© Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2013
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Celebrate the joy of Jul
A guide to Swedish Christmas
NOVEMBER 2012
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So this is Jul
Many people associate Jul (pronounced like ‘yule’)
or Swedish Christmas with a white-clad blonde, who
wears a wreath of candles on her head. That’s the Lucia
tradition that happens during the advent season (the
four Sundays before Jul), but isn’t part of Jul itself.
Celebrated on December 24, Jul is Sweden’s biggest
holiday with roots in pagan times as a way to honour
lighter days, the end of harvest and, of course, to
please the gods. In the middle ages, the pagan festival
became linked to Christ’s birth.
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Though the word ‘jul’ has nothing to do with Christ
and is tied to meanings like ‘sumptuous feast’ and
‘celebration,’ it shares similarities with other Christmas
festivities like the colour red, a decorated tree, gifts,
poinsettias and of course lots of baking, eating and
drinking. There are plenty of Swedish-specific, essential
Jul customs and icons, too: ‘julbocken’ (the Christmas
goat); ‘tomten’ (Santa); lamps in every window,
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especially ‘adventsljusstake’ (the seven-armed advent
lampstand); ‘julmust’ (a soft drink); ‘pepparkakor’
(gingerbread); lots and lots of fish; candles, candles,
candles; and rice porridge eaten twice!
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Maybe all these traditions aren’t exclusive to Swedish
Christmas, but without any of them, Jul just doesn’t feel
the same!
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Celebrate with sugar and spice
Jul is the kind of holiday that fills the air with tummy
tickling aromas of fresh baked cookies, cakes and
sweets. Gingerbread, saffron buns, toffee, caramels,
nuts, figs, marzipan figures and more – these are
among the standard treats of a Jul feast.
What’s better than eating all these treats? Spending
time together making them – and sampling a few for
quality control. From the year-round line of DRÖMMAR
baking tins to the seasonal patterns and shapes of
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JULKUL baking cups and pastry cutters, IKEA has lots
of Jul baking staples. Kids can get right to the fun
stuff with seasonal patterned JULKUL aprons, DUKTIG
baking set and even PEPPARKAKA DEG gingerbread
dough from IKEA Swedish Food Market.
The main Jul sweet – gingerbread cookies or
‘pepparkakor’ – were already sold in the 1500’s as a
digestive aid. They became associated with Jul in the
1800’s, especially in shapes like hearts, goats, pigs and
‘tomtar’ or elves. Having a table full of sweets to mark
the end of a big dinner was already a Swedish practice
in the 1600’s.
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1. DRÖMMAR baking tin, set of 2 $9.99 Non-stick Teflon®Prima
coating for easy release of pastry. Designer: Monika Mulder. Sizes: 2.5
oz. and 23 oz. Red 501.330.45
2. JULKUL children’s apron $6.99 100% cotton. Designer: S
Edholm/L Ullenius. L59cm. Brown 002.255.99
JULKUL apron $9.99 100% cotton. Designer: S Edholm/L Ullenius.
L97cm. Brown 802.240.15
3. JULKUL pastry cutter, set of 6 $4.99 Comprises: Pastry cutters
shaped as, Santa Claus, Mrs Claus, reindeer, boot, snowflake and
sleigh. Stainless steel. Designer: Johan Kroon. 302.074.95
PEPPARKAKA DEG gingerbread dough $2.99 550g. 802.501.65
4. TRIPP tin with lid, set of 3 $9.99 Steel. Designer: S Edholm/L
Ullenius. Sizes: Ø16, H8cm, 17x17x9cm and 27x18x10cm. 402.083.76
5. FÖRTJUST bowl with lid $4.99 Glass. Designer: J Asshoff/H
Brogård. Ø11, H20cm. 002.248.25
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1. DUKTIG 7-piece baking set $14.99Clear lacquered solid
shima and steel. 201.301.66
2. TRIPP tin with lid, set of 3 $9.99 Sizes: Ø16, H8cm,
17x17x9cm and 27x18x10cm. Steel. Designer: S Edholm/L
Ullenius. 402.083.76
3. DRÖMMAR baking tin $5.99 Steel with non-stick coating.
Designer: Marcus Arvonen. L34×W12cm. 2 l. Red 901.330.53
4. BÄRBAR tray $4.99 Laminated paper board Designer: S
Edholm/L Ullenius. L33×W33cm. Assorted patterns 402.099.36
5. BÄRBAR tray $3.99 Laminated paper board Designer: S
Edholm/L Ullenius. L28×W20cm. Assorted patterns 902.238.26
6. JULKUL baking cup $3.99/200 pack. Bleached chlorinefree paper. Designer: S Edholm/L Ullenius. Red/assorted sizes
702.075.06
7. IKEA 365+ serving stand, three tiers $9.99 Detachable
plates; you can combine them and vary the height as you like.
Glass and stainless steel. Designer: Lovisa Wattman. L31×W27,
H34cm. 401.017.33
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Set a table to remember
Forget trees, presents and tomten – ‘julbord’ – the
Jul dinner buffet is at the heart of Swedish Christmas
traditions. In olden times, months of preparation would
go into the Jul dinner, already beginning to fatten up
the pig in summertime and collecting nuts and flowers.
