Nordic Christmas Customs

The Nordic countries are near the north pole where the winters are long, cold, and dark. The Nordic countries, have customs that are different from each other, but also have many customs in common.

The Scandinavian Countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are considered Nordic. Finland, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also considered Nordic countries.

Because the days are short and the cold, dark nights are long, in the Nordic countries, the Nordic people celebrate the lights of the Christmas festivites with great joy. Gatherings with friends are family are central to the holiday clelbrations of the Nordic lands.

Advent is the four weeks before Christmas. The advent wreath has four candles. On the frist Sunday of Advent one candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent, the first and second candle is lit, and so forth, until the fourth Sunday of Advent when all four candles are lit.

The first two weeks of the Christmas season are a time of preparation. It is time to clean the house, and bake the holiday treats, such as the ginger cookies.

December 13th is St. Lucia Day. St. Lucia is a Catholic Saint. Even though the Nordic countries are now largely Protestant,they were Catholic before the Reformation in the 1500's. St. Lucia Day continues to be joyously celebrated in the Nordic countries. The night of Lucia is the longest of the year, and St. Lucia is credited with bringing light into darkness. Perhaps the celebration of light is the reason that St. Lucia continues to hold its appeal to these people who experience long Nordic nights.

There are Lucia processions in homes, where the eldest daughter, wearing a candle wreath on her head, and singing Lucia songs, brings St. Lucia buns and coffee to her parents. Other daughters and sons may help, wearing white robes and carrying a candle while accompanying the eldest daughter in the procession.

Sweden, in 1927, is where the public St. Lucia customs originated. The procession is led by a girl selected as St . Lucia, wearing a wreath of candles and white robe. Girls and boys carrying candles, and dressed in white robes, or as elfs, gingerbread men follow St. Lucia. The people in the procession sing, and play instruments, while walking through the town. Although St. Lucia is not a holiday, it is an annual event that the towns celebrate joyously.

This is about the time that the elfs come out. Every country seems to have a slightly different name for the farm elfs, but their personalities sound much the same. The legendary farm elfs live on the farms, in the barns; or in the house, under the floorboards or in the attic. The elfs, known as Tomte or Nisse, usually do not interact with the humans. Nisse watch over the farm and make sure the animals are taken care of. The only time they interact with the humans is before Christmas, when they expect a meal of warm rice pudding. If the children neglect to put out the warm rice pudding for the Nisse, the Nisse retailiate by causing mischief in the year ahead.

The Christmas Tree, which is a tradition originally from Germany, is not brought into the home until December 23. The Christmas Tree is often not put up and decorated until the morning of Christmas Eve. The children do not see the tree until it is decorated. Straw ornaments, wood ornaments and flags of the country are very popular tree decorations, Some trees are still decorated with candles, although many have adopted white lights instead of candles.

The customs in the Nordic countries may vary a little in their church traditions. Nordic countries are largely Protestant Lutheran. In some countries the majority of the people attend Christmas Church service on Christmas Eve, but in others they attend on Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve is a family celebration. The families gather in homes to celebrate the Chirstmas holiday together. The fireplace is lit to add wqrmth and light to the home. The adults may drink the glogg (spiced wine) or Christmas beer. Santa, of the Julenisse, may visit the homes with children to pass out gifts. There are also gifts under the tree and the family members pass them around to eachother and open them and enjoy one another's company.

After the presents have been opened, the gathering enjoys a smorgesbord. Traditional smorgesbord feast include: lutefisk, herring, cheese, crackers, salmon, meatballs, pork, ham, cabbage, bread, and ginger cookies and saffron cakes. Warm rice pudding is served with one almond in the dish. Whoever get the almond either gets a prize or is supposed to be the next one to get married in the coming year.

While the main celebration takes place on Christmas Eve, the family gathering and smorgesbord feasting may well continue through Christmas Day. Indeed, the main event of the Christmas holiday in the Nordic countries is the time of warmth and light and famiy together.

Family gatherings and festivities continue through the New Year and into the beginning of January. The traditional Twelve Days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and continue to January 6. Christmas Trees stay in the home until the second or third week of January, when they are discarded with a ceremony.