Okay, so I’d been hearing about these winter festivals up in Scandinavia for ages. You know, the pictures look amazing, all snow and lights. Sounded way different from what we usually do for the holidays. I finally got a chunk of time off last winter and figured, why not? Let’s just go and see what it’s all about.
Getting Started and Heading North
Didn’t do a ton of super detailed planning, honestly. I just looked up when the main stuff happens, like St. Lucia’s Day and the Christmas markets. Seemed like late November through December was the sweet spot. Booked flights into Sweden first, figuring I’d just sort of wing it from there, maybe hop over to Denmark or Norway. Packed a ridiculous amount of warm clothes, seriously, everything I owned that was wool or fleece.
Landing there… yeah, it was cold. And dark. Like, really dark by mid-afternoon. Took a bit of getting used to, not gonna lie. But inside, everywhere felt super cozy. Lots of candles, warm lighting. They really know how to handle the darkness.
Experiencing the Festivals
First big thing I aimed for was St. Lucia’s Day in Sweden. Woke up super early on December 13th. Found this church service people told me about. It was still dark outside, pitch black actually. Then this procession starts, kids dressed in white robes, singing. The girl playing Lucia had this wreath of candles on her head – real candles! Looked kinda risky but wow, it was beautiful. Really quiet and kinda solemn, but nice. They handed out these saffron buns, ‘lussekatter’, afterwards. Pretty good, tasted like Christmas.
After that, I spent a lot of time just wandering through Christmas markets. Saw a few, I think one in Gothenburg and later hopped over to Copenhagen. They’re kinda similar but each had its own feel.
- Lots of little wooden stalls selling handmade stuff – knitted things, wooden toys, decorations.
- The smell was amazing. Glögg (that’s their mulled wine, usually strong stuff!) and roasted almonds everywhere. I drank so much glögg, probably kept me warm from the inside out.
- Tried some weird foods too. Some kind of sausages, pastries I can’t pronounce. Some good, some… interesting.
It wasn’t just about buying stuff though. People were just hanging out, chatting, despite the cold. It felt really communal, you know? Everyone bundled up, sipping their warm drinks. Definitely puts you in a festive mood, way more than just fighting crowds at a mall.
The Vibe and Wrapping Up
Beyond the specific events, the whole atmosphere was different. The short days meant people really embraced the indoors. Cafes were packed, everyone huddled together, lots of ‘fika’ (that’s like a coffee and cake break, they take it seriously). It’s this whole ‘hygge’ thing you hear about from Denmark, but honestly, I felt it in Sweden and Norway too. Just this feeling of making things comfortable and warm when it’s cold and dark outside.
Was it easy? Not always. The cold gets into your bones after a while, and figuring out transport sometimes took a minute. And yeah, it’s not cheap up there. But seeing those traditions firsthand, not just in pictures? Totally worth it. It felt real, not just put on for tourists, even at the markets.
So yeah, that was my dive into Scandinavian winter. Went looking for festivals, found a whole different way people handle the dark season. Pretty cool experience, glad I finally did it.
