Il Christmas in Sweden is highly anticipated, just as much as the arrival of Santa Lucia, a true institution of the winter holidays. Sweden is rich with Christmas markets taking place from late November both in the main cities and their surroundings.
The atmosphere is not lacking when Christmas approaches in Sweden. The winter darkness is illuminated by thousands of advent candelabras placed on windowsills, by sparkling decorations in the streets, and by traditional markets.
Restaurants offer tasty buffets and everywhere the “glögg”, the Swedish mulled wine, served with raisins and almonds, is offered, a real treat when it’s cold outside. And when the snow arrives, the light becomes truly magical!
Towards the end of November, the first Christmas markets open, offering all kinds of handicrafts, candles, and traditional sweets like “saffransbullar” – saffron buns – and “pepparkakor” – ginger, cinnamon, and clove cookies.
Weihnachtsmärkte in Stockholm
Die Weihnachtsmärkte in Stockholm sind blühend und zahlreich; einer der wichtigsten ist sicherlich der Markt in der Altstadt, auf dem Stortorget-Platz, der trotz seiner kleinen Größe eine besonders märchenhafte Atmosphäre bietet. Auch im königlichen Stall Hovstallet wird ein schöner Weihnachtsmarkt aufgebaut, der durch Stände mit vielen lokalen Produkten geprägt ist, vor allem mit Kleidung aus Schaffell und handgemachten Kerzen.
Es gibt auch Platz für Gastronomie mit geräuchertem Fisch und typischen Süßigkeiten. Stände, Buden und Lichter findet man auch beim Weihnachtsmarkt im Park Kungsträdgården und im Freilichtmuseum Skansen. Etwas außerhalb von Stockholm, in Richtung der umliegenden Ortschaften, gibt es Weihnachtsmärkte auch in Drottningholm und auf der Insel Sandhamn.
In Stockholm gibt es viele Weihnachtsmärkte, sowohl in der Stadt als auch in der Umgebung. Der bekannteste befindet sich auf dem Stortorget-Platz in der Altstadt und ist besonders stimmungsvoll, wenn die Dunkelheit über die Stadt hereinbricht. Er ist täglich vom 24.11. bis zum 24.12. geöffnet. Besonders reizvoll ist der kleine Markt im Tivoli von Gröna Lund, wo die Tanzfläche zu einer Eisbahn wird und Attraktionen für Groß und Klein eröffnet werden.
Vor Gröna Lund befindet sich Skansen, das Freilichtmuseum, wo an den ersten drei Dezember-Wochenenden ein altmodischer Basar stattfindet. Außerdem werden Konzerte in der kleinen Kapelle Seglora abgehalten. Im zentralsten Park der Stadt, Kungsträdgården, gibt es verschiedene Stände. Der Verein des Straßenmarktes Street organisiert auf der Insel Södermalm, in der Nähe der U-Bahn-Station Hornstull, einen etwas anderen Markt mit Design- und Handwerksobjekten. Für einen zusätzlichen Tag empfehlen wir einen Ausflug in das malerische Sigtuna, die älteste noch existierende Stadt in Schweden, 45 Minuten mit dem Auto nördlich der Hauptstadt (und 15 Minuten vom Flughafen), ganz im Zeichen von Weihnachten.
Die kulinarischen Angebote der Weihnachtsbuffets, mit allen schwedischen Spezialitäten: Hering, Lachs, Fleischbällchen mit Preiselbeersoße, Kartoffelgratin mit Anchovis, im Ofen marinierter gekochter Schinken, serviert mit Senf, können in dieser Zeit in verschiedenen Restaurants genossen werden. Einige der bekanntesten sind die Veranda des Grand Hotels, das värdshuset Ulriksdal neben dem Schloss Ulriksdal, das Restaurant im Rathaus, das Solliden in Skansen, aber auch auf Booten.
Jeden Winter wird in Stockholm eine große Eislaufbahn im Kungsträdgården eingerichtet. Wer keine Schlittschuhe mitgebracht hat, kann diese vor Ort ausleihen.
Christmas Markets in Gothenburg
The first Christmas bazaar to open (11/16) is found in Gothenburg inside the wonderful amusement park Liseberg, the largest in Scandinavia. Here you can browse through about eighty stalls selling Christmas items, candles, gastronomic specialties, Swedish crafts, reindeer leather, and so on, you can try the ice rink, there are attractions for children, restaurants where you can eat the Christmas buffet, an ice bar, music, and Christmas carols.
