A Royal Swedish Christmas (Traditions, Christmas Cards, Photo Sessions)

[Josefine]

today is Lucia in Sweden and children dress upp to sing about her

this is from swedish televison 44 minutes video
this year they did a 1800 centary Lucia what i understand
http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?...allplayer=true

[Josefine]

and a few photos with royal connection

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by Josefine

in sweden

1st of Advent - Warming up for Christmas

Children also take out their Advent calendars, where one flap is opened each day until Christmas Eve.

The same in households where the German tradition is maintained.

The thing with the candles ... when I grew up ..... was on a green wreath made of cut evergreen branches.

And a shoe in the window between Saturday night to wake up on Sunday morning.

in sweden we celebrate christmnas december 24th

That's what I have grown up with. In the past I would take half the day off, if it was work day ... now I take the whole day off.

My sister's family has it the best .... Christmas presents from the German side of the family on Christmas Eve, and then presents from the Scottish side of the family on the morning of Christmas Day.

then its time for food we got a smorgasbord full with different meals
pickled herring, liver pâté, smoked sausages, cabbage, meatballs, "Jansson's Temptation" (a potato gratin with pickled sprats) and the much longed-for ham - and loads more last year we had dear

Certainly a tradition I have grown up with, is a smorgasbord halfway through the "business end" of the evening of Christmas Eve. No cabbage though, although there is a version of herring salad.

[Yennie]

this year they did a 1800 centary Lucia what i understand

this is what Aftonbladet wrote:
Lucia was dressed as a Lucia from 1860´s Dalarna (a swedish county) and they had the province dress on. There was no traditional songs either.
Many people reacted and complained to the TV company. They wanted a traditional Lucia with her white gown.

Självaste lucian var istället klädd som en lucia från 1860-talets Dalarna, med sockendräkt och en krona gjord av lingonris. Hennes tärnor, eller ”luciakranskullor” som de kallades, var klädda i praktfulla folkdräkter, röda förkläden och utsmyckade folkinspirerade skrudar på huvudet.
När de tågade in i var det heller inte till tonerna av ”Natten går tunga fjät”. 2004 års lussekoncept var ett helt annat.
Musiken från sångerna som sjöngs var folkliga varianter på lucia- och julvisor framförda av viskursen vid Malungs folkhögskola.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyhete...574828,00.html

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Thanks for post these informations.Does Queen Silvia attend any activities for celebrating Christmas or only Princess Victoria?

[Yennie]

I cant remeber that Silvia does? Other than her traditional inteview, that from now on is Victorias, with the green puppet Skurt :)

Princess Margareta used to open the swedish christmas "marknad" at the swedsh church in London, but I dont know if she still do?
And some years Victoria has attend a concert in aid for the homless people in Stockholm, but same here, I dont know if thats every year or if its just sometimes?
Anyone?

[GrandDuchess]

There are no annual Christmas engagements for the Swedish Royal Family - which I think is a real pity... :(

It would be nice if there was some annual Christmas concert or thing like that at the Palace or Palace Church in Stockholm, or something like it - that the royals could host every year.

There is only one annual thing that is on the Royal Family's official calendar around Christmas every year, and which counts as an official engagement (which it isn't) - and that's the Christmas Luncheon for the staff of the Royal Court...

One thing that occurs every year, but is not an official engagement - is as Yennie said - is Queen Silvia's (from this year Crown Princess Victoria's) tv interview with Skurt (a puppet). And, also just like Yennie said, Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler used to open (or still does?) the Swedish Christmas bazaar at the Swedish church in London.

But nothing more connected to the Royal House at Christmas... :(

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

There are no annual Christmas engagements for the Swedish Royal Family

Skipping ahead a bit, GrandDuchess, the Royal Family does make a "thing" out of ringing out the old year (and the new year in) with a midnight champage on the balcony?

[Yennie]

two old photos of the royal family, taken in december 1995.
I can´t belive its 10 years ago, seems like yesterday

They are from the traditional christmas photoshoot and they are in the Bernadotte libary at Stockholm Palace. Carl Philip couldn´t make it home in time for the photoshoot, as he was studying in USA at the time.

photos from IBL

[Regina]

Originally Posted by Yennie

two old photos of the royal family, taken in december 1995.
I can´t belive its 10 years ago, seems like yesterday

photos from IBL

The Queen and Victoria are more or less the same, but the King and Madeleine really have changed a lot!!

[swedishme]

lucia oh i luv that..its my fave part of the xmas preperations..cant wait til tuesday when i'll spend the day singing lucia songs in various lucia processions with my choir :)

[LoveAdam07]

How does the swedens celerbrate x-mas this year ??

And does it give a Christmas-Card?

[LadyFinn]

King Carl Gustaf´s Christmas Speech
Speech and video

[Esmerelda]

Julretro!!! | Lottas kungliga modeblogg
Some old pictures.