What Second Advent Sunday Means in Sweden
Second Advent Sunday (andra advent) is the second of the four Sundays of Advent, the season of preparation leading up to Christmas in the Christian calendar. In Sweden, as in much of the Western Christian world, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, making the second Sunday the following week. The day falls in December and marks a midpoint in the gradual build-up to Christmas Eve, which is the main gift-giving and feasting occasion in Sweden rather than Christmas Day itself.
In Swedish observance, the four Advent Sundays are counted as first, second, third, and fourth Advent (första, andra, tredje och fjärde advent). Second Advent is not a public holiday, but it is widely recognised in both religious and cultural life as one of the seasonal milestones of December.
Origins and Background
Advent as a season of preparation has roots in Western Christian tradition dating back many centuries, and the custom of marking each of the four Sundays with a candle is an old European practice that became widespread in Sweden and the other Nordic countries. The specifically Swedish association of Advent with candles, light, and gathering in the darkest weeks of the year reflects both the Christian heritage of the season and the practical response to very short daylight hours in December at northern latitudes.
Over the twentieth century, Advent in Sweden became increasingly a domestic and civic tradition as well as a church one, with decorations, candles, and seasonal foods appearing in homes, shops, and public spaces. Second Advent sits within this broader development rather than having a distinct historical origin of its own.
Candles and Light
The best-known Swedish Advent custom is the lighting of candles on each of the four Sundays. A common form is the Advent candelabra or Advent candleholder (adventsstake), holding four candles that are lit one by one on successive Sundays. By Second Advent, two candles are burning.
- Many households light one candle on the first Sunday, two on the second, and so on until all four are lit on the fourth Sunday.
- Electric Advent candelabras and star-shaped window lights (adventsstjärnor) are also widely used, and by the second Sunday most of these decorations are in place in homes and windows.
- The lighting of candles is closely tied to the Swedish emphasis on bringing light into the dark December days.
Church Observances
In the Church of Sweden and other Christian congregations, each Advent Sunday has its own set of readings and hymns, and services are held on all four Sundays. Second Advent is observed in churches with a service that continues the Advent theme of expectation and preparation. The lighting of the Advent candles is often part of the service, and the hymns of the season are sung.
Because Sweden is a largely secular country, attendance at Advent services varies widely, but the second Sunday remains a recognised point in the church calendar and is marked by regular worshippers and in many parish activities.
Food and Drink
Swedish Advent and Christmas food traditions are strongly associated with the whole December season rather than with one Sunday alone, but Second Advent falls squarely within the period when these foods are eaten. Typical items include:
- Glögg, the Swedish mulled wine, often served with raisins and almonds, which is a staple of Advent gatherings.
- Pepparkakor, thin spiced ginger biscuits, which are baked and eaten throughout Advent.
- Lussekatter, saffron buns, which are most strongly associated with Saint Lucia's Day on 13 December but appear throughout Advent.
- Julmust, a sweet malt and hop soft drink, which goes on sale in December and is widely drunk during Advent.
These foods and drinks are part of the general Swedish Advent and Christmas table, and Second Advent is one of the occasions on which families and friends gather to share them.
Public Life and Civic Observances
Second Advent is not a public holiday in Sweden, and schools, shops, and workplaces generally operate normally. However, the day is visible in public life in several ways:
- Christmas markets and Advent fairs, which typically open around the first Advent weekend, continue through the season, and Second Advent is one of the weekends on which they are busiest.
- Christmas decorations and lighting in towns and cities are generally in place by the first or second Advent, and public Christmas trees and street lights are part of the December streetscape.
- Shops and businesses often run Advent-themed promotions and events across the four Sundays.
The day is also a common occasion for family visits and for the informal gatherings that mark the run-up to Christmas.
Regional Variations
Sweden is a long country, and December conditions differ markedly between the south and the north. In northern Sweden, Second Advent falls during a period of deep winter darkness and snow, and the contrast between the dark days and the lighted candles and window stars is especially pronounced. In the south, December is milder and often without snow, but the Advent customs of candles, decorations, and seasonal food are observed throughout the country.
Local Christmas markets and Advent events vary from town to town, and some regions have their own traditional market days and seasonal foods, but the core observance of Second Advent — the second candle, the seasonal food and drink, and the church services — is broadly consistent across Sweden.
Summary
Second Advent Sunday in Sweden is the second of the four Advent Sundays and is marked chiefly by the lighting of the second Advent candle, by church services, and by the food, drink, and decorations that characterise the Swedish December. It is not a public holiday, but it is a recognised seasonal milestone that sits within the wider Advent and Christmas traditions observed throughout the country, from the dark, snowy north to the milder south.