The Swedes love and know how to celebrate New Year better than most other countries. The New Year holidays in this country last not just a few days, but a whole month.
Swedes begin preparing for Christmas from the end of November, when Advent begins (the so-called time of waiting for the coming of Christ), and the festive mood continues until January 13, when most Swedes throw out the tree and put away the Christmas decorations.
Therefore, it is not so important whether you ended up in this fabulous country to celebrate Lucia Day (December 13) or whether you will celebrate there Catholic Christmas, whether you celebrate the New Year there or go on a trip during the school holidays, you will still find yourself in an atmosphere of magic and wonder.
Both on weekdays and on weekends in December, Skansen, a park in the center of Stockholm, hosts various events for children and adults: you can attend excursions and master classes, listen to fairy tales and watch theatrical performances, try Christmas table treats, ride children on ponies, grill sausages, make your own candles, listen to the Christmas service at Seglora Church.
Besides the fun things to do in Skansen, Stockholm offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy a Swedish Christmas.
Large fairs are held annually in the Old Town and on one of the central streets of the city, Drottninggatan. Here you can find handicrafts, all kinds of sweets, national souvenirs and Christmas trifles.
Music lovers can attend Christmas concerts. As always, ice skating rinks are open in winter at Kungsträdgården and Vasaparken.
Sweden changes beyond recognition during the holidays. Garlands are lit on the streets, windows are decorated with stars and snowflakes made of luminescent paper.
Walking through the streets is Jul Tomten (the Swedish Christmas Gnome), who only a hundred years ago replaced the Christmas goat, which previously brought gifts to all Swedish children. Sweet gingerbread houses are baked in houses, and a collection of Advent candlesticks, angels and gnomes grows on the shelves.
Jul Tomten lives with her 100 elves, trolls, fairies and a cheerful witch in Tomteland - a touristic, man-made place that is definitely worth visiting in January if you like an activity-filled program.
All these fairy-tale creatures live in their houses, where you can go and see, touch and photograph everything, and even learn magic and sorcery. Yul Tomten is also helped by deer, elk and other animals, which can also be seen in Tomteland.
If you are lucky enough to celebrate the New Year in Sweden, do not be alarmed by the noisy ringing at the entrance doors: this is how the Swedes smash old dishes against the gates and doors of their homes.
The more broken shards you get, the more monetary profit and personal and family happiness there will be in the coming year.
It is considered a good custom to let jokers into your home and treat them to delicious pastries - this is how you “let happiness” into your home.
This country is famous for its love of fireworks. Even in a restaurant they can arrange a small fireworks display on the holiday, and on the main square, where locals come out, you will be surprised by strange heavenly lights in the form of figures.
Christmas in Sweden is very similar to our Russian “home” New Year, it is considered family holiday. A decorated Christmas tree is erected in the city center, and round-the-clock parties and discos begin. After a hearty feast, people gather on the street and have fun with friends.
Having taken champagne, at midnight they leave the houses on the square, where they wait for the clock to strike (in Stockholm, citizens usually watch the clock on the Katarinahissen observation deck).
Not many people have fun all night, most Swedes watch the fireworks after midnight, wish each other a Merry Christmas and a good New Year - “God Jul och Gott nytt år!” (“Gud yul o got nyut or!”), make promises to themselves for the next year and go home.
And the most energetic and active ones can go to the Swedish mountains for the New Year's holiday; this northern country has many excellent ski slopes. Of course, each resort has its own interesting New Year's program.
The Swedes love and really know how to cook delicious food. Be sure to try the local pastries, ginger cookies (pepparkakor), and saffron buns (lussekatter). Main courses include Christmas ham and fish casserole “Janssons frestelse”.
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New Year We all look forward to December 31st - the day when we celebrate the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one. New Year is the most fun party, which has long been celebrated by people all over the planet. But in every country they treat it differently.
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Russia There are quite a lot of traditions for celebrating the New Year in Russia, and most of them are borrowed from Western culture. The era of Peter the Great and subsequent reformer rulers brought christmas tree with toys, fireworks, Santa Claus and New Year's table. And the country of the Soviets gave us Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, the obligatory Champagne with tangerines on the table and the striking of the Chimes.
