Category Archives: Holidays

Amaryllis

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Few of the plants we grow in pots arouses so much admiration and pride as amaryllis. Moreover, the exceptionally easy to grow. Best of all, enough anyway that it blooms in mid-winter, when we need it most.

Curiosities
There is some confusion around the name. Hippeastrum is the plant’s scientific name, while the amaryllis is what we use in everyday speech. However, there is another bulbous plants originating in South Africa, whose scientific name is Amaryllis. It is called in Swedish for kapamaryllis and have more but smaller flowers on a long stalk. Why Hippeastrum in large parts of the world known as amaryllis is unclear, but clearly confusing.
Photo: Nina Broberg

Lucia 13 December 2011

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The Swedish tradition has its origins in both the pre-Christian and Christian customs. According to folklore was December 13th a dangerous night because many supernatural powers was in motion then. It was believed also that the animals could speak during lucia night. All Christmas preparations would be ready by lucia day and celebrated by eating and drinking a little extra. Even pets got extra feed. During the last days with the Julian calendar the bill, that is, before the current Gregorian calendar was introduced during the 1700s, fell Lucia days while the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere.

Lucia is one of the few festivals in the Scandinavian Protestant countries, which is named after a saint: Saint Lucia, the patron saint of Syracuse, who died in 300′s. The Swedish celebration linked to Saint Lucia is basically nonexistent, and the name of the Festival of Lights is a recent phenomenon than the actual celebration

White Christmas

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Right now the white Santas sit on ice pedestals in a cave in the cold North Pole, which has less snow than usual. They are dressed in white clothes this year. They will symbolize the snow that they want to fall all over the cold countries for Christmas. So there just a little. This is the nicest of the Santas and they will not come with Christmas gifts in the usual form, but much better than that. What it is, it’s a secret.

Enjoy my Christmas music. Check the left side panel. Happy White Christmas for all!

Advent in Sweden

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Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts until Christmas Eve. The 4 Sundays before Christmas called Advent. first, second, third and fourth Sunday of Advent.

The period up to Christmas Eve count down in different ways depending on tradition. In the northern hemisphere, it is the darkest time, and many homes houses during this time an Advent candleholder with four candles, where a candle is lit for each Sunday in Advent, which passed. Another countdown, popular among children, is Advent calendar. We celebrate the first Sunday of Advent November 27, 2011.

Shichi-Go-San

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Shichi-Go-San (七五三 seven-five-three) is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15.

Shichi-Go-San is said to have originated in the Heian Period amongst court nobles who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood. The ages three, five and seven are consistent with Japanese numerology, which dictates that odd numbers are lucky. The practice was set to the fifteenth of the month during the Kamakura Period.

Over time, this tradition passed to the samurai class who added a number of rituals. Children—who up until the age of three were required by custom to have shaven heads—were allowed to grow out their hair. Boys of age five could wear hakama for the first time, while girls of age seven replaced the simple cords they used to tie their kimono with the traditional obi. By the Meiji Period, the practice was adopted amongst commoners as well, and included the modern ritual of visiting a shrine to drive out evil spirits and wish for a long healthy life.
Wikipedia