The long dark winter nights are here,
bringing with them some of Sweden's
finest traditions and magical scenery. The
Christmas feeling is in the air, shop
windows are being decorated, and
Christmas lights are flickering in the
windows. The air is crisp and dry, and the
pure white snow smothers the darkness.
make the most of this season!
ST. LUCIA CELEBRATION
Catholic Saint Lucia suffered martyrdom in
Syracuse in Sicily on December 13th, AD
304. Missionaries probably brought stories
of her courage to Sweden where she
became known as the "Lucia Bride". The
custom of a girl dressed in white, wearing a
crown with candles on her head may have
originated from Germany in the sixteenth or
seventeenth century. Current forms of
Lucia celebration spread over the country
in 1927, when the local paper "Stockholms
Tidningen" started selecting a Lucia every
year.
On the 13th December, one of the shortest
days of winter, Saint Lucia appears with
candles in her hair to illuminate the country.
You can watch the coronation of Lucia
on the Solliden stage (Skansen) on the
5th of December and join in Lucia
celebrations on the 13th also at Skansen.
Entrance fees for Skansen, the world's
oldest open-air museum, on the island of
Djurgården: Adults - SEK 60, Children -
SEK 20.
You can also visit the Globe arena for their
magnificent Lucia Concert, presented
around noon by students from Adolf Fredrik
Music School and Stockholms
Musikgymnasium, together with an
orchestra of 45 from Stockholms Läns
Blåsarsymfoniker (brass band). Concerts
are on December 11 at 16.00, December
12 at 13.00 and 17.00. The performance
lasts for about 1 hour 45 minutes. Prices:
SEK 170 for adults, SEK 150 for children
up to 12 yrs. and senior citizens. To book
your tickets visit: www.globearenas.se or
call 077-131 00 00
CALLING ALL
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS!
Many places in the country arrange
traditional Christmas markets suitable for
day trips. The popular and old-fashioned
Skansen market is located in the centre of
Stockholm. Open: November 27th, 28th,
December 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th. Hours:
10.00 - 16.00. Prices: Adults - SEK 60,
Children - SEK 20. This year there will be
fine linen products, gourmet food and
bread, Swedish toys and children's
clothes, plus the usual handicrafts
demonstrations and live music, and the
chance to buy or make your own Christmas
Nybrokajen 11 in Stockholm hosts
Magical Christmas 2004 on December 10th
with the best in classical, pop, rock, soul,
R&B and jazz, all packed into one night.
Some of Sweden's best up-and-coming
artists, musicians and dancers are on the
bill. Prices range from SEK 70 to 220. Visit
www.magicalchristmas.se
At Berwaldjallen in Stockholm, the
Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester
conducted by Manfred Honeck, presents a
beautiful Christmas concert with the
soprano Barbara Bonney on December
13th; prices range from SEK 75 to 370.
At the Gothenburg Concert Hall, you can
attend Advent concerts: JulJubel, from
December 11th to 14th. SEK 325 SEK. For
more information visit www.gso.se
ON STAGE
Stockholm's Royal Opera House
presents…
The Royal Swedish Ballet performing
Tchaikovsky's classic Nutcracker, with
dancing gingerbread men, snowmen and
peppermint candy. This performance
combines the magic of Tchaikovsky's
classic ballet with the popular Swedish
children's story of Petter and Lotta, by Elsa
Beskow. 27 November 2004 - 8 January
2005. Ticket prices from SEK 40 to 510.
A production of Puccini's La Boheme,
sung in Italian by the Royal Swedish Opera,
accompanied by the Royal Swedish
Orchestra. November 24th and 26th;
December 2nd and 6th. Price range from
SEK 40 to 510.
Bizet's Carmen, sung in French by the
Royal Swedish Opera accompanied by the
Royal Swedish Orchestra. The production is
set in a contemporary military camp with the
girls wearing short skirts and the guards
sporting AK47s. There is only a nod to the
traditional staging when Carmen reverts to a
long gypsy skirt to go to the bullfight at the
end of the opera. November 25th and 29th;
December 3rd and 8th. Prices range from
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decorations. For more information visit
www.skansen.se
The Christmas market, in the oldest square
in Stockholm, Stortorget, opens everyday
from 27th November to 22nd December,
11.00-18.00. It is popular for showcasing
fine old Swedish traditions, handicrafts,
Christmas delicatessen and mulled wine.
