Category: Interesting facts

In Sweden, Epiphany (Trettondedag jul) is observed on January 6 and is an official public holiday, commonly referred to as a “red day”. The name trettondagen refers to the fact that January 6 falls on the thirteenth day of the Christmas period. In this calculation, Christmas Day on December 25 is counted as the first day of Christmas, meaning that Epiphany comes thirteen days after Christmas Eve. In most Christian countries, Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season.

 In the Nordic countries, however, the Christmas period lasts longer. In Sweden, Christmas is traditionally concluded on tjugondedag jul, also known as St. Knut’s Day, which falls on January 13, twenty days after Christmas Eve.

From a historical perspective, Epiphany holds particular significance. In the early days of Christianity, January 6 was celebrated as the birthday of Jesus. In the 4th century, this celebration was moved to December 24 or 25. As a result, Epiphany is considered the oldest Christian feast. On January 6, the tradition commemorates the arrival of the eastern Magi – the Three Wise Men – in Bethlehem, where they are said to have brought gifts to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Epiphany is a clear example of how language, history, and tradition are closely interwoven in Swedish culture, and how an ancient celebration continues to be observed today.

Our native Swedish teacher told us about one of their sweet treats:

“Semla is something we eat in Sweden before Lent. It is a sweet bun filled with an almond paste with a lot of whipped cream. This rich, extravagant treat is meant to be the feast before fasting (though most of us who eat these don´t continue with the fasting part….). So, the Swedish celebrate Lent with a Hungarian-looking pastry (képviselő fánk) with a German name – a nice symbol for how intertwined we are with other countries.”

Our Swedish teacher told us about another interesting fact, which is about the concept of “Fredagsmys”, or Swedish “cosy Friday”.
Fredagsmys is about embracing a softer end to the working week, by heading home early to enjoy a feel-good, no-frills meal, followed by crisps or sweets on the sofa. Families usually watch TV or a movie together, with blankets and candles brought in as essential accessories during the long, dark winter.
For the past three decades, supermarket-bought taco shell or tortilla kits have been a go-to Friday night dish in Sweden, which is one of the biggest consumers of Mexican food in Europe. And tacos have become the core symbol of a much-loved Nordic ‘cosy Friday’ concept.
Fredagsmys has become a deep-rooted ritual that affords Swedes a weekly treat, while upholding the country’s strong family values and obsession with work-life balance.