Hakuna Matata!: Christmas eve, the 24th = christmas in Sweden

The christmas tree

Merry Christmas!

The 24th, on Christmas eve, we celebrate Christmas here in Sweden. In the morning the children usually get a christmas gift. They can get it in a stocking or beside the bed or as the tradition in our family is - at the end of a string! Then Santa (or Mom or Dad) put a string all around the house, over and under furnitures and in and out of all the rooms. At the end there is a gift. So when the child wakes up in the morning it starts following the string, from its bed to the end were the present is! At the end of my string there was a body lotion! Thank you Santa!

After that we have breakfast together then it is time to rhyme on the christmas gifts and put them under the christmas tree.

The angels and the shepherd's in the church. At the alter is Virgin Mary with baby Jesus.

At one o'clock we go to church. It is a family service and they have a roll play about when Jesus was born so that even the small children can follow the story. There is Virgin Mary with baby Jesus, the angels and the shepherd's and the three holy men. We listen to the choir sing and we also paticipate in singing the hymns like "Silent night".

After church we return home.

Watching Disney on TV.

At home we have coffee and cakes while we watch Disney movies on the TV. This has been on at three o'clock for as long as I can remember and it has become a tradition to watch it together. It is on for one hour.

Then it is time for Santa Claus to come! So many presents to deliver!! The children were so happy and so was I! This year I was Santa and delivered the gifts!!

Then we eat a big christmas buffet and then some candy before we go to sleep, delicious! Then you are so full that you can hardly stand up!
Sweet dreams!