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Germany New Year gifts In Germany, the children are given gifts not by Santa Claus, but by a Christmas man named Weinachtsman, who comes to visit along with the quiet and charming Christkind. On New Year's Eve, before going to bed, little children prepare a special plate for gifts, and, as is customary, they put hay in their shoes for the donkey on which Vainakhtsman will bring them gifts. On New Year's Day in Germany, there is a funny tradition: as soon as the clock begins to strike twelve times, people of any age climb onto chairs, tables, armchairs and, with the last strike, all together, with joyful screams, “jump” into the New Year. After this, the celebration moves outside. One curious sign is associated with the New Year in Germany. Good luck meeting you in New Year's Eve chimney sweep But if you still manage to get dirty in soot, then constant luck is guaranteed!
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England In this country, the arrival of the New Year is announced by the bell of the famous Big Ben. True, he begins to beat a little earlier than 12 o'clock and does it quietly at first, because he is covered with a blanket, and this robe prevents him from showing all his power. But exactly at midnight the bells are undressed and they begin to ring loudly, announcing to the people the coming of the New Year. By the way, according to tradition, before the bell rings, the British open the back doors of their houses, and then open the front doors to let in New Year. The center of New Year's celebrations is Trafalgar Square. Thousands of people always gather there to celebrate the New Year, and a Christmas tree is erected. Every year the London New Year's Parade passes through Trafalgar Square, which is considered the world's largest New Year's parade.
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France In some parts of France, Christmas holidays begin on December 6th - St. Nicholas Day. It is on this day that the French Santa Claus - Père Noel - brings gifts and candies to good and diligent children. Wearing wooden shoes and carrying a basket of gifts on his back, he arrives on a donkey and, leaving the donkey outside, enters the house through the chimney. He puts the gifts in shoes, which the children leave in front of the fireplace in advance. Per Noel's companion is Per Fuetar, a grandfather with rods, who reminds Per Noel how the child behaved during the year and what he deserves more - gifts or a spanking. A favorite French tradition is the lighting of the Christmas log. The whole family gathers by the fireplace. The father generously pours oil and cognac on the log, and the children are allowed to set it on fire. The cooled coals are collected in a bag and carefully stored as a talisman that brings only happiness and good luck.
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Italy On New Year's Eve, Italian children are looking forward to Fairy Befana. She arrives at night and places gifts in hanging socks and stockings. But only diligent and obedient children receive gifts. Naughty and mischievous people are given a pinch of ash or coals. The second favorite character, without whom the New Year in Italy is unthinkable, is Babbo Natale - Santa Claus, who goes from house to house and delivers gifts. But only those who have written a letter with wishes and requests in advance receive them. On New Year's Eve, Italians throw old things, clothes and even furniture out of windows. Thus, they let everything new into their lives. Another tradition that is typical for Italy is breaking dishes at midnight. It helps get rid of negative emotions and heartache, which has accumulated behind whole year. In Italy, it is customary to give red linen as a gift for the New Year. The most interesting thing is that this gift must be thrown away the next day! Otherwise, don't expect anything good.
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Japan The main attribute of the Japanese New Year is kadomatsu - “pine tree at the entrance”. This is how the Japanese greet the New Year deity Toshigami. Also, the Japanese always pull a rope before entering the house. They believe that an evil spirit will not be able to enter their home and harm them. The Japanese decorate their home for the New Year with bamboo or willow bouquets, on which they hang small mochi loaves in the shape of flowers, fruits, and fish. All this is painted in yellow, pink and green colors and is hung at the entrance to the house or placed in the most visible place. The most unusual tradition in Japan, before the New Year, buy a rake that “will help you rake more happiness.”
