| Scandinavia, which includes the countries of | | | | sour red cabbage and potatoes covered in rich |
| Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, has a | | | | brown gravy made from the juice of the roast |
| variety of beautiful and unique Christmas | | | | duck or goose. |
| traditions. | | | | Norwegian Christmas Traditions: |
| While there are a number of similarities, like the | | | | Most Norwegian homes have a pine or spruce |
| use of candles and a combination of red and | | | | tree decorated with tinsel, white lights, small |
| white decorative elements, there are also many | | | | Norwegian flags and a variety of other |
| traditions that are unique to each of the | | | | ornaments. The children make Christmas baskets |
| Scandinavian countries. The length of the | | | | of colored paper and fill them with candy and |
| Christmas season also differs, ranging from an | | | | nuts. A typical Norwegian Christmas meal includes |
| eight day celebration in Norway to twelve full | | | | "pinnekjott" - a rib of lamb which has been salted |
| days in Sweden. | | | | and dried and is sometimes smoked. It is |
| Finnish Christmas Traditions: | | | | frequently served with sausages, mashed turnip |
| The Christmas season begins after the first | | | | or rutabaga, boiled potatoes, mustard and a cold |
| weekend of Advent. Advent, which means | | | | Christmas beer. |
| "coming," refers to the coming of the Christ. | | | | As with other Scandinavian countries, the |
| With Advent comes a multitude of Christmas | | | | Norwegians giver of gifts is called the "Nisse." The |
| decorations and a number of pre-Christmas | | | | Nisse, which is an elf (or gnome) usually dresses in |
| gatherings. After Advent, the next important | | | | gray and likes to play little tricks. The children |
| holiday is Independence Day, which coincides with | | | | leave porridge about so that the Nisse will find |
| the feast day of St. Nicholas on December 6th. | | | | favor with them and will bring them fine gifts. |
| As is common with other Scandinavian countries, | | | | Swedish Christmas Traditions: |
| the main Christmas celebration and meal takes | | | | In Sweden, the Christmas season begins with St. |
| place on Christmas Eve. The meal frequently | | | | Lucia Day on the 13th of December and continues |
| includes: pickled herring, roe, raw salmon, carrots, | | | | through to the end of Christmas Day. |
| potato casseroles, ham, and a vegetable salad | | | | St. Lucia Day (aka the Swedish Festival of Lights) |
| called rosolli. | | | | starts first thing in the morning. The eldest |
| For dessert, the Finns frequently serve cinnamon | | | | daughter in the household dresses in a beautiful |
| biscuits and a cold dish made of pureed plums. | | | | white dress and wears a crown adorned with |
| One tradition, which seems to be unique to the | | | | candles. She serves saffron rolls, ginger biscuits |
| Finns, is the honoring of the dead. Finnish families | | | | and coffee on a tray to her family and sings the |
| visit cemeteries and place lit candles on the | | | | traditional Lucia carols. |
| graves of their loved ones. The flickering of | | | | The Swedish Christmas dinner is served on |
| candlelight grows throughout the day, creating a | | | | Christmas Eve and frequently includes a |
| beautiful and unforgettable site beneath the dark | | | | smorgasbord of meats such as pork, ham, |
| blue sky. | | | | sausage, meatballs and all sorts of herring. Sweets |
| Danish Christmas Traditions: | | | | include cakes, pies and pepparkakor, which are |
| Danes main celebration is on Christmas Eve but | | | | Swedish ginger cookies. |
| continue their celebration through December 26th. | | | | Christmas day marks the beginning of a period of |
| The family gathers to decorate the tree with lit | | | | rest as most Swedes have another one to two |
| candles, paper decorations, fruits, sweets and | | | | weeks off work. Gatherings and celebrations |
| small Danish flags. The families dance around the | | | | continue during this resting period and the |
| tree, sing traditional songs and exchange gifts. | | | | Christmas tree is normally left up for about three |
| One of the gifts includes month-long "calendar | | | | weeks after Christmas. While each of the |
| candy" which is still given in Denmark today. | | | | Scandinavian countries has its own unique |
| The Christmas Eve meal is traditionally either | | | | traditions, one thing remains the same... It's a |
| roast duck or goose stuffed with apples and | | | | joyous time filled with light, love and the giving of |
| de-stoned prunes. Side dishes include sweet and | | | | gifts. |