Swedish Language Blog

Okay my dear gay friends and straight friends. Stockholm’s Pride Festival (Stockholms Pride) is the biggest Pride Festival in Northern Europe. No one really is astonished anymore about Pride in Sweden and that is one of the reasons why Pride has become more of an intercultural festival (and less of sub-culture festival) where people celebrating love, unity and they have lots of fun. (I know… it sounds like a rave party from Berlin). I have never been on the festival myself so I am maybe not the most authentic person to write about this event, but it would be absolutely interesting to go and experience it someday. I saw the parade once when I was on a work trip in Sthlm. The crowd was massive. The festival is open for everyone. I have just realized that they have sign language interpreters as well. (Did you guys know by the way that sign language is one of the official minority languages in Sweden?)

They have a lot of interesting programs and they also have seminars and workshops where they discuss sex and sexuality, new agendas or other ”sensitive taboo topics”. (If they are sensitive at all nowadays. It is hard to see for me at least… growing up with my family’s standards). First of all there are plenty of seminars where people discuss sexuality very openly. But do not think it is all about sex and sexuality. As one of the biggest cultural events in Sweden Stockholm’s Pride has a lot of live concerts with both Swedish and international artists at the Pride Park outside of the Maritime Museum in Sthlm and also club events all around the city. You can buy a day-ticket or a card so called festivalpass. It would allow you to visit many clubs, exhibitions and theaters as well in down town. Lots and lots and lots. “It takes a fool to remain sane” as one of Sweden´s own gay glam rock band The Ark sang once.

The Swedish politicians and artists like to back up the festival and you can see famous faces in the crowd or at parties or dancing in the streets each year. It is funny watching them on the evening news from my sofa. Oh I want to see our Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in drag. Ha-ha that would be awesome! And maybe it wouldn’t surprise anyone at all. As I recall some leading Swedish politicians kissing from last year. I think I saw Mona Sahlin (the leader of the Social Democratic Party) dancing in the caravan on TV last year but I am not sure Or did she kiss RFSL:s Ulrika Westerlund…?

If you want to find out more about the festival visit: http://www.stockholmpride.org/

On December 13th, Swedes will celebrate Saint Lucia, an Italian saint and martyr from the fourth century. Santa Lucia, as both the Saint and the day are known here in Sweden, will be venerated by a stereotypically blonde Swedish girl walking around with live candles on her head. She will be followed by boys (stjärngossar or star boys) dressed in white robes with conical hats on decorated with golden stars. To top it all off, this motley crew of innocence will form a parade, known as a Luciatåg (Lucia train) and walk around with baked goods, such as Lussekatter (Lucia buns).

And you thought the Swedes were completely normal…

The Swedish Lucia walks around in a white gown with a wreath of candles on her head. Usually, a wet or damp towel is placed under the wreath to minimize the fire risk if live candles are used. She is sometimes followed by other girls carrying a candle in one hand. The prominence of candles in the procession ties back to Santa Lucia herself and her eventual feast day.

Saint Lucia is said to have had her eyes gouged out because she was a Christian, but miraculously (hence her eventual canonization) she could still see. After her canonization, her feast day was set as December 13th, which, because of the calendar used during the middle ages, was right around the winter solstice. The shortest day of the year. The symbolism of blindness and darkness lent themselves well to the use of candles. Of bringing light to the winter. Of warding off any sort of evil the darkness might bring. That tradition of lighting candles carries on today.

In many towns throughout Sweden, a Lucia is chosen. Historically, this has been a young girl, often times blonde, who acts as Lucia and leads the Luciatåg. Recently though, the choice of who will wear the crown of candles has become a more political topic with gender issues coming into play as some young men have been nominated as Lucia. Despite this, the male role in the Luciatåg continues to be predominantly as a stjärngosse.

The Luciatåg often makes an appearance at office buildings and schools throughout Sweden, and every year at Skansen, the large outdoor living museum in Stockholm, Stockholm’s Lucia is crowned. But it isn’t just about Lucia. It’s also about delicious baked goods.

The traditional Luciatåg brings Lussekatter, pepparkakor (gingersnaps), hot chocolate, and coffee to as they parade those very offices and school. Lussekatter are made with saffron and are in the shape of a figure eight with a raisin dotting each side. They are delicious and start popping up in stores and bakeries (and even 7-Eleven) a couple of weeks before December.

So despite what might at first seem like madness, what with girls walking around with candles on their head, there does exist some method (and history, and symbolism, and did I mention the delicious baked goods?) to the Swedish celebration of Santa Lucia.