🕯 Calendar of winter holidays in Sweden: from the first Advent to Saint Knuts Day

🎯 Why you should understand Sweden's winter calendar

Winter in Sweden is not just a couple of days of Christmas trees and fireworks. Here, the entire period from late November to mid-January turns into a series of holidays and small rituals: Advent, Lucia, Christmas, New Year, Epiphany, and Saint Knuts Day. Each event has its own atmosphere, traditions and nuances in terms of shop, transport and work schedules.

This calendar is especially useful for those who are just getting to know the country: tourists planning a winter holiday, exchange students, expats and those considering moving there. Understanding what is happening and when makes it easier to decide which dates are best for arriving, when to expect fairs and lights, and on which days, on the contrary, it is not worth planning active shopping or moving.

When you know that a date is not just a red day on the calendar, but a specific holiday with a clear meaning, winter in Sweden ceases to be a ‘dark period’ and becomes an understandable season that you can experience consciously: book tickets and accommodation in advance, choose the right city, and make it in time for Advent, Christmas and New Year — without surprises or unnecessary stress.

🗓 Swedish winter season at a glance

This table is a handy cheat sheet for the winter season in Sweden. It allows you to quickly understand when to expect the most lights and fairs, when the country goes into family mode, and when it is better not to count on active shopping and services.

Further in the article, we will take a closer look at the key periods — Advent, Lucia, Christmas week, New Year's Eve, and January — and analyse what they mean in real life.

🕯 Advent: four Sundays of anticipation

In the Swedish calendar, Advent is not just a ‘church term,’ but a whole way of life for the four weeks leading up to Christmas. For many, winter ‘really’ begins with the first Sunday of Advent: windows are lit up, lights are turned on in cities, a wreath with candles appears on the kitchen table, and conversations increasingly revolve around the holidays.

Advent looks different for every family, but there are a few common details that are easy to spot.

Lights in the windows. At the end of November and beginning of December, paper stars and electric candlesticks appear in the windows of houses. These are not one-off ‘general’ garlands, but rather a basic winter set: in the evening, entire houses and neighbourhoods glow with a soft, warm light. The darker it is outside, the cosier the residential areas look.

Advent wreaths and candles. Homes display a wreath with four candles — one for each Sunday of Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, one candle is lit, on the second — two, and so on until the fourth. It is a small but important ritual: some light the candles at breakfast, others in the evening, during family dinner or fika.

Home rituals. Advent is a time when there is more baking, spices and little ‘breaks’ throughout the day in the home. People drink coffee or tea with buns and biscuits, discuss plans for the holidays and get out the decorations. It is often during this period that people start baking lussebullar and gingerbread cookies.

Advent calendars. For children (and not only), Advent also means calendars with windows. The simplest ones contain chocolate, while others contain small toys, tea, cosmetics, or spices. Opening a new ‘door’ every morning is a small reason to rejoice and remember that Christmas is getting closer.

What tourists see. Even if you are just walking around the city and do not live with a Swedish family, Advent is clearly visible ‘outside’:

• residential neighbourhoods are lit up with identical stars and candlesticks;
• cafés and bakeries offer more winter sweets;
• on weekends, you can see people with bags from shops and flower shops — many buy decorations and gifts during this period.

If you want to see Sweden not only at the height of Christmas, but also experience the anticipation, the best time is Advent: the lights are already on, the fairs are open, but it is not yet as busy as it will be in the days leading up to 24 December.

👑 13 December – Saint Lucia's Day

Saint Lucia's Day is one of the most unusual and beautiful winter holidays in Sweden. It falls right in the middle of dark December and symbolises the light that comes during the darkest time of the year.

Originally, Lucia was associated with Christian tradition and the legend of a saint who brought food and help to people, lighting the way with candles. In modern Sweden, the religious context is less prominent, and the idea of light, hope and tranquillity amid the winter darkness comes to the fore.

How Lucia processions take place

The main symbol of the holiday is a procession led by Lucia:

• a girl or young woman in a white dress and red sash;
• on her head is a wreath with candles (often electric, but sometimes real);
• behind her are other participants in white clothes, with candlesticks in their hands;
• Traditional songs are sung, primarily ‘Sankta Lucia’.

In addition to Lucia and her entourage, the processions feature children wearing caps with gold stars, little “santos” and ‘gingerbread men’ — this makes the holiday especially touching.

