Christmas in Stockholm

As the holiday season approaches, Stockholm is filled with Christmas markets, music, and people bustling about and shopping for Christmas gifts. Christmas in Stockholm actually begins at the end of November. That's when Advent candles begin to glow in windows, and the city's shops compete for the best Christmas decorations.

Christmas is celebrated with loads of traditional events and activities, held throughout the greater Stockholm area. All larger restaurants serve a special Christmas smorgasbord during the month of December. Christmas markets are especially plentiful. The market in Gamla Stan (Old Town) is open every day from the end of November until Christmas, while the most traditional market - held at the world's oldest open-air museum Skansen - is open the three Sundays leading up to Christmas, and is packed with handicrafts and Swedish delicacies. At the Konstfack Christmas market, students sell the latest in innovative design work. Founded in 1844, Konstfack is unique among Swedish art schools, in that crafts, design and fine art are all taught there. Advent stars, jewellery, shelf designs, ceramics and glass - you'll find amusing, crazy and practical Christmas gifts at this market. Konstfack Christmas market 2-3 December, 12.00-17.00, Vallhallav�gen 191.

Glide along over snow and ice

On Sunday 3 December, join Stockholmers in lighting the Christmas tree, singing carols and drinking gl�gg in Kungstr�dg�rden park in the centre of Stockholm. Those who wish to try ice-skating can hire skates at the skating rink right beside the park beginning 11 November. The best way to enjoy a Swedish Christmas smorgasbord in the Stockholm archipelago is by taking one of the archipelago boats, which depart from Nybrokajen every day beginning 29 November. At the Kungliga Djurg�rden, you can even ride from smorgasbord to smorgasbord in a horse-drawn carriage. When the snow comes, sleds replace the wagons. All tours depart from the Isbladsk�rret www.hastakeriet.se.

Gingerbread house competition

The Arkitekturmuseum (Museum of Architecture) in Stockholm invites architects and non-specialists alike to submit an entry to the annual gingerbread house competition. This year's theme is "the architecture of public transport shelters". Architects, bakers, children's groups and the general public are welcome to interpret the theme however they like - as long as they do so in gingerbread dough. The entries will be on display at the museum, which is located on Skeppsholmen, from 2 December to 7 January. The competition will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year, and it always attracts a great deal of interest.

Nobel & Lucia

Every year on 10 December, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Nobel prizes are awarded in Stockholm by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf. Following the prize ceremony, a banquet for 1200 specially invited guests is held in the Blue Hall at Stockholm's City Hall. Previous Nobel Prize winners, politicians and royalty from other countries are invited. Each prize winner is seated next to a royal personage. Another upcoming event is the inauguration of the centennial exhibition "Cultures of Creativity: The Centennial Exhibition of the Nobel Prize", to be held at B�rshuset (The Stock Exchange) in Stockholm. This Exhibition will be open to the public from 2 April 2001 until 31 August 2004. The Celebration of St Lucia on 13 December is a festival of light and something of a dress rehearsal for Christmas itself. The coronation of the light queen takes place at Skansen on 3 December. On 13 December, Lucia and her entourage process through central Stockholm to Skansen where the celebrations are rounded off with traditional Christmas music.