Folk Festivals in Sweden [Part III]

Sweden is a country that still preserves many agricultural and religious traditions, and has numerous folk festivals. Below, we introduce some more Swedish folk festivals.

Salted herring. (Source: Isof)

+ The custom of eating fermented herring (Surströmmmingspremiären): In the northern Baltic coastal regions, salted herring is canned, seasoned, and left to ferment; the fermentation causes the can to swell into a nearly round shape. The first batch of the year is usually sold on the third Thursday of August. When the can is opened, a very strong smell wafts out; some find it delightful, while others cover their noses and run away. This fish is eaten with slices of barley bread, raw onions, and small almond-shaped potatoes. In some places, the fish, onions, and potatoes are placed on a slice of bread and folded over to be eaten like a sandwich. It is eaten with beer or white wine; connoisseurs say it's even better with milk.

+ All Saints' Day (Alla helgons dag, Toussaint): Since 1952, All Saints' Day has been restored to meet the needs of people who want a day to commemorate the dead. This feast is still observed in Catholic European countries, especially after the two world wars which saw so many deaths. The feast is celebrated on the Saturday following October 30th. On that day, families visit the graves, placing fir branches on them, and in the evening, lighting candles beside the graves.

+ The custom of eating Martin's goose (Martin gas): The feast of Saint Martin on November 11th commemorates both Saint Martin de Tour and Saint Luther, whose main feast falls on the 10th. In the past, this feast was very important for farmers and merchants, as it marked the end of the autumn and beginning of winter farming, and also the time to close the books. On this occasion, people often ate goose. Today, on November 11th, in restaurants or at home, the goose feast begins with a black soup made from goose blood.

+ Father's Day (Fars dag): On the second Sunday of November. This initiative, which started in schools in Sweden, has spread to other Nordic countries. Gifts are sold in shops, and children draw and make cute things for their fathers, bring breakfast to their fathers' beds, along with cakes and gifts (sometimes a tie).

+ Advent: The celebration heralds Christmas. On the first Sunday of Advent, churches are crowded. During the holiday, streets and public areas are decorated with flowers, lights, and fir trees. At home, a candle is lit every Sunday, so by Christmas there are four candles on a four-branched candle holder. In the 1930s, special calendars were sold, and radios and televisions had special broadcasts for children. In the windows, stars made of cardboard, straw, or metal with candles inside, or clusters of five or seven candles, were hung.

+ Feast of Saint Lucia (December 13th): Symbolizing hope for the return of sunlight after winter, when the December sky is very dark. The festival is held in winter, when it is already cold in Northern Europe, with snow falling in some places. According to medieval legend, the festival night is the longest night of the year. Therefore, people and animals must be given extra food to prevent hunger. Saint Lucia, radiant with glory, arrives early to wake everyone up. From the late 18th century, there was a custom of young women wearing long white dresses and glittering crowns, carrying food. In the 1920s, a newspaper held a contest to choose a Saint Lucia for the capital, thus giving rise to this new custom.

On the morning of the feast day of Saint Lucia, in various localities, offices, and schools, a personal statue of Saint Lucia is chosen, dressed as shown above, carrying a tray of coffee and small loaves of bread with turmeric or mulled wine. Following her are attendants in similar uniforms, and male guards also dressed in white, wearing conical paper hats, and singing traditional Lucia songs.

+ Christmas (December 24th): This is the longest and most important holiday of the year. Students have two weeks off. The tradition of the Christmas tree was introduced to Sweden in the 18th century, but only truly became popular from the 19th century onwards. A few days before the holiday, families arrange Christmas trees decorated with glittering garlands, glass ornaments, candy, small straw objects, candles, or electric lights. They sprinkle water to keep the tree fresh until Knut, twenty days after Christmas. Outdoors, illuminated Christmas trees are also planted.

On the 24th, people rest; in the past, farmers took a break, only tending to their livestock. The Christmas feast includes Smörggasbord and several special dishes such as ham, pork knuckle, cooked dried fish (Lut-fisk), and rice cooked in milk; there is also the custom of eating bread dipped in ham broth.

After the meal, Santa Claus (Tomte) appears. According to legend, in some places he is similar to the Vietnamese Kitchen God; he lives under the floorboards and in the cowshed and protects people and animals. A family member dressed as Santa Claus (wearing a red or gray coat, a pointed hat, and a long beard) brings a bag of gifts.

On holiday mornings, people go to church very early for service. In the old days, after attending service, people would compete to get home by horse-drawn carriage or sleigh; whoever got home first would have a bountiful harvest that year. The holiday celebrations were intimate family gatherings, with feasting only starting the next day, sometimes lasting for several weeks afterward.

+ The Feast of the Incarnation (Trettonhelg): January 6th and 7th, based on the story of Jesus appearing before the three wise men. Since students are still on Christmas break, many adults take time off to organize the celebration (performing a play about the three wise men, with boys wearing white costumes, similar to the Feast of Saint Lucia).

+ Knut Day: Previously, it coincided with the above holiday. After the Swedish calendar reform, it was moved to a week later, marking the end of Christmas, similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. Children invite friends over for lemonade, cookies, play games, sing, and take the decorations for the Christmas tree before throwing it out of the house.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/le-hoi-dan-gian-o-thuy-dien-ky-iii-228507.html