Holidays across the World

Countries all over the world will be celebrating the holidays together in spirit. Though many think of the holiday season as a menagerie of red and green, yuletide caroling and Santa Claus, other parts of the world have their own rich traditions and celebrations. This makes the holiday season a perfect time to introduce your children to the many cultures of the world.

St. Lucia Day in Sweden

St. Lucia Day honors a third-century saint on December 13, when girls dress up as “Lucia brides” and wear long white gowns and red sashes — a tradition that dates back to the 18th century. The attire is accompanied with a wreath of burning candles on their heads. The girls wake up their families by singing songs and offering coffee, and a traditional bun, called St. Lucia’s bun and made from saffron, is commonly eaten on this day.

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Melissa is Reading Kingdom’s community manager and mom to two daughters, 4 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 tortoises. She is also an advocate for children with special needs as her youngest daughter suffers from Cerebral Palsy. Another major passion for Melissa is animal welfare and she volunteers as a foster parent for stray and abandoned animals.