The Star

I’m not sure how widespread the tradition is in other countries, but here many people put up an Advent star in their windows this time of year. The origin is of course the star that according to the Gospel of Matthew (Ch.2) was seen by Magi (“wise men”) from the East at the birth of Jesus. 

“… and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and or myrrh.”

 

For more reflection photography, visit Weekend Reflections at Newton Area Photo.

Swedish Midsummer Eve Celebration

Midsummer, celebrated on the Friday and Saturday that fall between June 19th and June 25th is probably the most uniquely Swedish of all our holidays. The main celebrations take place on the Friday, Midsummer Eve and traditionally include raising and dancing around a huge maypole (majstång), nowadays more commonly called midsummer-pole (midsommarstång), decorated with leaves and flowers.  Folk musicians and dancers often wear traditional costumes.

I went to the midsummer celebration in our museum park this afternoon in the hope of getting some pictures of a folk dance performance. It turned out to be so crowded I could not get close enough for that. But the photos will give you an idea of the popularity of the celebration.

You may notice some girls and women wearing flower wreaths on their heads. That is one midsummer tradition. Another is to pick seven or nine different wild flowers and put them under your pillow at night. Then in your dream you are supposed to see your future spouse. Traditionally, Midsummer was thought to be one of the times of the year when magic was strong, so a good night to perform rituals to look into the future.

The old buildings in the museum park have been moved there from their original sites.

In the second picture, if you wonder about the stony ground, that is a classic labyrinth (link to Wikipedia article).

PS. Inspired by a question about the labyrinth I’m putting in a separate post about that in my Island of Voices blog – Labyrinth of Life.

Grape Hyacinth - Pärlhyacint

Grape Hyacinth - Muscari – Pärlhyacint

The Swedish name means “pearl hyacinth”.
The Latin name Muscari has to do with the scent said to be resembling musk.

Some species are among the earliest to bloom in the spring. They are planted as bulbs and tend to multiply quickly in well drained sandy soil. May be found in woodlands or meadows, and commonly cultivated in lawns, borders, rock gardens etc.

I’ve sometimes had these on my balcony in the early spring, together with daffodils.
The second photo from my (previous) balcony in 2007.

Yellow and blue are the colours of our Swedish flag.

Blue and yellow have been used as Swedish colours for more than 700 years. According to legend, the Swedish king ‘Eric the Holy’ saw a golden cross in the sky as he landed in Finland during the First Swedish Crusade in the 1150s. Seeing this as a sign from God, King Eric adopted the golden cross against a blue background as his banner. (Historians however debate whether  even the crusade ever took place.)

Now this may sound like something every Swedish person would know. As a matter of fact though, I’m not sure I ever heard that legend until I read it just now in the Wikipedia article!

Happy Easter!

Glad Påsk - Happy Easter!

The tradition of sending Easter cards is not as common as Christmas cards. Inspired by the scrapbooking fair I went to recently, I made and sent some this year. But while I sent 60 or 70 Christmas cards, I only sent about 10 for Easter.

See also: http://islandofvoices.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-cards.html

Easter Market

For Easter, we decorate branches with colourful feathers, and sometimes other decorations too. Read more about it in yesterday's post at my other blog, The Island of the Voices.

Our name for daffodil is "Easter Lily" (påsklilja) and we usually have some of those on the table as well.

Easter Tree

This year in the town square we have a giant Easter Tree

Christmas Eve

God Jul och Gott Nytt År

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 

Here in Sweden, Father Christmas starts his rounds to deliver presents on Christmas Eve, and he usually knocks on the door in person instead of trying to squeeze in through the chimney.

The little house is a copy of storehouse from Northern Sweden. I wasn't sure of its origin but my aunt recently told me she remembers it from her childhood; her and my mother's father came from up North. The wooden bowl on the right is also from the same parts; that I think was bought on a holiday trip our family made there in the late 60's. The body of the Santa figure is a pine cone; I got that from a friend.

The Yule Buck

Before Father Christmas, there was the Yule Buck to deliver Christmas presents in Scandinavia. Bucks made of straw are still a common Christmas decoration. This one made of evergreen branches I saw at the Christmas market in town.




And here is another one I found last week in a garden I was passing!

St Lucia Day

On 13 December, we celebrate Lucia*, or St Lucy's Day.
(First link goes to a post at my Island of the Voices blog; the second one to a Wikipedia article.)

Each town has their own official Lucia with maids appointed, and during the weeks before Christmas, they go round singing traditional carols and Lucia songs in different places, outdoors and indoors, according to a schedule; collecting money for charity. This picture was taken at an outdoors concert after dark.

*If you follow this link , you can also listen to one of the traditional Lucia songs.