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You are here: Home / Archives for Holidays and traditions

Holidays and traditions

Traditional Swedish Christmas Food

Christmas· Holidays and traditions

Is there anything more personal than eating traditions? Traditional Swedish Christmas food has a different meaning for all Swedes and descendants of Swedes. Here is a selection of some of the most common dishes and snacks served at the holidays. Julbord Julbord is the name of the Swedish Christmas buffet. It’s a Christmas version of […]

Two older women on a couch with a Christmas tree to the right and a mansonry heater to the left and tons of Victorian style decorations.

Christmas in Väne

1800· 1890s· 1900· 1900s· Älvsborg County· Christmas· Holidays and traditions· Västergötland

Today is the last day of Christmas in Sweden. January 13 is Twentieth Day Knut, when the Christmas tree is thrown out, the decorations are put away and the gingerbread house gets eaten. One last chance to come together and dance around the tree. The celebration is named by the plundering of the tree, julgransplundring. […]

A man holding a torch walking in deep snow.

Julotta

1900· 1910s· Christmas· Holidays and traditions· Östergötland County

Christmas Day in Sweden starts with julotta, an early Christmas service. Sometimes as early as 4 am. Here is Anders Magnus Andersson from Dalaryd, 65, on his way to julotta in Svinhult Parish, Östergötland County, in 1915.

A company of five in front of a Christmas tree.

Christmas in Sweden

1800· 1890s· 1900· 1900s· Christmas· Holidays and traditions

Merry Christmas! The Swedish-Norwegian flag and a cup of coffee at the turn of the century. A doll and a book for the girl. Christmas Eve is when gifts are exchanged in Sweden.

A man and a woman at a Christmas tree

Christmas Tree Decoration

1900· 1910s· Bohuslän· Christmas· Gothenburg and Bohus County· Holidays and traditions· Landskap

Decorating the Christmas tree with garlands and style. This Swedish couple is likely to be Hjalmar Flodstrand in Munkedal and his wife. From Foss Parish, Gothenburg and Bohus County around 1910.

Lucia

1900· 1910s· Bohuslän· Christmas· Gothenburg and Bohus County· Holidays and traditions

Glad Lucia! Swedes celebrate Saint Lucy’s Day on December 13. With candles in their hair, songs, and saffron buns. One of these women was Hulda Sundberg. They were photographed in 1914 by Ingeborg Enander, who had a studio in Stenungsund, Gothenburg and Bohus County.

Christmas Card 1906

1900· 1900s· Christmas· Holidays and traditions

A Swedish Christmas card from 1906 with a line from the still popular song “Now it’s Christmas again.” Chain dances have been a part of Christmas celebrations since at least the 17th century.

Julhalm

1900· 1900s· Älvsborg County· Christmas· Holidays and traditions· Västergötland

All is set for Christmas! The traditional Swedish Christmas straw on the floors (julhalm) must have brought welcome warmth to the cottages. In the middle of the room is the Yule Goat, the bringer of gifts before Santa. From Hudene Parish, Älvsborg County in 1903.

Swedish ginger snaps recipe

Ellen’s ginger snaps

1900· 1920s· Älvsborg County· Christmas· Holidays and traditions· Västergötland

I have enjoyed #genealogyphotoaday a little extra this month! It’s nice to see everyone. The prompt for today is “my favorite recipe”. I like variety, but I will share this recipe for ginger snaps from my great grandmother Ellen and her notebook with recipes and lyrics. Ellen probably kept it in the 1920s based on […]

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