SWEDISH TRADITIONS

For an outsider, Swedish traditions can seem something of a mystery. It’s truly important for most Swedes that the same patterns are repeated every year, but the reasons why might change over time. Many traditions carry a religious significance, such as Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and Fat Tuesday, but there is often little reference to the Bible on these occasions. Generally, it’s more important to watch Donald Duck at Christmas, dress up as witches at Easter, get married at Pentecost and eat cream buns on Fat Tuesday, rather than question why you’re doing it.
Traditions are maintained for the sake of the festivities, celebrating with friends and family, and the importance of clinging on to something familiar. At the same time, Swedes embrace new traditions with open arms and make them their own, such as Halloween or Sweden’s National Day, which is a new public holiday. There is always a reason to get together and celebrate.
Apart from traditions with religious roots, others are tied to the changing of the seasons. Spring is welcomed on the last day of April with Walpurgis Eve, when choirs sing songs about spring and people light bonfires. Summer is welcomed on Midsummer’s Eve, with dancing around the maypole, and the consumption of herring and snaps. At the first signs of autumn, it’s time for crayfish. Autumn is lit up by candles for the dead on All Saints, followed by Advent and Lucia during the darkest time of the year.
Apart from the big holidays, smaller festivities such as Waffle Day and Cinnamon Bun Day give Swedes further opportunity to celebrate new traditions.