One of the main national holidays in the harsh northern Sweden is Midsummer – the day of the summer solstice. The tradition of celebrating this pagan holiday in honor of the God of the Sun arose many centuries ago and is observed to this day.

It is celebrated on June 22, on this day the city dwellers try to get out into nature. Even crowded Stockholm on this holiday looks more like a ghost town, there is no one there except tourists. Outside the city they arrange picnics with traditional dishes, and then follow cultural entertainment: locals dance and sing songs until the morning. Traditional are the dance of little frogs and midsommarstång – a round dance around a pole. Also on this day there are many competitions for children and adults.

Another favorite holiday is Christmas. This is the most family-friendly day of the year. Preparations for the celebration begin on December 13, when the country holds the religious festival of St. Lucia.

On Christmas Eve, you must decorate the Christmas tree. Candles are used for decoration – if wax candles were used before, now residents have switched to electric garlands in the form of candles. The tree is also decorated with a lot of tinsel and rain.

The main symbol of Christmas and New Year in Sweden is Julbock – the Christmas goat, which brings good luck and wealth. In the past, it was he who delivered gifts to Swedish children, until he was replaced by Jultomten, the equivalent of our Santa Claus. Today, a large Julbock figure is traditionally placed in front of the entrance to the house, and a small one is hung on the tree.