Christmas Day Description
Christmas Day celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. In Sweden, the main celebrations occur on Christmas Eve ("Julafton"), featuring a lavish "julbord" (Christmas smorgasbord) with ham, meatballs, pickled herring, and "Janssons frestelse" (potato and anchovy casserole). Gifts are brought by "Jultomten" (the Christmas gnome). Christmas Day itself involves morning church services, extended family gatherings, and leisurely meals. All public offices, banks, and most businesses close completely. Families often watch the Disney Christmas special on television, a beloved Swedish tradition since the 1960s.