The atmosphere of this holiday is soft and slightly meditative: dim lighting, candles, quiet singing. In the early morning of 13 December, many schools, kindergartens, churches and even offices hold their own small Lucia ceremonies.

Where to see Lucia

You can observe this holiday in different formats:

• Schools and kindergartens. They hold private events for children and parents. If you live in Sweden with your family, you will almost certainly be invited to a morning party.
• Churches. Many churches hold open services and concerts in honour of Lucia, with songs and processions, which are open to everyone.
• Public venues. Large cities have official ‘city Lucias,’ and events are held in concert halls, squares, or parks.

Before travelling, you can check the websites of cities, cultural centres and churches for posters: they often post schedules of Lucia concerts and processions there.

Is it worth planning a trip specifically for 13 December?

If you are interested in culture and atmosphere, and not just fairs and New Year's Eve, then yes, it's a good date.

Pros:

• you will see one of the most ‘Swedish’ traditions, which is difficult to experience through pictures;
• the cities are already lit up with Christmas lights and the fairs are open, but there is no pre-Christmas rush yet;
• you can combine Lucia with walks on Advent weekends.

There is only one downside: Lucia is not fireworks or a noisy carnival, but rather a quiet, intimate celebration. If you are ready for ‘candles, songs, soft lighting and a little magic,’ this is the day for which it makes sense to change your travel dates.

🎁 The week before Christmas and Lillejulafton (23 December)

The last week before Christmas in Sweden is a mixture of anticipation and slight hustle and bustle. Most of the decorations are already in place, Advent is almost over, but there is still a lot to do: buy food for the festive table, find a couple of remaining gifts, finish work before the long weekend.

In the second half of December, there is a noticeable influx of people in shops and shopping centres in cities. It is especially busy in the evenings and on weekends: people buy gift sets, wrapping paper, sweets, and drinks. At the same time, you can already feel the gradual ‘slowdown’ in the work rhythm: more and more companies are finishing up business, offices are closing for the holidays, and many are switching to a ‘let's not start anything serious before the holidays’ mode.

The closer it gets to 23 December, the stronger the feeling that everyone is going somewhere. Many people travel to visit relatives in other cities, so trains and buses can be crowded, and the roads become busier. Before closing time, shops see a last wave of people ‘picking up a few small items,’ but sometimes these small items turn into a full shopping trolley.

Lillejulafton itself, 23 December, can be thought of as ‘little Christmas Eve.’ It is not yet the main holiday, but it is no longer an ordinary day:

• houses are being cleaned and decorated;
• presents are being wrapped and placed under the tree;
• some of the dishes for tomorrow's julbord are being prepared;
• people are thinking about who will come on the 24th and when.

For those who come to Sweden during this period, it is important to remember that at the end of the week before Christmas, shops and services may operate on a reduced schedule, and 23 December is the last chance to buy something without real Christmas restrictions. But it is during these days that the excitement of the upcoming holiday is most palpable: the lights are already on, everything is ready — all that's left is to wait for Julafton.

🎄 24 December – Julafton: the centre of Swedish Christmas

In the Swedish calendar, 24 December, Julafton, is considered the heart of Christmas. This is the day around which the entire winter season is built: Advent leads up to it, the week before the holiday is spent preparing for it, and everything that follows is a continuation and echo of the main event. While for many countries the main moment is the night of 31 December to 1 January, in Sweden it is more likely to be the evening of the 24th.

During the day, Julafton has a special ‘gathering point’ — the tradition of watching Kalle Anka at 3 p.m. The same set of classic cartoons is shown on television, and every year a large part of the country tunes in to this programme. It has become something of a national ritual: families gather in the living room, some continue to set the table, children look at the presents under the tree, but everyone is involved in one way or another. To an outside observer, this may seem strange, but within the country, this moment clearly signals that Christmas has truly begun.

Julafton evening is a time for family dinner and gifts. Julbord is served: several types of herring, hot dishes, Christmas ham, appetisers and desserts. Somewhere in the middle of the evening, Jultomten appears with a bag of gifts — or a very convincing adult in his role. Gifts are opened on the same evening, not at midnight or the next day, so by nightfall, only wrapping paper remains under the tree and new things in the hands of children and adults.

It is important for tourists to understand that Julafton is a day when life moves from the streets to the homes. Shops and cafes are open until midday at the latest, and many are closed altogether. Public places are deserted, and transport runs less frequently. If you are in a hotel or apartment at this time, it may feel as if the city has suddenly died out. In fact, everything has simply moved to the living rooms: behind closed doors, it is now the warmest and most intense evening of the year.

