Julkalendrar is a children's program that is produced every year. It normally is centered around some kids saving Christmas, but it's a new show every year, so the plot is changed every year. There is also an advent calendar that goes with it with each day giving a hint about that day's episode (mentioned in the last post).
Interesting fact one of the actors for this show came to my Rotary Club's Christmas meeting and sang for us. The songs were messed up joke versions of Christmas songs. Even though it was in Swedish and my understanding was very limited it was still very funny and interesting for me.
7. Kalle Anka (Donald Duck)
Now to talk about the crazy tradition that is Kalle. So one Christmas eve at 3 p.m. Kalle comes on t.v. and you better be there. It was a big deal back in the days for the kids because you didn't get to see cartoons very often. I thought it was strange however that they call it Kalle, but it has all sorts of different cartoons. The only reason I can think of is that originally they only had Kalle (or Donald).
8. Christmas Poems
Swedish people like their poems, so of course, they make it into Jul. I didn't experience this personally, but apparently it traditional to have short little poems or rhymes to hit at what's inside of your Christmas's present.
9.Christmas Eve
This point will be short Swedish people do all their celebrations on the Christmas Eve instead of Christmas day that's it.
10. New Years
New Year's is quite similar to the celebrations here in the U.S. The only things that are different are that you obviously don't watch the ball in New York and the stereotypical dinner is Lobster.
These are the ten major difference and traditions I could think of if you have any specific questions shoot them below and I'll try to answer them.
Swedish people really like their Advent calendars and Advent. There are many different types of calendars. You have the normal ones that have candies or goodies in them, but you also have other types. For example, one that gives a short little rhyme or poem about the holidays, or another that gives hints about the children's special (talked about later). Advent also refers to the four Sundays before Christmas that are supposed to spend with friends and family. On each Sunday you also light one candle for each Sunday that has passed.
2. Lucia/ Lucia Bullar
This tradition is actually quite strange for a couple of reason. Lucia is a Catholic Saint and Sweden was majority Protestant before they became majority atheist. Also, the actual Lucia comes from Italy from the Roman times. Though all of this Sweden and the other Nordic countries do celebrate her quite heavily. Normally when kids are young, they all are part of the Lucia concert, and of course, all the little girls are Lucia. However, as they get older, it becomes a little bit, for lack of a better word, dignified. There will then only be one Lucia, and the Lucia Girls (her helpers) and the men can't be left out, so they become they star boys. (Dubbed the KKK of Sweden by my host father and I see picture below for why.) Obviously, there can be no tradition without special food, so for the holiday season, and especially Lucia Dagen people make and serve Lucia Bullar (see below). I would give them a 6.5 out of 10 on my food scale. P.S. my school concert will also be below filmed by yours truly.
Lucia Bullar
Star boys
3. Special Drinks Julmust/ Glögg
During this season different special holiday drinks out. One of which I fell in love with Julmust, it is a Christmas flavored and is sooooooo good. It comes out only for Dec., but I have heard it comes back under a different name during Easter. Swedes also drink a lot of glögg during Christmas season. Glögg is spiced/mulled wine, and it is also amazing. It is normal severed in little cups, and you mix almonds in with it. NOW STOP! Before I get a bunch of comments about how I'm not supposed to drink with rotary blah blah blah, this is part of the culture soooooo SHUT IT! Good now that that's out of the way I had two types of Glögg. A low alcohol one (multiple time) and I "high" one (once). And yes I preferred the higher one, but not for the reason that you would think. The low one was really really sweet, and that's normally not my cup of tea. I think this also consequentially made it have a better taste.
4. Gävle Goat/ Goats in General
In Gävle there is a giant goat made of straw, this wouldn't be a big deal or anything eventful other than in 1966 a vandalizer burnt down the goat. Now there a tradition of cat and mouse in the town where the city to try to stop people from burning it down. It turned into quite an event with people almost always getting arrested, security cameras, and some crazy stories. For example one year someone used a flamethrower for to get the cities goat. ;) Get it? Okay not funny, but this is a serious thing now with almost all betting sights having a bet on when the goat will be burnt down. Since 1966, I think my host parents said the goat only last the whole season twice. Now for the less hot part of this point. ;) Goats are associated with Tomten (Santa Claus) in the same way reindeer are with Santa.
5. Julboard
There is special food for Christmas here in Sweden called Julboard, but I didn't get to experience it because in my host father's and mother's words, "It's all nasty.... well most of it." And also my host aunt and uncle were in Åre with us so we couldn't have pork because they are Muslim. This was okay with me though because I loved their and my host families company and that's was worth more to me than and traditional food.
Believe it or not, Sweden is known for their high-quality glass. It is highly sought after and is of exceptional craftsmanship. Most of these glassworks have been open for 100+ years and have been passed from one generation to the next (this was founded in 1792 so older than our country). Kosta Boda is the favorite location of a many of the leaders in glass art, so there is a hotel that is affiliated with these artists. This is where we got to stay at for the trip we went. The hotel is one giant art museum that you sleep, live, and eat in. The hotel is very plush for this and the art factor the hotel is very expensive. Sadly for some reason, I didn't take photos of the art displays, so I will steal the photos from their website. If you want more you can always look photos up on google here.
Anyways on with why we were here in the first place. This was supposed to be a goodbye to our oldies, but because of the price tag, only two of the oldies could afford to come. There isn't a whole lot to say about the trip. We basically ate food, ate food, oh yah and ate food. But in all seriousness the trip was barely two days, so we didn't do a whole lot. We mostly talk, ate, did some swimming in cold water outside (keep in mind it was almost Dec.), went exploring, and watched glass be made. Was the trip very fun? Yes! Was it worth the steep price tag depend on who you ask :)
I forgot to mention that Kosta Boda has made several of the Eurovision Sound Tour trophies. (Blog Post Eventually Maybe?????)
