as St. Lucia and wake their parents with Lussekatter (St. Lucia Buns), Pepparkakor (a type of spicy gingerbread cookies) and a song. She dresses in a long, white dress, which she ties at her waist with a red sash. She also wears a wreath of candles (which today are electric) upon her head. Lucia is often followed by other children carrying candles. The other girls wear white dresses, while the boys, who are called star boys (Stärngosse), wear white clothing and pointy hats decorated with golden stars.

Christmas Eve (Julafton)

In Sweden, Christmas Eve (December 24) is the day on which the majority of Christmas celebrations take place. A large meal is prepared and eaten, which often consists of lutfisk (dried cod that has been soaked in lye, then boiled and served with a white sauce), meatballs, Jannsons frestelse (also called Jannson's Temptation, which is a potato casserole made with anchovies, onions, and cream), and several other dishes of fish, sausage, and cold meat. Rice pudding, which contains a hidden almond, is also served at this meal. The person to find the almond in the pudding will have good luck throughout the next year. Another Swedish dish, ostkaka, is often considered a Christmas dish by Swedish-Americans who make the thick cheesecake-like dish especially for the occasion.

After the Christmas Eve meal, the family is visited by Tomte, the Swedish Santa Claus. Tomte is thought to be a little gnome with a red cap and white beard who who lives in the family barn or under the floorboards of the family's home. Tomte keeps watch over the family, and, on Christmas Eve, he leaves presents for the children. In many families, someone dresses up as Tomte and disperses the gifts. The children show their gratitude by leaving a bowl rice pudding for the little gnome.

Flag courtesy of ITA's Flags of All Countries used with permission.

Midsummer photo courtesy of Jerry Longstrom,"Jerry's Scandinavian/USA Genealogy Links."

St. Lucia photos courtesy of Bry-Back Manor.