Swedish Traditions and Their Festivals
Midsummer – the longest day of the year
When Småland’s stunning natural landscape is in full bloom, Midsummer’s Day takes center stage. Midsummer is celebrated as the longest day of the year, ideally in the countryside, which makes Småland the perfect place to enjoy the festivities.
Join us in celebrating Midsummer in Småland, where tradition and nature come together in a festival of dance, flowers, and good food.
Join us at Fredensborg Manor for a traditional Swedish Midsummer celebration, complete with everything that makes this festival so special.
Midsummer
- Extensive breakfast buffet
- Coffee and Swedish strawberry cake
- Midsummer celebration in Voraben with flower picking
- Making wreaths together
- Decorating the Midsummer Tree
- Dancing around the Midsummer tree to live music
- A large Midsummer buffet in the evening featuring traditional Swedish dishes
- End the day by the lake or in the hotel garden
The Crab Festival – A Culinary Tradition
When late summer and early autumn bring misty mornings, and the evenings in August and September grow dark so early that starry nights with moonlight over the lake once again become a special experience, we invite you to enjoy some rustic crayfish fishing.
Row out onto the lake together, set the fishing baskets in the best spots, and retrieve them the next morning after a hot cup of coffee by the lake.
As evening falls, it’s time for the traditional Småland crayfish feast: the freshly caught delicacies served with the kitchen’s exquisite side dishes.
In keeping with old Swedish tradition, an atmospheric, traditional song is occasionally sung at the table. Colorful crayfish hats and garlands create a cozy atmosphere, and the songbooks invite everyone to sing along, further lifting the spirits.
To round off the evening, take a quiet stroll to the lake for a visit to the sauna by the dock and a quick dip—an unforgettable finale to the Småland Crayfish Festival.
Crayfish Party
Day 1 / Setting out the traps
- The rowing teams are formed over a hot cup of coffee by the lake
- The fishing grounds are coordinated
- The catch baskets will then be deployed at suitable locations
- Once we're back on shore, we'll get ready for dinner
- After enjoying the extensive buffet, wind down the evening in the park or by the lake
Day 2 / Retrieving the fishing basket
- The next morning, everyone can enjoy fresh coffee brewed over an open fire
- Next, the rowing teams bring in the fishing baskets
- The precious catch is taken to the estate kitchen
- Our kitchen team will use these ingredients to prepare delicious dishes for our Cancer Festival
Swedish Christmas – the celebration of the year
Christmas at Fredensborg Manor is all about nature, relaxation, a crackling fire, candlelight, mulled wine, gingerbread cookies, and good food. We take care of everything to ensure our guests enjoy a cozy and unforgettable Christmas.
We have put together a carefully planned program for each day of Christmas.
Christmas in Småland can be celebrated in many different ways. We have opted for a quiet, contemplative celebration so that our guests can take lasting memories of their time at Fredensborg Herrgård home with them.
Christmas Package
- a large, traditional Christmas buffet
- Joint Christmas Walk
- Mulled wine and ice swimming in the lake
- Dancing Around the Christmas Tree
- Crafts, magic tricks, and mulled wine tasting for anyone looking for something to do on Christmas Eve
- Morning prayer at the church in Pelarne
- Musical entertainment with coffee
- Christmas dinner with a traditional turkey
New Year's Eve in Sweden – a festive end to the year
Are you looking for a peaceful New Year’s celebration with enjoyable entertainment and good food?
Fredensborg Herrgård offers exactly that, surrounded by nature.
New Year's Eve in Småland takes place away from the hustle and bustle of big cities.
For us at Fredensborg, New Year’s Eve also means peace, renewal, and hope.
We will celebrate a special New Year’s Eve together with our guests.
New Year's Eve celebration
- extensive breakfast buffet
- Light snacks and coffee at the bar throughout the day
- 3:00 p.m. Group walk by the lake
- followed by coffee and pastries
- 6:30 p.m. New Year's Eve drinks in the "Bullerbyn" room
- 7:00 p.m. Festive New Year's Eve dinner at the restaurant
- dancing to live music
- At 11:45 p.m., the hotel invites its guests to a glass of sparkling wine
- a small outdoor fireworks display
In her stories, Astrid Lindgren wrote extensively about feasts and how celebrations were held, because food is culture, identity, and fuel for both body and mind—and food is also about community. Food is far more than just a meal or the energy that keeps us going.
At Fredensborg Manor, we serve Småland classics that we prepare from scratch using locally sourced ingredients, so that we can offer our guests an authentic and wholesome culinary experience, support the local economy, and minimize the environmental impact of transportation.
We expressly reserve the right to make changes for organizational or technical reasons!
Contact: Peter Dietrich sales@fredensborg.com +46 70 36 45 437