Ljuskrona facts for kids
A Ljuskrona (say "yoo-skroo-nah") is a special type of chandelier from Sweden. It's not just a fancy light fixture! It's also a big part of Swedish Christmas traditions. People make these beautiful candle holders, often from simple materials, and decorate them with colorful paper. This tradition started in Sweden and was later brought to other countries by Swedish families.
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What is a Ljuskrona?
A Ljuskrona is a unique candle holder. It's usually covered in paper that has been cut into fringes. Historically, people made them from things they already had, like old newspaper or wrapping paper. Sometimes they used crepe paper in different colors.
Even though it's mostly a family tradition for homes, you can sometimes find Ljuskrona in churches too. In some parts of Sweden, families still make them together every year. The type and color of paper used often depends on what the family has done in past years.
When are Ljuskrona Used?
Ljuskrona are usually taken out on December 13, which is St. Lucia Day. On this day, families might fix them up or re-wrap them completely with new paper. Often, the mother or the oldest child teaches the younger kids how to decorate the Ljuskrona.
The Ljuskrona stays out with other Christmas decorations until January 13. This day is called St. Knut's Day. After this date, all the Christmas decorations are put away. Some families in the countryside even burn their Christmas trees on this night!
Sometimes, people in the US use the word "Ljuskrona" for both hanging chandeliers and standing candle holders. Even though they are technically different, families might call their paper-wrapped candle holders "julstaken," "julkrona," or simply "Swedish Christmas trees."
Swedish-American Traditions
Many Swedish families who moved to the Midwestern United States kept the Ljuskrona tradition alive. In 1988, a project helped to find and document about 300 Ljuskrona in the US. This project also created a traveling exhibit to show different styles.
Through interviews, people shared stories about family gatherings to re-wrap the candle holders. They also talked about lighting the candles on Christmas Eve. Sometimes, a candle holder even caught fire, which was a memorable event!
Researchers found ten different styles of Ljuskrona. These styles often matched the traditions from the specific areas of Sweden where the families originally came from. They also found four main ways of cutting the paper. People would add their own touches, like curling the paper or using special scissors.
Where to See Ljuskrona
If you want to see real Ljuskrona, you can find them in several museums:
- The Nordic Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, has models and photos.
- In the US, you can see them at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.
- The National Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington also has them.
- Other museums include the Illinois Historical Museum in Henry County, the Bishop Hill Heritage Association Museum in Bishop Hill Colony, Illinois, and the McPherson County Old Mill Museum in Lindsborg, Kansas.
- The Winterthur Museum in Delaware also has Ljuskrona in its collections.
