Every country in the world has its own traditions and customs that are relevant for celebrating the New Year. The Scandinavian countries are no exception, in which a special festive spirit is felt everywhere in winter.
Most of the interesting New Year traditions have gathered in Sweden. In this Scandinavian country, the New Year is a holiday of fire, they begin to prepare for it since the end of October. On New Year's Eve, on the holiday itself, and a few days after it, the Swedes try to bring more light into their lives.
Many garlands and candles are lit in the room where there is an elegant Christmas tree; they try not to extinguish the lighting here even at night. Facades of houses, street lights, shop windows and trees are decorated with additional bright lighting.
An obligatory New Year's tradition in Sweden is the choice of the Queen of Light, who is called Lucia. Lucia for the Swedes is a deity of light, patronizing the hearth, animals and children. It is she who usually brings gifts for children on a festive night, as they say in Swedish legends. Lucia looks like a lovely young girl dressed in white robes. On her head is a crown made of candles burning with warm fire.
Despite the fact that it is Lucia who is associated with gifts, Sweden also has its own analogue of Santa Claus (Santa Claus). His name is Yultomten. Outwardly, he looks like a funny gnome in warm red clothes. Traditionally, aromatic rice porridge is prepared for Yultomten, generously adding almonds, oil, raisins and honey to it. The porridge should be left either under the tree or on the doorstep of the house.
Another fun Swedish New Year's tradition is crock-breaking. Cups, plates, saucers and glasses are smashed against the threshold of the house, against the door frames. The Swedes believe that such an ancient rite will attract prosperity and prosperity to the house, protect from troubles and diseases. If in the distant past all family members were breaking dishes, then in modern Swedish cities only children perform such a mission. For well-beaten dishes and sincere good wishes, children receive sweet treats from adults.
If in Sweden the New Year is celebrated mainly in large and noisy companies, then in Norway this winter holiday is traditionally considered a family one. In this Scandinavian country, it is customary to gather on the evening of December 31 at a rich and elegant table. And all the festive days traditionally need to be spent in the company of relatives.
In Norway, it is customary to put gingerbread houses under the tree. Various additional treats and small gifts are also left under the branches of the New Year tree, intended for a creature named Yulenissen. Yulenissen is an analogue of Santa Claus, Santa Claus, who lives in Norway. Oddly enough, but visually he is very similar to the gnome from Sweden.
An obligatory tradition for the New Year in Norway is the preparation of mulled wine, beer and other winter drinks. On the festive table, among other dishes, there are lean oat cakes, fragrant crispy waffles and spicy cookies. It is customary to bake cookies a couple of weeks before the celebration and store them in small tin boxes placed throughout the house.
Among the Danish New Year traditions, the rite of decorating a Christmas tree for the holiday stands out. An interesting fact: for the first time it was a Christmas tree for the New Year in Scandinavia that was dressed up in the 19th century. And it happened in Denmark. Earlier in the Scandinavian northern countries it was customary to decorate elms, mountain ash and oaks for the holiday.
In Denmark, artificial and real candles are necessarily fixed on the Christmas tree. Such decoration is a tribute to old traditions. In ancient times, the Scandinavians revered trees very much, they respected and honored them. In the winter months, it was customary to bring burning candles and torches to the trees, and from food gifts to leave cakes made of oatmeal on the ground.
Among the toys on the Danish tree are also red hearts made of fabric or paper, oatmeal cookies, sweet candy with nuts and decorative toys in the form of buns, biscuits, rolls, bagels.
Also in Denmark, it is customary to celebrate the New Year brightly, cheerfully and noisily. The idea of a festival of light, popular in Sweden, is also relevant for the Danes. Therefore, on New Year's Eve, you need to start up fireworks, blow up fireworks and burn a large number of candles.
