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Traditions

24 DECEMBER

Julafton / Swedish Christmas

2023 FIKA CHRISTMAS CALENDAR
1 DEC Saffron and Gingerbread Bun Premiere, available at all locations until the 24th
13 DEC Lucia Celebration at Fika Manly Cafe from 5pm
22 & 23 DEC Julbord Buffet, book your tickes here soon!
23 DEC Pick up all Christmas Food pre-orders anytime from 9am to 4pm.

Swedes love their traditions and Christmas is no exception. Here's how Swedes celebrate a traditional Christmas and how you can have your own Swedish Christmas here in Australia.  


CHRISTMAS EVE BUFFET
In Sweden Christmas eve is the main day to celebrate and unwrapping Christmas presents. The food is absolutely a crucial part of Christmas eve. Swedes love to sit down for hours and eat from the traditional Christmas buffet. On the buffet you can find selections of pickled herring, Janssons potato bake, cured salmon, cold cuts, ham roast, meatballs, brussels sprouts, red cabbage, rice pudding and a very special thing called “dip in the pot”. That is heated up fat from the ham roast which you dip a special dense bread in. It is also important to have schnapps to drink with the Christmas food and the non-alcoholic soft drink “julmust”. 

THE HOLY DONALD DUCK HOUR
How come almost every Swede watches cartoons at three o’clock on Christmas eve year after year? This tradition started in 1960 when the only time to watch cartoons on Swedish national television was on Christmas Eve. Some people would say Christmas starts when “Kalle” Donald Duck on tv comes on. The program is a mix of short Disney films and has been the same since 1960. The program is always presented by a Christmas host, which is a very hot topic to discuss every year and to follow the gossip of which this year’s celebrity it will be. It is a big honour to be the Christmas host, almost like becoming the president of the nation.

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND RHYMING
Swedes like to open their Christmas presents in the afternoon or evening on Christmas eve; just so the kids can go a little bit extra crazy after they have been waiting a whole year for Santa’s arrival. A very common discussion in families is if the present opening should be before or after Donald Duck. After Donald duck is a popular choice because then daddy or grandpa (Santa) can go and buy the “newspaper” while the kids watch tv and then come back dressed up as Santa. A great way to trick the children.

For some very creative Swedes rhyming is a big part of the Christmas present opening. With every present you write a rhyme that is going to be a clue what’s in it. The person who receives the presents can then make a guess what it’s going to be. It can be really fun and sometimes incredibly silly.

CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA AT FIKA
If you are one of the lucky ones to celebrate Christmas down under you can still get the full Swedish Christmas experience. Fika is hosting a 'Julbord' Christmas Buffet on 21st and 23rd December and on 22nd December we offer pick up of a variety of Christmas food and treats.