Karlskrona Local Customs

Christmas Time

It all starts in Sweden on 13th December, St Lucia's Day. Traditionally, the eldest daughter in the family will serve coffee and pastries to the parents in bed whilst dressed in a white gown and a wreath of 7 candles on her head.

Houses are decorated with a tree and various other ornaments. Virtually all houses and apartments will also have advent candles in their windows.

Christmas is celebrated on the eve of 24th December with a special meal (Julbord) and presents are exchanged. If you visit a Swedish home during Christmas, it is likely you will be offer Glogg which is a warm mulled wine with almonds and raisins in it.

Christmas Day is a religious day when people go to church before visiting family and friends.

The season finally ends on January 13th, St Knuts Day, when trees and decorations are taken down to signify the end of festivities.

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	Julbord (Christmas Meal) Tip Rating:

By ratherton

on November 6, 2003

Swedish Julbord

I hate Julbords !!!! As far as I'm concerned, a Christmas meal is a big Roast Turkey, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings.

A Julbord is the Swedish Christmas meal and consists of a variety of meats and fish such as pickled herring, smoked sausages and meatballs. There is also rice pudding and to drink glogg, various wines and spirits.

Personally, there is very little food at a Julbord that I like and last Christmas before our company Julbord, me and a couple of other guys I work with, went to the pub for a burger before going to the meal. An English Christmas meal is one a the things I really miss about home.

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	Santa Lucia (Christmas)

By ratherton

on November 6, 2003

Santa Lucia

As mentioned in my Swedish Christmas tip (which I know you have read), the Santa Lucia is an important figure in the celebrations. If you spend any time in Sweden around Christmas, you will see girls dressed up in shopping arcades and other places usually singing a little song. I don't know what it means but once you hear it, it will stay in your mind for a long time.

Natten går tunga fjät runt gård och stuva.
Kring jord som sol förlät, skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Natten var stor och stum. Nu hörs det svingar,
i alla tysta rum, sus som av vingar.
Se på vår tröskel står vitkläd, med ljus i hår,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
"Mörkret skall flykta snart ur jordens dalar."
Så hon ett underbart ord till oss talar.
Dagen skall åter gry, stiga ur rosig sky,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

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	Graduation Day

By ratherton

on June 26, 2004

School's out for ever !!

Graduation celebrations in Karlskrona (and the rest of Sweden) seem a bit strange to me. The students? families dress their cars up as trees, the students dress up and sailors and then they drive around town holding up big pictures of themselves as children. Afterwards, they all go and get drunk.

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	Learn to say Hej !

By yogb

on February 7, 2004

Karlskrona Page by yogb

by yogb
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One of the best way to know Swedish culture is to learn Swedish Language.
Swedish people use 'Hej' (pronounced as Heyyyyy) to greet each other..
You can join Swedish for foreign students course at BTH Karlskrona.