Christmas concert in Örebro

    God Jul! And Merry Christmas, my dear readers!

     Even if you don't celebrate this holiday, let me share with you a Christmas mood from Örebro.

     Although there is no snow here this December, the Christmas spirit is in every corner. Hope, you enjoy it with me while watching these pictures and video.

     Every year, at the beginning of December there is a big Christmas concert (Julkonsert) in Örebro, on the central square - Stortorget. It is a very nice event. A big stage is usually constructed just in front of St. Nikolai Church. It is an open-air concert. People gather on the square, sing Christmas and other popular songs in Swedish and English. In the air you can feel a wonderful sweet smell of frost and doughnuts, that are sold on the square. Representatives of the Church give out free hot chocolate. And every time at the end the performance there is a strange clapping sound. Strange, because everybody is doing it in mittens and gloves.

Julkonsert, Örebro, 6 Dec. 2013

     Christmas concert in Örebro is quite big and famous in Sweden. There is even an article in Wikipedia about it! The video from the concert is broadcasted on Swedish public television (SVT) on Christmas Eve.

Julkonsert, Örebro, 6 Dec. 2013

     Famous Swedish artists and singers take part in the concert and usually there is a contest sometime  before the event. According to the contest some artists get a chance to perform on the concert.

Julkonsert, Örebro, 6 Dec. 2013

Julkonsert, Örebro, 6 Dec. 2013

Julkonsert, Örebro, 6 Dec. 2013

     

     Some more cool pictures from the concert-2013 you can find on the web-page of Sveriges Radio (text is in Swedish).

Saint Lucia’s Day

     13-th December - is a special day for Sweden, which is called "Luciadagen" or the Day of Saint Lucia. This date marks the darkest time of the year, coinciding with Winter Solstice. Actually, it's a great idea to have a holiday of "light and hope" when it's so dark and cold outside.

     Saint Lucia is a symbol of light and purity. Traditionally, Lucia is represented by a girl, wearing a long white dress with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head. She is heading a procession of girls, following her with candels in their hands. This procession is called "Luciatåg". Girls are singing song about Santa Lucia and different Christmas songs.

     Although St. Lucia's Day is not an official holiday and not a day-off in Sweden, it is a popular occasion in Sweden.

     Usually cities in Sweden choose a Lucia every year. Schools and universities elect a Lucia and her maids among the students and a national Lucia is elected on national television from regional winners.

    Schools and churches have a lot of Lucia-concerts these days. I've visited the Lucia concert at Nikolai Church in the centre of Örebro. Here are some pictures from that event.

Drottningsgatan, centre of Örebro decorated for Christmas, 6 December 2013

Inside Nikolai Church, Örebro, 6 December 2013

     There were a lot of kids in the church, watching the performance.

     On the pictures you can see a boy with a cone-shaped hat decorated with golden stars, called stjärngossar (star boy). Traditionally, only girls used to take part in the Luciatåg (Lucia procession) but nowedays boys can also participate.

Luciatåg, Nikolai Church, Örebro, 6 December 2013

     

     There are several legends about Lucia. But in all of them she was martyred and the red sash is symbolising that.

     On Luciadagen people usually eat saffron buns ("Lussekatt") and drink "glögg" (hot wine with spices, can be alcoholfree).

    I really recommend you to visit one of those concerts if you have a chance next year. They are very touching!