If you are planning a trip, it is better to think of 24 December not as a day for active walks and shopping, but as a time for quiet activities: a walk through an almost empty city, dinner at a place that has been booked in advance and is definitely open, reading or watching films at home. And all the active stuff — fairs, cafes, shopping — should be postponed until after Julafton.

25–26 December: Christmas holidays

After the busy Julafton, there are two days when Sweden literally goes into ‘nothing happens — and that's fine’ mode. 25 and 26 December are a time for quiet visits, long breakfasts and leisurely walks.

Most families use these days to visit relatives and friends: some travel to their parents in a neighbouring town, while others welcome guests into their own homes. The table is often left with ‘holiday leftovers’: Christmas dishes are finished off, fresh pastries are baked, and sweets that were not eaten on the 24th are brought out. Work issues are put on hold, the post office is closed, and the telephone is used more for congratulations than for business calls.

In terms of infrastructure, 25 December is one of the quietest days of the year. Many shops, cafés and small establishments are closed. Large shopping centres sometimes open on the 26th, but may operate on a reduced schedule, closer to a ‘closed’ mode. Public transport usually runs less frequently, closer to the schedule for a day off or public holiday, so you should not count on frequent services.

For tourists, these two days are a good time to slow down a little:

• take a walk through the deserted streets and look at the decorated houses;
• go to the waterfront or the park, if the weather permits;
• visit the cafés that are still open (it is better to check them in advance on maps and websites);
• have a “stay-at-home day” in your apartment: books, films, board games, local sweets and tea.

If you think of 25–26 December not as ‘everything is closed, there is nothing to do,’ but as a chance to see Sweden at its most peaceful, these days can become one of the most memorable parts of your trip. The main thing is not to plan any important shopping or active travel on these days.

🎆 31 December and 1 January: Nyårsafton and New Year

If Christmas in Sweden is about home and family, then Nyårsafton, New Year's Eve, is more about the feeling of celebration and new beginnings. There are fewer ‘mandatory’ traditions and more freedom: everyone chooses their own format, from a quiet dinner to a noisy party.

🍽 Dinners at home and in restaurants

The most typical scenario for a Swedish New Year is dinner with a small group:

• at home, at a friend's house or at your own;
• or at a restaurant with a pre-booked table and a special New Year's menu.

The menu is usually more ‘exquisite’ than on a normal day: seafood, fine cheeses, desserts, champagne. This is not a corporate julbord, but rather a beautiful dinner that smoothly transitions into the anticipation of midnight.

🥳 Parties and get-togethers with friends

Many people celebrate New Year's Eve at house parties:

• they invite friends over, share dishes and snacks;
• they play board games, turn on music, and socialise;
• closer to midnight, everyone goes outside or onto the balcony with glasses in hand.

The mood is usually calmer than the usual ‘marathons’ that last until morning: everything is quite organised, without excessive alcohol consumption or drama.

🏛 Skansen and other public venues

In Stockholm, Skansen, an open-air museum and one of the city's iconic venues, occupies a special place on New Year's Eve. There are concerts, poetry readings, musical performances and a countdown to midnight.

In other large cities, people gather in central squares, embankments and viewing points:

• in Gothenburg — by the water and in popular parks;
• in Malmö — in the centre and by the sea;
• in smaller towns — simply wherever there is a good view of the night sky.

These are not necessarily huge official fireworks displays, but the feeling of ‘we are all celebrating the New Year together’ is quite noticeable.

🎇 Fireworks and pyrotechnics

In Sweden, there are restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks, so there are fewer mass fireworks displays than in some other countries. Nevertheless, around midnight, the sky still lights up with fireworks:

• some fireworks are set off by private individuals at permitted times and in certain places;
• and organised fireworks displays or light shows are held in some places.

By one o'clock in the morning, the activity usually winds down, and cities quickly return to a more peaceful night-time mode.

🌅 1 January: a day when you can take your time

1 January is an official holiday and, in fact, a day when little is expected of anyone. Many people sleep longer than usual, have a long breakfast, go for a walk or just watch films at home.

In practical terms:

• some cafés and restaurants are closed or open late;
• shops may operate on a reduced schedule;
• public transport runs less frequently, closer to the holiday schedule.