Call 08-411 26 48 or visit
www.stortorgetsjulmarknad.com
Kungsträdgården, the most central park
of the city, has a Christmas market open
from 11.00 to 18.00, during the following
weekends: November 26th-28th,
December 3rd-5th, 10th-12th and 17th-
19th. Visit http://www.kungstradgarden.se
or call 08-555 100 90
The Rosendals garden, located on
Djurgården, offers biodynamical and
organically grown products such as homebaked
bread, jams, spices and flowers, in
addition to arts and crafts; it also features
an exhibition on the theme of winter. Open
Tuesday - Sunday, 11.00-17.00, 26th Nov-
19th Dec. Lanterns and fires are lit
outdoors in the afternoon. Entrance: SEK
50. Visit www.rosendalstradgard.com or
call 08-545 812 70.
Steninge Palace has a traditional indoors
Christmas Market. Opens November 20th
at 10.00 and lasts until December 23rd.
Christmas decorations, handicrafts and
traditional Christmas food. Santa Claus
visits on Saturday and Sunday
.
Sockerbageriet can show you how to make
roasted almonds. All weekends during
Christmas you can grind your own coffee.
Visit www.steningeslott.com for more
information.
In GOTHENBURG, the Liseberg
Amusement Park Christmas Market runs
from mid-November to December 23rd.
Scandinavia's largest amusement park is
transformed into the region's largest
Christmas market with around 3 million
lights adorning 700 Christmas trees and 6
kilometres of spruce garlands. There are
stalls selling food and handicrafts, and
restaurants serving the traditional Swedish
Christmas buffet. The Park is right in centre
of the city, very close to Gothia Towers.
Visit www.liseberg.se for more information.
In MALMÖ, from 29 November until 23
December, you can buy your loved ones
something special at a Christmas exhibition
with a difference at Gallery GKM, Stora
Nygatan 30. Phone (0)40-611 99 11. You
can find embroidery, jewellery, carpets,
books and many beautifully made design
objects, all created by Swedish designers,
so you can give something really unique to
a loved one this Christmas. For more
information on Malmö visit
www.malmo.se/turist
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
SEK 40 to 510.
Go to http://www.operan.se/ for more
information on Stockholm's Royal Opera
House. You can also buy tickets for these
and other events at
www.ticnet.se/Ticnet.html
NEW YEARS EVE
At Sturecompagniet, New Year´s is a big
party. Three dance floors cover most music
tastes - from hip-hop, reggae and Motown
to house and more. It's also possible to eat
before the serious celebrating begins
(dinner from 19.00). Please contact the
club directly for further details.
The popular Berns club in Stockholm
throws a party with style, featuring a
special supper and music.
SPORTS
From 1st December 2004 to 28th February
2005, twirl, float, and pretend to be a
whirling dervish. Ice-skating is fun
wherever you are, but remember: in
Stockholm everyone is rather good at it.
After all, the locals have dealt with a lot of
ice over the years. Let yourself go at the
city's favourite ice rink in Kungsträdgården.
Entrance is free but you will have to rent
skates which will cost SEK 30 for adults and
SEK10 for children. Opening Hours: Mon-Fri
9.00 to -17.00 (until 21.00h Wed & Fri), Sat
& Sun 11.00 to 17.00.
Branded "the sport world's own Oscargala"
by the organisers, this annual event
takes place at the Globe Arena in Stockholm
on the 17th of January 2005. For more
information visit www.idrottsgalan.com
On January 19th 2005 you have serious
metal hitting ice: The annual 48-mile Viking
Run, stretching from Uppsala to Stockholm.
If you're not joining in the fun, get out of the
way. Thousands of blades can be
dangerous. For more information Email
kansliet@vikingarannet.com or call 08-556
312 45. |
