Traditions

Swedish Lucia, the Queen of Light
The Lucia celebration is something that Swedes themselves, and also the rest of the world consider as the most typical Swedish tradition. ..typically Swedish today, but is really international when you look at the background and development of the tradition. Additionally, our customs around Lucia are among the most complicated of the year.
Swedish Christmas: Holiday like no other
—Few holidays mean as much to us as Christmas. All over America groups are organizing Christmas Fairs, Lucia and Christmas celebrations. For a celebration near you, go to our Events page.
Advent
This year on Sunday, December 1 the time had come to light the first candle of Advent. The four Sundays of Advent are just as important as Lucia in Sweden. Advent - the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
The American Thanksgiving
Our 153rd Thanksgiving in the U.S. For our readers outside the U.S., here’s a brief history of the American Thanksgiving: The first Thanksgiving on American soil goes back to the first Pilgrims and their second year, 1621, at the settlement in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Swedish Christmas Treats
Pepparkakor - regular ginger snaps; strongly addictive and a classic. White gingersnaps. Ice chocolate. Knäck. Not without my wiener nougat! Saffron pears.
My Not-So-Swedish Family Christmas
A Swedish traditional Christmas. “This is how the Swedes do it, how your relatives did it. So this is how we do it.” Really? The traditions of a generations-old Swedish family Christmas comes with surprises when a young native Swede joins the celebration one year.
A thousand years of the Swedish 'julbord'
With the month of December we face a collection of important annual rituals and remarkable meals. Common to all of them, from glögg mingles to corporate holiday parties, is they contribute to a loaded Christmas atmosphere that can only be redeemed in the perhaps most unusual meal that Swedish food culture can boast: Julbord, the traditional Christmas table.
Happy Independence Day to one and all!
... a celebration everyone can appreciate.
The month of June in Sweden
The Swedish summer is at its greenest, the nights are at their shortest and the land comes alive with a throbbing energy as the summer solstice approaches.
A Swedish Midsummer!
..music, dance and the long hours of sunlight and joy. Is there anything prettier than Swedish Midsummer? Is there anything more Swedish than a maypole? 'Svensk Midsommar' - the traditions, the table and a selection of the most popular recipes.
Bountiful garden with a touch of the exotic
A lavish arboretum in the northern Stockholm archipelago — a fertile Eden where magnificent flowers and beautiful deciduous trees bend and bow wherever you turn your gaze.
The Swedish Semla
Whether you call it 'Fettisdag,' Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday or Mardis Gras, if you're in Sweden (or anywhere in Scandinavia) you celebrate with a 'semla' or 'fettisdagsbulle.'
God Jul
Merry Christmas and 'happy continuation' of the days between Christmas and the New Year, God Fortsättning!
Jaerv + the OK Factor
Minneapolis, Minnesota-based string duo The OK Factor, and award-winning Swedish quintet Jaerv, are embarking on their third U.S. tour.
Väsen tours the U.S.
... continuing its unparalleled musical expressions of Swedish folk and traditional music with a new tour in the U.S.
Happy 'Scandinavian' Thanksgiving in America!
The fourth Thursday of each November is a time of migration all over the United States.
Kicking off fall in the Chicago area
The date has been set for Scandinavian Day Festival in Illinois: Sunday September 11, 2022
The world’s oldest painted Dalahäst
While excavating in Falun in central Dalarna in July 2020, Swedish archaeologists accidentally found what may be the world’s oldest painted Dalahäst.
A Swedish Easter, the start of Holy Week
The symbols, the food, the traditions, starting on Palm Sunday.
Happy New Year!
'Gott Nytt år' .. let's make 2022 a peaceful, happy and successful year for all.
God Fortsättning / Happy continuation of the holidays ...
Readers, partners, friends - Merry Christmas!
The quick and easy Glogg Party
Any of the four Sundays of Advent is a perfect excuse for putting together your own party.
Back to an (almost) usual Midsummer
The Swedish government eased regulations on meetings and the limitations on restaurants and amusement parks on June 1, just in time for the summer season.
Skansen reopened
The popular outdoor park has been open for visitors again since April 1.
6:e Juni, Nationaldagen
Sweden's National Day is June 6. Only since the early 20th century has it been considered the Day of the Swedish Flag, becoming a national holiday as late as 2004.
Easter or Påsk, a Swedish tradition of traditions
Wherever you are and on FaceTime, Zoom, Skype or phone, wishing you and yours a safe and healthy, happy Easter.
Preparing for Easter
The holy days before Easter have a unique history in Sweden.
Swedish Chocolate Easter Squares
We used Anton Berg’s Large Bird Eggs with marzipan and nougat as decoration with these yummy Easter treats.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Another perfect gift for your loved ones ... a home delivery subscription to Nordstjernan.
For the love of tulips
And in some countries a declaration of love.
We take the rough with the smooth, the ups with the downs ..
The first issues of our 149th year of consecutive publishing of Nordstjernan, have been published.
Readers, partners, friends:
During 2020, together, we have found ourselves slowly adapting to a new way of living, with still many unknown challenges ahead. We’ll continue to make it together. All the very best for the year 2021! Your friends at NORDSTJERNAN
Tomasdagen, Tomas Day, Dec. 21.
Christmas stalks, market day and beer: In the old days Tomas Day, December 21, was an important way station.
Glad Första Advent - Happy First of Advent!
Second only to Sankta Lucia, after Christmas itself, is the time spent in preparation for this important holiday season - during what's known as Advent.
Hunting: Sweden's living heritage
Swedes gear up for hunting season. As the summer comes to an end, fall inevitably draws nearer, and with fall comes the hunting season. The moose hunt is usually front-page news in Sweden when it begins in different parts of the country from early October. Almost 300,000 camouflaged Swedes – including the Swedish king! – migrate to the forests.
The gun, the dog and the thermos
Culture and hunting in Sweden and the United States
Swedish traditions: 'Kraftskivan' - your own crayfish party
Crayfish, crawfish, in Swedish simply kraftor [kr'ef:tor] Checklist, how to create your own.
Countdown to crayfish
Sweden is known for its various seafood specialties, especially in the late summer when certain crustaceans are mature and fresh.
Virtual Midsummer activities
Midsummer 2020 is shaping up to be like none other, and a number of organizations are trying to help make it memorable with opportunities for virtual celebrations! You needn't travel across states or "hålla tummorna" for the perfect weather this year ... there are events you can enjoy in your own backyard:
Små grodorna - The little frogs
No Swedish Midsummer can be celebrated without them ... young and old, in the north and south, everyone dances 'Små Grodorna' but where did the song really come from?