For tourists, this is a good time to slow down, go for a short walk, see the quiet city after the night's fireworks, and take your time to think about how to fill the first days of the new year — already with a normal schedule and open shops.

⭐ 6 January – Trettondedag jul: continuation of the Christmas period

Trettondedag jul, 6 January, formally concludes the main Christian part of the Christmas cycle. It is the church holiday of Epiphany and, at the same time, another official day off, when the country slows down a little after the New Year's start.

It feels like Christmas is no longer at its peak by this point, but it is still noticeable. Many homes still have Christmas trees, stars and candlesticks in the windows, and winter decorations can still be seen on the streets. But this is no longer the anticipation of the holiday, but its soft ‘echo’: people return to work and study, but the Christmas light does not disappear instantly.

For tourists and those who live in Sweden, it is important to remember that 6 January is a public holiday. This means that

• offices and government agencies are closed;
• some shops and shopping centres are either closed or operating on a reduced schedule;
• public transport runs on a holiday schedule.

If you are planning to travel between cities, make important purchases or complete any bureaucratic tasks, it is best not to schedule them for Trettondedag jul. However, this day is perfect for walks, quiet get-togethers, visiting a church or concert, if you are interested in the cultural and religious side of the Swedish winter.

🎉 13 January – Tjugondag Knut: the official end of Christmas

Tjugondag Knut, or St. Knut's Day, on 13 January, is the point at which Swedish Christmas officially ends. If until this moment the holidays still seem to be ‘held’ in lights and decorations, then after St. Knut, normal winter begins.

The main tradition of this day is to ‘take out the Christmas tree’ and remove the Christmas decorations. The tree is stripped of its toys, garlands and tinsel, and in some families, the custom of ‘plundering’ the sweets before this is still preserved: if there were chocolates, candies or gingerbread cookies on the tree, the children help to take them down and eat them. This turns a practical task into a little game.

For children and families, Tjugondag Knut is a small home celebration:

• you can turn on music and have a mini ‘farewell to Christmas’ party;
• take down the decorations, reminiscing about the most pleasant moments of the winter holidays;
• prepare the house for a more peaceful winter mode without lights and bright colours.

In terms of mood, it is a gentle transition from the festive season to everyday life. Christmas trees and garlands gradually disappear from the streets, stars in the windows go out, and shops finally return to their usual schedule and assortment.

If you live in Sweden, Tjugondag Knut helps you avoid ending the holidays abruptly: instead of feeling like ‘it's all over,’ there is a clear, almost ritualistic moment when Christmas is bid farewell until next year. For tourists, this is a good guide: after 13 January, there is no point in waiting for the Christmas atmosphere — winter in the country returns to its usual, more peaceful mode.

📍 Public holidays and shopping: how holidays affect life

In Sweden in winter, it is important to pay attention not only to the weather, but also to the calendar. Whether you have a public holiday or a normal day depends on whether shops are open, whether Systembolaget is working, and how transport is running.

Official holidays in December–January

During this period, public holidays are added to regular Sundays:

• 25 December – Christmas Day (Juldagen) – official holiday, almost everything is closed.
• 26 December – Boxing Day (Annandag jul) – holiday, ‘very quiet’ mode.
• 1 January – New Year's Day (Nyårsdagen) – a public holiday, the city wakes up late.
• 6 January – Epiphany (Trettondedag jul) – a public holiday, continuation of the Christmas period.

It is worth remembering the evenings and afternoons, which are not always officially holidays, but are in fact greatly shortened:

• 24 December – Julafton (Christmas Eve) – most places are only open until lunchtime or are closed.
• 31 December – Nyårsafton (New Year's Eve) – shortened day, many shops close early.

In addition, all Sundays during Advent are already public holidays by default, with a more relaxed working schedule.

Offices and government agencies

• On public holidays, offices, banks and government agencies are closed.
• On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, they often only work in the morning or are closed altogether.
• It is best to plan any visa issues, banking transactions, and paperwork before 24 December and between holidays on weekdays.

Shops and shopping centres

• 24 December: shortened working day, everything closes in the evening.
• 25 December: one of the quietest days of the year — many shops are closed altogether.
• 26 December and 1 January: some shops are open, but with reduced hours.
• In between public holidays, shopping centres usually operate closer to normal hours, but it is best to check the schedule in advance.

When shopping, it is important not to expect to ‘pop in on the way,’ but to check the opening hours of a particular place — especially between 23 and 26 December and 31 December and 1 January.

