https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Sweden in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Trettondedag jul, literally "the thirteenth day of Christmas", always falls on January 6th and it's a public holiday in Sweden. But why is it celebrated it at all? https://www.thelocal.se/20230106/why-is-january-6th-a-public-holiday-in-sweden Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:09:58 +0100 why-is-january-6th-a-public-holiday-in-sweden Dumping your Christmas tree on the street can result in a hefty fine, so make sure you dispose of it responsibly. https://www.thelocal.se/20241227/how-to-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-sweden Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:18:47 +0100 how-to-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-sweden What on earth does Ivanhoe have to do with Swedish New Year's celebrations anyway? https://www.thelocal.se/20161230/how-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-like-a-swede Fri, 30 Dec 2016 13:49:18 +0100 how-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-like-a-swede Warning: Some of this may only make sense to you if you've ever celebrated Christmas in Sweden. https://www.thelocal.se/20161220/things-you-get-if-youve-celebrated-christmas-in-sweden Tue, 20 Dec 2016 14:53:17 +0100 things-you-get-if-youve-celebrated-christmas-in-sweden Say hello to the man all Swedish kids want to knock on the door on Christmas Eve. https://www.thelocal.se/20061218/5842 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:34:00 +0100 5842 The sacred hour when Sweden goes quiet and almost half of the population watches reruns of old Disney shows. https://www.thelocal.se/20191216/adventcalendar-the-strange-things-that-happen-in-sweden-at-3pm-on-christmas-eve Mon, 16 Dec 2019 08:03:38 +0100 adventcalendar-the-strange-things-that-happen-in-sweden-at-3pm-on-christmas-eve Swedes all celebrate Christmas on December 24th. If you need a last-minute cheat sheet, here's how the festive day unfolds. https://www.thelocal.se/20151224/christmas-in-sweden-the-essential-guide Thu, 24 Dec 2015 01:01:00 +0100 christmas-in-sweden-the-essential-guide Letters to Santa, twinkling lights on houses, and Christmas trees in the public square: on the face of it, Swedish Christmas looks pretty similar to Christmas in North America or the UK. But underneath the surface, there are a lot of differences. https://www.thelocal.se/20251223/how-to-celebrate-christmas-like-a-swede Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:17:49 +0100 how-to-celebrate-christmas-like-a-swede Throughout history, Swedes have stayed up late the day before Christmas Eve to get everything ready for the big day of celebrations. Since 1995, this has also included playing bingo until midnight – but why? https://www.thelocal.se/20221212/advent-calendar-2022-why-do-swedes-play-bingo-the-day-before-christmas-eve Mon, 12 Dec 2022 14:27:31 +0100 advent-calendar-2022-why-do-swedes-play-bingo-the-day-before-christmas-eve Updated road closure news for those travelling by car today. Christmas is one of the busiest times for travel in Sweden, whether you're travelling by air, road or rail. Here's the latest. https://www.thelocal.se/20231219/what-to-be-aware-of-when-travelling-in-sweden-this-christmas Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:41:22 +0100 what-to-be-aware-of-when-travelling-in-sweden-this-christmas Do you want Christmas to last as long as possible? Are you an introvert who likes predictability or an spontaneous extrovert? Here are our six criteria to check whether Sweden is the best country for you to celebrate in. https://www.thelocal.se/20221219/six-ways-to-tell-if-sweden-is-the-place-for-you-on-christmas Mon, 19 Dec 2022 17:01:44 +0100 six-ways-to-tell-if-sweden-is-the-place-for-you-on-christmas Planning a Swedish Christmas meal – the scrumptious julbord – outside of Sweden this year? Here are The Local's tips on how you can make your own julbord, and where to source essential ingredients. https://www.thelocal.se/20211221/how-to-make-your-own-julbord-if-you-live-outside-sweden Tue, 21 Dec 2021 11:18:11 +0100 how-to-make-your-own-julbord-if-you-live-outside-sweden It's not Christmas in Sweden without glögg – the spiced wine drink served warm, often in little cups about the size of Turkish tea glasses. But what's the difference between the umpteen different glögg bottles on the shelf at Systembolaget? https://www.thelocal.se/20251218/skal-a-guide-to-glogg-swedens-favourite-christmas-drink Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:02:02 +0100 skal-a-guide-to-glogg-swedens-favourite-christmas-drink There are a surprising number of unwritten rules when it comes to greeting people throughout the Christmas season. So when should you say god jul, and when is it better to wish someone a 'good continuation' or a 'good end' instead? https://www.thelocal.se/20241217/when-do-you-start-saying-merry-christmas-in-sweden Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:36:43 +0100 when-do-you-start-saying-merry-christmas-in-sweden Three million households in Sweden buy a Christmas tree every year, either from one of the stalls that pop up in town squares across the country, from an out-of-town retailer, or direct from a grower. Here's how to get your tree. https://www.thelocal.se/20251216/how-and-when-do-you-buy-a-christmas-tree-in-sweden Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:16:21 +0100 how-and-when-do-you-buy-a-christmas-tree-in-sweden Sick of Last Christmas and All I Want for Christmas is You? We've put together a list of Swedish Christmas songs, including standard hits and more unusual offerings, for you to add to your playlist this year. https://www.thelocal.se/20251212/our-christmas-ham-has-run-away-ten-of-swedens-best-holiday-hits Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:41:13 +0100 our-christmas-ham-has-run-away-ten-of-swedens-best-holiday-hits The Christmas Goat in the Swedish city of Gävle has become a worldwide symbol of the season for many who eagerly follow news of the straw goat to see if it survives until Christmas day. Here's where you can watch it online. https://www.thelocal.se/20221208/goatwatch-heres-how-you-can-livestream-swedens-christmas-goat Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:56:35 +0100 goatwatch-heres-how-you-can-livestream-swedens-christmas-goat The Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design (ArkDes) runs an annual competition for the best 'pepparkakshus' or gingerbread house. Which one do you think should win this year? https://www.thelocal.se/20251212/in-pics-swedens-contest-for-the-years-best-gingerbread-house Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:34 +0100 in-pics-swedens-contest-for-the-years-best-gingerbread-house Typical items used in Swedish Christmas baking like flour, butter and chocolate have seen major price increases over the past five years, while coffee in Sweden has risen by 100 percent since 2020. https://www.thelocal.se/20251211/prices-of-swedish-christmas-food-rise-33-percent-in-five-years Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:13:25 +0100 prices-of-swedish-christmas-food-rise-33-percent-in-five-years If your children have just started school or preschool in Sweden or you haven't been in the country for very long, this could be your first ever Lucia celebration. What is it, and how should you prepare? https://www.thelocal.se/20221208/parenting-in-sweden-how-to-prepare-for-your-childs-lucia-celebration Thu, 08 Dec 2022 15:30:55 +0100 parenting-in-sweden-how-to-prepare-for-your-childs-lucia-celebration