Advent

As a Catholic, I have celebrated Advent with the Advent Wreath. Here in Sweden, Christmas decorations are a bit different, as you noticed with the Ljusstake. Christmas is definitely a time for lights and another addition to that is the Swedish Advent. It's the same concept as lighting a candle every Sunday until Christmas, but there's is not a wreath and everybody participates.

This is a very tradition looking holder. Some people have more modern ones, and they can vary in size, color, shape, and style, but they always have 4 candles. These and the ljusstake go in every window, so almost every home, office building, apartment building and store has either one set in every window. It really brightens Sweden up, which is great, since the sun is going down at 3:30pm now! Or 15:30, as we write it here! ;)

The Swedish word of the day is "solen" which means "the sun". I'm so happy that November is over and December has already provided us hours more sunlight than November did! :)