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India Hindus celebrate New Year more than four times a year - this is their national peculiarity... India is one of the countries where many cultures and subcultures intersect. Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists live there, but, nevertheless, the bulk of the population professes the ancient religion of Hinduism. And their New Year, accordingly, begins according to the prescriptions of the Hindu calendar. The New Year celebration lasts more than one day and is accompanied by various carnival processions, fairs and other paraphernalia. We can say with complete confidence that India is the most New Year's country in the world.
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Scotland In Scotland, the New Year's holiday is called Hogmany. According to ancient tradition, on New Year's Eve, barrels of tar are set on fire and rolled through the streets, burning them in such an interesting way, old year and inviting new ones. The Scots believe that whoever enters their home first in the new year determines the success or failure of the family for the entire next year. Great luck, in their opinion, will be brought by a man with dark hair who brings gifts into the house. On New Year's Eve, the Scots light the fireplace and the whole family sits around it, waiting for the clock to strike. When the clock hand approaches twelve, the owner of the house must get up and, without saying a word, simply open the door. He will keep it open until the clock strikes its final stroke. So he will let out the old year and let in the coming one.
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Cuba In Cuba, on New Year's Eve, they fill all the dishes in the house with water, and at midnight they start pouring liquid out of the windows. Thus, all residents of Liberty Island wish the New Year a bright and clear path, like water. Instead of a fluffy beauty spruce, Cubans dress up their Araucaria coniferous tree or an ordinary palm tree. Cuba has its own Santa Claus, not just one, but three! And they are called Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior; they are considered the kings of magic. Children write letters to them with their deepest desires and expect gifts from them.
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Iceland The mission of Santa Claus in Iceland is traditionally carried out by “trolls”. This company is quite numerous, it includes as many as thirteen Joulasveinn. Boys and girls in Iceland begin to put the red boot on the window as early as the thirteenth of December, as each of the Christmas naughty people who secretly arrive at people's houses for the holiday brings gifts with them. Therefore, in Iceland, throughout the entire New Year's month, December, parents know how to calm down mischievous kids. The children believe that some of the Joulasveinn may unexpectedly drop by any day from December 1st to December 24th. If they behave badly, they may find not a gift in their shoe, but a potato.
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Spain Spain has New Year's custom: While the clock is striking, you must have time to swallow twelve grapes - then your cherished wishes will come true. It happens that grapes are washed down with wine. Anyone who eats grapes on New Year's Eve will have money all year. It is also believed that grapes eaten on this night drive away evil spirits. In the Basque Country, Santa Claus is called Olentzero. He is dressed in national homespun clothes and always carries a flask of good Spanish wine with him. On New Year's Eve in Spain, when visiting someone, according to tradition, you should put champagne and a piece of nougat in a gift basket.
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Finland The real Santa Claus lives in Finnish Lapland. It is from here that Santa Claus or Joulupukki goes on a reindeer sleigh to children all over the world. The Finns are luckier than others, because they can come to visit Santa Claus and meet him in person in his mansion in the Arctic Circle. The Finnish New Year's feast certainly consists of plum jelly and rice porridge. Finnish New Year (as a holiday) ends early. Perhaps because an old Finnish belief says: whoever gets up early on the first day of the New Year will be cheerful and fresh all year. By the way, Finns believe that if you don’t scold children on January 1, they will be obedient all year round.
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Denmark Main dishes of the New Year's menu: fish and potatoes. At 12 o'clock festive table a huge bowl of sweet rice porridge with a secret is served. The surprise of this porridge is that there is a nut or almond hiding at the bottom of the bowl. This tradition is especially popular among unmarried Danish women: if you come across a nut, next year will get married. For everyone else, this sign simply promises a happy New Year. There are two Santa Clauses in Denmark, and both of these characters are quite unusual. Their names are Julemanden and Julenisse. According to the existing legend, the grandfathers will live in Greenland amid the eternal cold. Yulemanden, the big grandfather, has personal assistants - elves. And Yulenisse is the youngest Santa Claus, lives in the forest and rides on a cart pulled by foxes. For the New Year, children in Denmark are given a wooden or plush Christmas tree with a troll peeking out from under its green paws. The Danes believe that the forest prankster is the embodiment of the soul of the tree.