Systembolaget

Alcohol in Sweden is sold through the Systembolaget chain, and the calendar is particularly noticeable here:

• Systembolaget is closed on public holidays and Sundays.
• On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, shops are only open until lunchtime.
• Before the holidays, there are always a lot of people inside, and queues are normal.

If drinks for the table are important to you, it is worth choosing the day and time for your purchase in advance and not leaving it to the last minute.

Public transport

• On red days, transport runs on a holiday or weekend schedule — less frequently than on weekdays.
• On 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January, it is best to check the routes you need in advance using the app or on the transport company's website.
• On the night of 1 January, special night services may be added, but this depends on the city.

For those travelling between cities, it is important to remember that popular dates — before Christmas and New Year — mean high demand on trains and buses. It is best to buy tickets in advance and allow extra time for transfers.

This approach to the calendar helps you to view the winter holidays not as chaos, but as a clear rhythm: you know exactly when it is best to go for a walk and relax, and when to take care of all important matters in advance.

💼 For those who live in Sweden: how to plan for winter

For those who live here, winter in Sweden is not only about holidays, but also about smart planning: holidays, trips, work and simply your own resources. By understanding the structure of the winter season, you can make December and January not a ‘dark period’ but a time when you can get a lot done without burning out.

Holidays and trips: when to take a break

If you work or study, it is useful to decide in advance when you want to take a real break:

• The days around Christmas and New Year often ‘fall out’ of the work process anyway due to public holidays and a general slowdown. It makes sense to take a couple of days off before or after them so that you don't have to ‘jump’ back and forth between holidays and tasks.
• If you are not tied to school holidays, you can postpone your main trip until after 6 or 13 January: ticket and accommodation prices often become lower, while the lights and winter are still there.
• Studying and working at universities usually also takes the calendar into account: exams and deadlines are often set either before Christmas or after the New Year period. It is worth checking the schedule in advance so as not to plan flights during the busiest school days.

What to do between holidays

Between the main dates — Christmas, New Year's Eve and the January public holidays — there are fairly quiet ‘pockets of time’ that are convenient to use:

• Take care of things you didn't have the energy for in the autumn: paperwork, documents, household issues. Many services are still operating, but no longer in rush mode.
• Spend a couple of days exploring your city: take a leisurely stroll through neighbourhoods you didn't get to visit on weekdays, check out local cafes and shops.
• Meet up with friends and colleagues outside of the big holidays: have a fika together, go for a walk, or have a small dinner at home.

Days like these help you to avoid feeling like winter is just a continuous cycle of ‘work–holiday–work’ and instead give it a softer, more lively rhythm.

Short trips around the country

The long season of lights and holidays is perfect for short trips around Sweden:

• During Advent in December, you can visit another city for a Christmas market: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö or a small town with a beautiful centre.
• Closer to New Year's Eve, head to the sea or a forest cabin: a change of scenery, even for just one night, helps to make the darkness easier to bear.
• In January, before or after Trettondedag jul and Tjugondag Knut, go for some winter activities: skiing, skating, walking along snow-covered trails, or a trip to the north.

A couple of well-planned mini-trips can greatly change your perception of winter: instead of an endless routine, you get a series of separate, vivid episodes. The main thing is to look at the calendar of public holidays and book tickets and accommodation in advance so that you don't have to depend on limited schedules and heavy traffic.

🔚 Conclusion: how to plan your ideal winter trip

Winter in Sweden is not just one ‘D-day’, but a chain of events: Advent, Lucia, pre-Christmas hustle and bustle, quiet Julafton, relaxed Christmas days, New Year and a gentle end to the season in January. Understanding how these dates are connected makes it easier to decide what you want from your trip: lights and fairs, the family atmosphere of Christmas, New Year's Eve parties, winter nature, or all of the above.

If you plan your route with an eye on the calendar, you can avoid closed shops at the most inopportune moments, inconvenient travel on public holidays and overpaying for tickets on peak dates. Then all that remains is the most enjoyable part — choosing the setting for your winter story: the capital or a small town, a fair or a forest cabin, a bustling square on New Year's Eve or a quiet walk through a snow-covered neighbourhood.

When planning your itinerary, take a look at the sections on cities and regions, selections of Christmas markets, cosy cafes, hotels and cottages — there you can easily choose where to spend Advent, where to celebrate Christmas or New Year, and which places to add to your personal winter ‘must-see’ list.