For once in the year, foods weren’t dried, hardened
or preserved. A Jul feast was luxurious with freshly
baked bread, meat and fish – ingredients that live on in
today’s culinary Jul customs.
Mark the occasion by setting a dinner table that’s
traditional and memorable with accents in red and
white. Turn the classic white glaze of TRIVSAM
dinnerware into a celebratory place setting with JULKUL
tea towels as napkins, rolled up in seasonal DRÖMMAR
pastry cutters and SMYCKA fake tree twigs. Use
hanging ornaments in the seasonal JULMYS series as
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decorations on, above and around the table – in shapes
like stars, hearts, baubles and more. There’s even more
festive red in seasonal JULFINT woven plastic bread
basket and JULFINT patterned paper napkins. And don’t
forget the hyacinths – they’re a traditional Jul flower.
1. JULMYS hanging decoration $4.99/4 pack. Sisal. H6cm.
102.218.45
1 & 2. JULMYS hanging decoration $8.99/4 pack. 100% polyester.
Ø9cm. Heart/assorted colours 802.218.42
1, 2 & 5. JULMYS hanging decoration $8.99/4 pack. Steel. Ø7cm.
Assorted designs 802.218.42
3. JULKUL tea towel $1.99/each 100% cotton. W50×L70cm. Check
pattern 802.240.20
4. JULFINT napkin holder $3.99 Steel. Designer: S Edholm/L
Ullenius. H14cm. Angel 602.253.13 JULFINT paper napkin
$2.99/30 pack. L38×W38cm. Assorted patterns 502.099.31
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1. NÄSVIS candlestick, set of 3 $4.99 Powder coated steel.
Designer: Ola Wihlborg. Comprises: 3 candlesticks (H14, 18
and 22 cm). Assorted colours 902.196.69
2. POMP lantern for block candle $14.99 Mouth blown;
each lantern has been shaped by a skilled craftsman. Glass.
Designer: Sigga Heimis. H28cm. 701.098.17
3. BJÖRNLOKA throw $59.99 Made of pure new wool, the
throw is soft and cushiony to the touch and long lasting.
Designer: Synnöve Mork. W120×L180cm. Red 802.368.53
BJÖRNLOKA RUTA cushion cover $9.99 100% ramie.
Designer: Synnöve Mork. L50×W50cm. White 002.366.25
4. JULMYS 24-piece hanging decoration set $2.99
Comprises: 9 stars (3 pcs height 6 cm, 6 pcs height 5 cm), 6
baubles (dia. 5 cm), 5 parcels (height 3 cm), 4 hearts (height
5 cm) and strings and hooks for hanging. Painted plastic. Red/
silver-colour 602.218.19
5. BJÖRNLOKA RUTA cushion cover $9.99 100% ramie.
Designer: Synnöve Mork. L50×W50cm. White 002.366.25
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Waiting for ‘tomten’
After filling up on edible gifts from the julbord, it’s time
to enjoy each other’s company, inspect a few presents
and (im)patiently wait for ‘tomten.’ The fireplace,
cushions, blankets and glögg keep everyone warm
and cosy. A fully decorated tree stands guard over the
presents. And of course, there’s lots of laughter, Jul
stories of yore and maybe a song or two.
Individual celebrations differ, but many Swedes wait to
open presents until after dinner when ‘tomten’ arrives.
(His arrival suspiciously coincides with the departure
of dad or an uncle who must buy a newspaper.) Gifts
are often accompanied by a playful rhyme for the
recipient. The idea of tomten goes far back to Swedish
folk histories as a farm worker with grey clothes, a
white beard and a red hood who shouldn’t be crossed.
To recognise his work, he was to be given a bowl of
porridge. In 1864, this figure evolved to ‘jultomte’ or
‘tomten’ and has since changed into red clothes, too.
Decorated trees are a Jul fixture and have been since
the late 1800’s. Advent star lamps are everywhere,
especially ones in paper – a tradition brought from
Germany in the 1930’s. And then there’s the straw
‘julbocken’ or Christmas goat – an icon that nobody’s
really sure what purpose it serves. Researchers know,
however, that the 1800’s, rural Swedes made them by
hand and tried to anonymously place them in friends’
houses as a mocking joke.
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1. JULMYS decoration, goat $9.99 Handmade; each
straw-goat has a unique expression. H50cm. 902.218.08
2. JULMYS card $0.99/5 pack. Paper. L13×W18cm.
402.233.67
3. JULMYS hanging decoration $8.99/4 pack. 100%
polyester. H5cm. Bird felt 002.387.33
4. STRÅLA floor lamp $16.99 Bleached chlorine-free
paper and steel. Ø70, H120cm. Assorted colours/star
902.187.64
5. JULMYS hanging decoration $4.99/3 pack. 90%
polyester, 10% cotton and card board. H15cm. Cone/
assorted patterns/assorted colours 102.218.31
6. JULMYS gift wrap roll $3.99 Paper. W0.7×L5m.
Assorted patterns 102.233.78
For further information please contact :
Amanda Fitzpatrick
National Product Loans Specialist
IKEA Canada
T: 416-646-8182 x2305
[email protected]
Alicia Zoffranieri
National Public Relations Specialist
IKEA Canada
T: 905-637-9440 x6237
[email protected]