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The first Christmas celebration is marked by Saint Lucia Day on December 13, the feast day for the young Italian martyr [[Saint Lucy]]. In the morning the eldest daughter of the household dresses as Lucia, wearing a white robe, red sash, and an evergreen crown with tall candles attached.<ref>http://www.santas.net/swedishchristmas.htm</ref> She is accompanied with her younger siblings: the girls also dressed in white and holding candles, and the "star boys" wearing pointed hats adorned with golden stars while holding lanterns or star wands. They then bring coffee, mulled wine, and saffron buns (a Swedish bun typically eaten during Advent and on St Lucia day) to the adults in their beds while singing Santa Lucia.  In a more modern tradition the town elects their own Lucia, and escorted by her her maids and star boys, she goes around town bringing light, song, and, of course, saffron buns.

The first Christmas celebration is marked by Saint Lucia Day on December 13, the feast day for the young Italian martyr [[Saint Lucy]]. In the morning the eldest daughter of the household dresses as Lucia, wearing a white robe, red sash, and an evergreen crown with tall candles attached.<ref>http://www.santas.net/swedishchristmas.htm</ref> She is accompanied with her younger siblings: the girls also dressed in white and holding candles, and the "star boys" wearing pointed hats adorned with golden stars while holding lanterns or star wands. They then bring coffee, mulled wine, and saffron buns (a Swedish bun typically eaten during Advent and on St Lucia day) to the adults in their beds while singing Santa Lucia.  In a more modern tradition the town elects their own Lucia, and escorted by her her maids and star boys, she goes around town bringing light, song, and, of course, saffron buns.

The Christmas tree usually isn't put up until two days before Christmas Day. It is decorated with glass bulbs, straw ornaments, candies, tinsel, and electric lights or candles. A house in Christmas time would be festively decorated with poinsettias, red tulips, evergreens, gingerbread biscuits, and may smell of pepparkakor, or, "ginger thins": a Swedish christmas cookie.

The Christmas tree usually isn't put up until two days before Christmas Day. It is decorated with glass bulbs, straw ornaments, candies, tinsel, and electric lights or candles. A house in Christmas time would be festively decorated with poinsettias, red tulips, evergreens, gingerbread biscuits, and may smell of pepparkakor, or, "ginger thins": a Swedish Christmas cookie.

The height of Christmas celebration in Sweden is Christmas Eve, called Julafton in Swedish. No work is to be done on this day except to feed the animals, and the family sits down to a feast.<ref>http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-sweden.htm</ref> The traditional Julafton dinner consists of smorgasbord, a Scandinavian buffet, with ham, pork, or fish, jellied pigs feet, lutefisk, and various other sweets. Another tradition is to serve a rice porridge called Risgryngrot with a hidden almond in it. Whomever finds the whole almond in their bowl will be married the next year.<ref>http://www.santas.net/swedishchristmas.htm</ref> This traditions varies between families.

The height of Christmas celebration in Sweden is Christmas Eve, called Julafton in Swedish. No work is to be done on this day except to feed the animals, and the family sits down to a feast.<ref>http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-sweden.htm</ref> The traditional Julafton dinner consists of smorgasbord, a Scandinavian buffet, with ham, pork, or fish, jellied pigs feet, lutefisk, and various other sweets. Another tradition is to serve a rice porridge called Risgryngrot with a hidden almond in it. Whomever finds the whole almond in their bowl will be married the next year.<ref>http://www.santas.net/swedishchristmas.htm</ref> This traditions varies between families.