Today I would like to talk about how the New Year is celebrated in Sweden, the folk beliefs associated with it, and the traditions of holding a fun winter holiday. About how the date of the New Year has changed over the centuries.
The old year is coming to an end, and the moment of a new one is inexorably approaching. It would seem that everything is happening as usual: the hands on the clock dials make the usual movement, the chimes “strike 12 times”, just like the day before... However, it is New Year’s Eve that is filled with magic and mysticism.
I am sure that we all, dear reader, would like to “lift the curtain of the future” just a little while the chimes strike. And such a desire accompanies people, regardless of their country of residence, for many centuries.
New Year in Sweden, how the date of celebration changed
It is known that the onset of the New Year was not always celebrated by the Swedes on a winter night from December 31 to January 1.
This date was not convenient for the majority of the population of the country, which many centuries ago was agrarian, especially the north of the country. The life of peasants was inextricably linked with the solar cycle.
Therefore, until the 15th century, the New Year in Sweden was celebrated on March 25. Moreover, the celebrations were not regular.
It was more convenient for peasants to count the years, starting with a new agricultural cycle, the day of the spring solstice, when “the sun turned to summer.” The tradition of celebrating the New Year in winter was the result of the spread of the Christian religion and chronology according to the Roman calendar in the country.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Swedes celebrated the New Year on both December 25 and January 1. Only during the reign of the country by King Gustav Vasa (1523 - 1560) was the date of the holiday fixed - January 1.
The magic and myths of New Year's Eve
Throughout the history of its existence, man believed that supernatural forces especially manifest their action during the transition to the new year, regardless of the date of this transition, which is associated with numerous folk beliefs and signs. All methods were good for fighting supernatural forces: magic, rituals, and even making sacrifices.
It was considered insufficient to just say goodbye to the old year and welcome the arrival of the new one; this had to be done noisily, preferably by launching fireworks or shooting, because the noise raised would scare away evil spirits from the house.
It was popular to pour molten lead into water and try to predict the future using the shape of the resulting figures. If the shape of the lead resembled a crown, the girl could be preparing for a wedding; if it resembled a coin, the coming year promised to be profitable.
Even now, Swedes often drop stearin melted from burning candles into water and examine the resulting figures. This is how ineradicable the desire to know your future is, regardless of your level of education.
- the red color of the sky at sunrise was a harbinger of frequent bad weather, sad events, possible wars
- the first guest at home, a man, foreshadowed a successful year, but if she came first elderly woman, the coming year did not bode well
- you shouldn’t lend money, otherwise there was a risk of remaining without money for the entire coming year
- if a person was in a great mood on the first of January, then, to quote the words of a famous song, “ good mood will not leave him throughout the year
- in order to be healthy throughout the year, you should eat an apple on January 1st
How is it customary to celebrate the New Year in Sweden now?
Now, as throughout the Christian world, the New Year in Sweden begins with the last chime, marking the transition from December 31 to January 1 of the following year.
Earlier I wrote that the traditions of celebrating the Christmas and New Year holidays are somewhat different from each other.
If Christmas is a family holiday, then it is customary to celebrate the New Year with large groups of friends, often attending New Year's concerts, restaurants, participating in festivities, and admiring the numerous New Year's fireworks.
It is customary to take champagne with you, everyone to count the chimes together, and with the last one, congratulate each other on the New Year by drinking a glass of wine. This tradition is not exclusively Swedish, people do it all over the world.
The most numerous folk festivals take place in Stockholm, Skansen Park. There, before the chimes strike, the traditional New Year's poem. Since 1977, Swedish television has broadcast live New Year's Eve from Skansen Park. The broadcast of the New Year's concert from the Vienna Philharmonic is traditional.
Another New Year's tradition, typical both for residents of Sweden and other countries, is the making of New Year's vows and promises. Surely, each of us has ever made a pledge or promise to ourselves to change something in our life. own life. And sometimes it worked!
From everything written above it follows that celebrating the New Year in Sweden is not much different from that in other countries of the world. When celebrating the New Year, people everywhere want to lift the veil of the future so that the coming year will be successful, wishes and vows will be fulfilled.
