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The Language Programme´s Christmas Calendar

The Christmas Calendar explores the linguistic, historical, cultural, regional, and social nuances of Christmas celebrations in Sweden and other Nordic countries.

Why are Swedish gingerbread cookies called “pepparkakor” when they don’t contain pepper? Which Nordic country has the most dangerous Christmas mythology? How many compound words with snow are there in Swedish? Why does your colleague exclaim in a booming voice that he has nurtured a communist at his bosom?

The video clips have subtitles in English and Swedish.  

Film: Window 1: The Shadow Figures of Christmas
Window 1: The Shadow Figures of Christmas
Film: Window 2: "Dipping day"
Window 2: "Dipping day"
Film: Window 3: Christmas mischief
Window 3: Christmas mischief
Film: Window 4: "There is no pepper in pepparkakor"
Window 4: "There is no pepper in pepparkakor"
Film: Window 5: Is it a good idea to slam the TV?
Window 5: Is it a good idea to slam the TV?
Film: Window 6: Why is my Jansson's Frestelse so disgusting?
Window 6: Why is my Jansson's Frestelse so disgusting?
Film: Window 7: Swedish Christmas Greetings
Window 7: Swedish Christmas Greetings
Film: Window 8: "Tomtiga" expressions from a "skum tomte"
Window 8: "Tomtiga" expressions from a "skum tomte"
Film: Window 9: How to write a Christmas rhyme
Window 9: How to write a Christmas rhyme
Film: Window 10: Jul and Yule
Window 10: Jul and Yule
Film: Window 11: Snowy expressions
Window 11: Snowy expressions
Film: Window 12: The beard in the mailbox
Window 12: The beard in the mailbox
Film: Window 13: Lucia – the day, the person, the procession!
Window 13: Lucia – the day, the person, the procession!
Film: Window 14: "Porridgy expressions"
Window 14: "Porridgy expressions"
Film: Window 15: Watch out for the hyphenations of Christmas
Window 15: Watch out for the hyphenations of Christmas
Film: Window 16: But why exactly is it called "glögg"?
Window 16: But why exactly is it called "glögg"?
Film: Window 17: "To throw a linguistic snowball"
Window 17: "To throw a linguistic snowball"
Film: Window 18: Why is it called "julklapp" (yule knock)?
Window 18: Why is it called "julklapp" (yule knock)?
Film: Window 19: A classic Swedish Christmas text
Window 19: A classic Swedish Christmas text
Film: Window 20: Can you guess what Gabriella got for Christmas?
Window 20: Can you guess what Gabriella got for Christmas?
Film: Window 21: "I have nurtured a communist at my bosoms"
Window 21: "I have nurtured a communist at my bosoms"
Film: Window 22: Nothing should change in From All of Us to All of You
Window 22: Nothing should change in From All of Us to All of You
Film: Window 23: "Little Christmas Eve" – not so little
Window 23: "Little Christmas Eve" – not so little
Film: Window 24: What are the taboos surrounding Christmas?
Window 24: What are the taboos surrounding Christmas?
Latest update: 2025-12-11