What are some of the Swedish Holiday Traditions?
On December 13, one of the darkest days of the year, St. Lucia Day, or the Festival of Lights, is celebrated throughout Sweden to symbolize the promise of the sun's return. In the past, a young girl would dress in a white gown with a red sash and a wreath of lit candles on her head. She would go from house to house offering baked goods.
Today, the tradition continues with the oldest girl in a family wearing the traditional dress with a wreath of (battery-powered) candles on her head, awakening everyone with a song and saffron buns and coffee.
According to legend, Lucia was a young girl that lived during the fourth century. She was blinded for her Christian beliefs. St. Lucia is the patron saint of the blind.
For a Swedish Christmas dinner, sit down to a table of:
- Ham
- Lutefisk (fish soaked in lye)
- Boiled wheat (cuccidata)
- Cabbage pudding
- Baby potatoes
- Sweet carrots
- Medley of vegetables
- Deviled eggs
- Julglögg (a hot, mulled wine)
- Fruit salad
- Saffron buns with raisins
- Rice pudding
- Lingonberry pie
- Broomstick cookies (a lacy cookie with almonds and butter)
- Pepparkakor (sweet ginger)
How could you eat something soaked in lye? Is it not poison?
Smarter You: Brighter Whites
- SweetLuci
on Dec. 10, 2012 at 1:49 PM