So I wish you all the fulfillment of your cherished desires! Happy New Year!
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Midnight, New Year's Eve. Here is a common sight in Sweden: shivering from the cold and chattering teeth, knee-deep in snow, Swedes wish each other a Happy New Year to the accompaniment of fireworks. Here they happily adopted the European tradition of celebrating the New Year on the street - but as always in such cases, the Swedes have to reckon with local peculiarities. For example, with the climate.
New Year's resolutions
In the kitchen, the owners are fussing over sauces and candied orange peel, and they are laying festive tablecloths on the table and placing the most luxurious sets and candlesticks. Everyone happily dresses up in everything new and tries not to notice the cold and icy wind outside the windows. Thin tights and shoes high heels- what is not a winter outfit.
The main topic of conversation at dinner is everything that happened in the old year and what the coming year has in store for you. The coming year will certainly only get better! When the clock strikes midnight, everyone makes New Year's resolutions: quit smoking, lose weight, start exercising, or earn money. more money. As a rule, these promises are fulfilled - well, or at least within a week or two from the beginning of the year.
Swedish New Year - the origins of the celebration
According to the Roman calendar, the Swedish New Year begins on January 1st. In pre-industrial society, New Year's Day was part of Christmas traditions. Unlike Christmas, it was a youth holiday. The New Year was celebrated cheerfully, and there was plenty of food and drink. As they bid farewell to the old year, young people made noise: they shot guns, shouted and had fun.
New Year's Eve was considered a magical time; it was a time of fortune-telling and predictions of the future. Here is one of the old New Year's fortune telling: tin was melted over a fire and thrown into cold water, and the future was predicted from the outline of the resulting figure. They also told fortunes by throwing shoes on the floor. If the sock points to the door, it means that next year you will move, or even die.
It was believed that whatever the first day of the New Year was like, the whole coming year would be like that. Therefore, it was important not to take anything out of the house, which would mean throwing away the happiness for the whole year. If the sun was shining on the first day of the new year, it was believed that the year would be good.
Since 1893, when the Swedes began celebrating the New Year at the Skansen Museum in Stockholm, at midnight all churches in the country have celebrated the New Year by ringing bells.
New Year's poems and fireworks
Like many other Swedish holidays, New Year is associated with traditional television programs that are repeated year after year.
Live broadcast from Skansen, Stockholm's famous open-air museum, is one such New Year's tradition. The Swedes say goodbye to the outgoing year with the ringing of bells. The presenter on the screen reads Lord Tennyson's New Year's poem. Celebrating in front of the TV in the living room certainly has its own charm and sense of tradition.
Many, however, prefer a frosty New Year's Eve. Not everyone, of course, is lucky enough to live in the city center with a panoramic view from the window. That's why cheerful companies often go into crowded places to launch their rockets and watch others' fireworks.
And then the Swedes, bundled up from head to toe, stand spellbound - against the backdrop of the city silhouette or centuries-old pine trees - admiring the flashes of fireworks in the dark sky.
New Year's holidays in Sweden are delightful. Everything around seemed to disappear holiday card: numerous markets, decorated Christmas trees, snow-covered houses and trees, hundreds of lanterns and a general atmosphere of holiday anticipation.
New Year's holidays in Sweden begin with Christmas markets, sales and colorful New Year-themed performances.
How is New Year celebrated in Stockholm?
In Sweden, this holiday is celebrated noisily, preferring large companies. Unlike Christmas, which Swedes celebrate with their families, they usually celebrate New Year surrounded by friends.
Traditionally, the main celebration is held in Skansen, Stockholm's open-air museum. A stage is set up there, music events are organized, and fireworks are displayed. All this action is broadcast on television.
There are a lot of people who want to celebrate the New Year in Skansen, so people start arriving for the celebration as early as nine o’clock in the evening.
New Year's traditions and holiday destinations in Sweden
Even if the New Year's Eve takes place in home circle, immediately after its onset, it is customary for Swedes to go out into the streets to take part in festive festivities.