The Gothenburg Christmas markets consist not only of the classic decorated stands but also bazaars, such as the one at Kronhuset, the oldest building in the city.
The most famous Christmas market in Sweden is certainly the one held in the Liseberg park in Gothenburg because of its size and the wonderful lights that accompany the event. There are as many as five million lights shining at night until New Year’s Eve, forming the Avenue of Light.
The wooden houses that wind over about 3.5 km display reindeer leather goods, Swedish crafts, candles, and plenty of typical food, although to refresh visitors nothing is better than having something at the ice bar. About forty kilometers from Gothenburg, you can visit another Christmas market at the Thorskog Castle, whose decorations immediately transport you into a fairy-tale atmosphere.
Christmas celebrations in Gothenburg extend from Liseberg up to the main avenue Avenyn, full of shops and cafes/restaurants, which from December 7 will shine with lights and Christmas trees. Here you will also find an ice skating rink. In the oldest neighborhood Haga there will be 60-70 stalls while about forty are located in the Nordstan shopping center, open every day from mid-November until the end of December.
Finally, here are the Christmas markets in Malmo, recognizable from afar thanks to the lights around the large Christmas tree placed in Gustav Adolfs torg; right next to it is the city’s most famous Christmas market, characterized by its red wooden houses.
For only two days, the manor in Katrinetorp will also host festivities, with ring dances and dancing around the Christmas tree.
Christmas Markets, Malmo
In Malmo, facing Copenhagen, easily reachable by train from the Danish capital or its airport. The lighting of the tree on Gustav Adolfs torg square and various entertainment activities. Throughout December the city will be dressed for the holidays and will offer different Christmas markets like the one next to Gustav Adolfs torg square where in the red huts you can buy handicrafts in various materials and many Christmas gastronomic specialties, including hot dishes to enjoy on the spot.
From 8 to 9/12 a traditional Christmas market full of atmosphere will be held at the manor of Katrinetorp, a perfectly preserved nineteenth-century manor in the southern area of Malmö. You can buy handicrafts, gastronomic specialties, antiques; people dance around the fir tree, there will be Christmas choirs and horse-drawn carriage rides – don’t miss the manor’s restaurant cuisine. The same weekend preparations for Christmas take place at the Koggmuseet, a medieval setting with two replicas of medieval merchant ships (including the largest in the world, don’t miss the chance to board), with activities for children, entertainment and shows.
Of course, in Malmo there are also skating rinks, including the one on Stortorget square which can be used from November to February.
For those who love shopping the choice is very wide and interesting in all three cities and for all budgets! Those traveling after Christmas will find the offer even more interesting, thanks to the combination of quality and convenience: sales actually start on December 26 and last until mid-January.
Festival of Saint Lucia
The most beloved tradition throughout the country during the pre-Christmas period is the festival of Saint Lucia, which is celebrated on December 13th all over the country in a way completely different from what happens in Italy. At home, school, work, a girl is chosen to represent Saint Lucia, dressed in a long white robe with a red sash around her waist, adorned on her head with a crown of candles, decorated with a weave of lingonberry leaves. Throughout the country, processions parade with dozens of girls in white (often there are also boys) and all together sing Christmas hymns and others dedicated to the return of light.
In Stockholm, everyone can participate in this unusual event at the open-air museum Skansen where the coronation takes place on 12/2 and where on the 13th at 6 p.m., Lucia and some of her attendants, after a carriage procession, reach the choir to participate in the traditional concert. Then there are concerts in various churches both in the morning and evening of the 13th or alternatively in the large arena of Globen where 1,200 singers – boys and adults – sing together on 12/15 and 12/16, a very evocative event.
The Saint Lucia of Malmo is crowned on 11/25 and on 12/13 crosses the city by carriage with her procession and everyone then sings from the balcony of the governor’s residence of the region at 5:30 p.m., while in Gothenburg the local Lucia is crowned on the evening of the 12th at Liseberg and then participates in traditional concerts both on the 12th and the 13th in the Vasa church. On the 13th, one can attend concerts in various churches.
