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 Swedes love traditional Lucia saffron buns (lussekatter) on December 13th. Food writer John Duxbury shares his favourite recipe with The Local. https://www.thelocal.se/20151211/how-to-make-your-own-saffron-buns Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:00:00 +0100 how-to-make-your-own-saffron-buns Whether you're just out of Sweden temporarily or you've moved away for good, you might find yourself missing the tradition of Lucia once December 13th rolls around. But how can you join in from abroad? https://www.thelocal.se/20241213/how-to-watch-swedish-lucia-celebrations-if-you-live-outside-of-sweden Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:04:49 +0100 how-to-watch-swedish-lucia-celebrations-if-you-live-outside-of-sweden Sweden celebrates its favourite Italian Catholic saint on December 13th. Don't say these things to the Swedes on this beloved winter holiday. https://www.thelocal.se/20151209/six-things-not-to-say-on-swedens-lucia-day Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:50:02 +0100 six-things-not-to-say-on-swedens-lucia-day It's one of the most enduring Swedish winter traditions. Lucia brings some much needed light into Sweden's winter darkness as The Local's James Savage explains. https://www.thelocal.se/20101213/9389 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:25:00 +0100 9389 In honour of December 13th, Lucia day, we're taking a look at the unique history behind how Swedes used to celebrate this popular Christmas tradition. https://www.thelocal.se/20181213/swedishchristmas-the-historical-dark-side-of-swedens-lucia-tradition-dec13 Thu, 13 Dec 2018 08:59:59 +0100 swedishchristmas-the-historical-dark-side-of-swedens-lucia-tradition-dec13 In the first entry for 2022's The Local Advent Calendar, we share a recipe for classic Swedish saffron buns from bakery Gateau. https://www.thelocal.se/20191211/how-to-make-swedish-lucia-saffron-buns-like-a-master-baker Wed, 11 Dec 2019 13:07:44 +0100 how-to-make-swedish-lucia-saffron-buns-like-a-master-baker The annual Lucia processions, one of the high points of the Christmas season in Sweden, were cancelled this year. But that didn't stop Swedes finding ways to celebrate. https://www.thelocal.se/20201214/in-pictures-how-sweden-celebrated-lucia Mon, 14 Dec 2020 14:48:17 +0100 in-pictures-how-sweden-celebrated-lucia Each day of December up until Christmas Eve, The Local is sharing the story behind a surprising Swedish fact as part of our own Advent calendar. https://www.thelocal.se/20191213/adventcalendar-how-saffron-made-its-way-to-sweden-and-became-a-key-part-of-lucia-day Fri, 13 Dec 2019 07:59:37 +0100 adventcalendar-how-saffron-made-its-way-to-sweden-and-became-a-key-part-of-lucia-day Does a Swedish symbol of light herald the end of the saga of Brexit, asks British writer and PhD student Sarah Campbell in this opinion piece for The Local. https://www.thelocal.se/20191209/who-will-be-crowned-the-lucia-of-uk-politics-2019 Mon, 09 Dec 2019 15:10:46 +0100 who-will-be-crowned-the-lucia-of-uk-politics-2019 New in Sweden, or simply curious about some of the country's festive traditions? Here are ten articles from The Local's archives to tell you all you need to know about how Sweden celebrates the Christmas season. https://www.thelocal.se/20181214/ten-must-read-articles-to-understand-swedish-christmas Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:59:12 +0100 ten-must-read-articles-to-understand-swedish-christmas This year's Lucia in Malmö can be a woman, a man or a person of non-binary gender, the city has announced. https://www.thelocal.se/20181003/malmo-to-have-gender-neutral-lucia Wed, 03 Oct 2018 16:09:03 +0200 malmo-to-have-gender-neutral-lucia In Sweden, almost every festival has a traditional food to go with it, and for Lucia Day in mid-December, that food is the saffron bun. But one Swedish baker put a twist on the dish, creating a hybrid Lucia kebab, with the meat encased in a saffron pastry. https://www.thelocal.se/20171214/swedish-fast-food-restaurant-creates-hybrid-saffron-bun-kebab Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:33:03 +0100 swedish-fast-food-restaurant-creates-hybrid-saffron-bun-kebab UPDATED: Lucia's helpers and Ku Klux Klan may both wear white pointy hats, but that's where the similarities end. https://www.thelocal.se/20161214/swedish-lucia-procession-sparks-kkk-alert Wed, 14 Dec 2016 13:17:29 +0100 swedish-lucia-procession-sparks-kkk-alert Breast milk is not usually an ingredient in Swedish Lucia saffron buns. But one food blogger has gone viral after she made and ate the traditional pastries using her own milk. https://www.thelocal.se/20161213/swedish-woman-makes-lucia-buns-using-her-own-breast-milk Tue, 13 Dec 2016 12:44:40 +0100 swedish-woman-makes-lucia-buns-using-her-own-breast-milk A Lucia procession on water around central Stockholm ended in emergency rescue on Sunday after two of the craft crashed into each other. https://www.thelocal.se/20161211/stockholm-festive-events-end-in-watery-drama Sun, 11 Dec 2016 15:49:53 +0100 stockholm-festive-events-end-in-watery-drama Saffron buns are popular around Lucia and Christmas in Sweden. Here instead is a wreath filled with all things yummy. https://www.thelocal.se/20161209/recipe-how-to-make-a-traditional-saffron-wreath-sweden Fri, 09 Dec 2016 07:59:59 +0100 recipe-how-to-make-a-traditional-saffron-wreath-sweden Journalist Edinah Masanga writes about the online abuse suffered by a child featured in a Swedish Lucia advert. https://www.thelocal.se/20161206/opinion-swedish-lucia-ad-racism-is-shocking-and-hypocritical Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:48:12 +0100 opinion-swedish-lucia-ad-racism-is-shocking-and-hypocritical A Swedish department store chain has pulled a festive online advert after the child in the picture was subjected to racist abuse by online trolls. https://www.thelocal.se/20161205/swedish-festive-ad-pulled-following-racist-abuse-of-child Mon, 05 Dec 2016 18:02:50 +0100 swedish-festive-ad-pulled-following-racist-abuse-of-child An advert for Sweden’s Åhléns has unleashed a heated online debate after the department store chain unveiled a new campaign featuring a dark-skinned child, whose gender wasn’t obvious to all, dressed as a Lucia. https://www.thelocal.se/20161204/swedish-lucia-advert-sparks-love-and-hate-online Sun, 04 Dec 2016 20:30:28 +0100 swedish-lucia-advert-sparks-love-and-hate-online A Swedish nursery school has insisted it is not banning a beloved December tradition after a Facebook message posted by a furious parent went viral. https://www.thelocal.se/20151127/swedish-school-we-have-not-banned-lucia Fri, 27 Nov 2015 11:57:59 +0100 swedish-school-we-have-not-banned-lucia