The Swedish New Year is celebrated brightly. On this night, lights are burning everywhere, lanterns and candles are lit, garlands shimmer in every window.
Weather during New Year's holidays in Sweden it is cool and snowy.
New Year's tours and New Year's celebrations at resorts in Sweden
What to do, where to celebrate and what to see in Stockholm for the New Year?
1. You can celebrate New Year in one of the restaurants. Here is the estimated cost of a festive dinner with drinks at the most popular establishments in Stockholm:
2. You can also visit any of the many clubs that are located around the main city square. By the way, there is a great chance to meet some local celebrity there.
3. If you purchase ready-made tours, here is the approximate price for a five-day stay: 800 euros for an adult, 250 for a child under five years old, 380 for a child under 15 years old. The additional fee for New Year's dinner in this case will be about 180-200 euros.
4. Fans of country holidays and winter sports can celebrate the holiday at one of the ski resorts - for example, Åre or Selen. There is guaranteed snow cover, high mountains, excellent equipment for resorts in general and trails in particular. And on New Year's Eve, resort owners organize a party for their guests.
5. Sweden is one of those countries where you can have a great New Year's Eve, even without having a specific plan. Just go outside and join the festivities. The streets of Swedish cities on this night are filled with the light of New Year's lights, cheerful people, and good mood.
6. If you like fairy-tale bustle, go to Tomteland, where the local Santa named Yltomten lives. There - always saturated festive program, aimed primarily at tourists and families with children.
Excursions and other activities
Be sure to take a stroll through the Old Town, with its narrow streets and colorful houses: the atmosphere of ancient Europe acquires a special charm on the eve of the New Year.
For lovers of urban sculpture, Stockholm is a real haven: there are really a lot of interesting examples of it. There are also restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops everywhere in the city. There are numerous fairs where you can buy Christmas gifts and national souvenirs.
IN holidays Concerts are held in the Cathedral. There are also open-air skating rinks in Vasaparken and Kungsträdgården parks.
Here are ideas for winter tours:
What to see with children in Stockholm?
Take a walk around Gamla Stana - this is where the red house with a chimney is located, where Carlson once lived (in any case, the writer herself pointed to this house). It is located just opposite the monument to St. George.
There, in the Old Town, watch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace - a very beautiful sight that awaits you at exactly noon.
You can visit one of the skating rinks in city parks and have a family ride.
Be sure to organize your child an excursion to child Center Junibacken, where themed Christmas shows take place throughout December.
Try to find a time to go to Tomteland, near Stockholm. There the child will visit the castle Snow Queen, the home of the gnome storyteller and the real home of the trolls. And nearby, in Orsa-Grenklitt, there is a famous bear park, where lynxes, tigers, wolverines and wolves also live.
Take a look at the Vasa Museum: this is a ship that sank and was later raised to the surface.
Buses run from central Stockholm to Tom Tits Experiment, a children's “discovery house”. There, the child will take part in fun experiments and learn a lot of exciting things about science and technology.
Sweden offers many options for accommodation during the New Year holidays. If you would like to rent a cottage for big company, it will cost 1200-1500 euros for a week’s stay.
Hotel accommodation in Stockholm can be found in the price range of 80-130 euros per night. The cost of living in an apartment starts from 100 euros per night. And prices for accommodation in hostels during the New Year holidays are 40-90 euros per night.
What is a must-do in Sweden during the New Year holidays?
- Try ginger cookies and saffron buns, and if possible, even take part in their preparation.
- Try the signature Swedish casserole, mulled wine and Christmas ham.
- Watch the fireworks on the main square of Stockholm
- Go to Tomteland and spend half a day in a fairy tale
Conclusion
Scandinavian New Year is truly fabulous. It combines colossal natural energy, the flavor of ancient European cities and the cheerfulness of local residents who love and know how to organize fantastic holidays.
Scandinavia in general and Sweden in particular are the New Year's choice of people who want to celebrate the holiday in an unforgettable snow extravaganza.
