THE SEVEN KINDS OF LIGHT: A SWEDISH GUIDE TO WINTER ILLUMINATION

A Journey Through Scandinavian Light Traditions in Modern Life

"In Sweden, we don't fight the darkness - we celebrate the light," reflects jewelry designer Susan Ohrn, whose memories of Swedish winters are filled not with shadows, but with the warm glow of intentional illumination. As November draws its dark curtain across the Nordic sky, bringing with it the longest nights of the year, Swedish homes and hearts don't dim – they begin to shine with renewed purpose.

This relationship with darkness and light runs deeper than mere illumination. In Swedish culture, light becomes a practice, a celebration, and a way of life during the winter months. Each type of light serves its own purpose in this delicate dance with darkness: some to energize, others to calm; some to gather community, others to inspire solitary reflection. These traditions, passed down through generations, offer wisdom particularly relevant to modern life, where we all seek ways to find and carry our inner light through challenging seasons.

Lucia Light: The Crown of Candles

In the predawn hours of December 13th, a remarkable transformation takes place across Sweden. Young women don white dresses and crowns of candles, stepping into a role that bridges ancient tradition with modern empowerment. This is the celebration of Santa Lucia, a tradition that has evolved far beyond its religious origins to become a powerful symbol of light-bearing leadership.

The Lucia crown, with its circle of lights, represents more than just illumination – it embodies the courage to stand as a beacon for others. "To wear the crown of lights is to accept the responsibility of bringing hope," explains Ohrn, whose Lucia Collection captures this dual nature of gentle radiance and fierce purpose. The traditional crown features both lit candles and lingonberry branches, combining the warmth of flame with the endurance of winter greenery.

In modern Sweden, Lucia celebrations have evolved into a profound statement about female leadership and community service. Young women who participate aren't merely carrying on a tradition; they're embodying the role of light-bringers in their communities. They wake before dawn, bringing saffron buns and coffee to hospitals, nursing homes, and community centers – a living metaphor for carrying light into the darkest corners of the longest nights.

This transformation of an ancient tradition into a modern expression of empowerment inspired the fluid lines and versatile nature of our Lucia Collection pieces. Each pendant and earring captures both the meditative calm of a single flame and the energizing brilliance of crowned light. The designs serve as personal talismans, reminding wearers of their own power to illuminate paths – both for themselves and others.

Here's my development of these two sections, weaving in both collections while maintaining the emotional resonance and cultural authenticity:

Adventljusstake: The Weekly Light Ritual

In Swedish homes, the advent candelabra takes center stage during the darkest month of the year. Unlike the sudden brilliance of modern lighting, this tradition unfolds slowly, deliberately – one candle at a time over four weeks. Each Sunday, a new flame joins its siblings, building gradually toward the winter solstice, much like the way we build our own inner resources through times of darkness.

Modern Swedish families have adapted this tradition beyond its religious roots, transforming it into a weekly ritual of reflection and intention-setting. The electric advent candelabras that now glow in nearly every Swedish window serve as a public commitment to this practice of gradual illumination. Yet many families maintain both – the electric window display and the real candles for intimate Sunday gatherings, creating layers of meaning and light.

This interplay between tradition and modernity inspired specific elements of our Lucia Collection. The fluid lines of our flame pendants mirror this gradual awakening of light, with designs that can be worn singly for subtle illumination or layered to create a cascade of brilliance. Each piece serves as a personal reminder that light returns gradually, and that there is power in patience.

Stjärnor: Guiding Stars

Look up in any Swedish town during winter, and you'll see stars hanging in windows, their warm light piercing the early darkness. These stjärnor, traditionally crafted from paper or straw, have illuminated Nordic winters for generations. Unlike the advent lights' religious origins, star lights emerged from a practical heritage – the celestial guides that helped Nordic people navigate the long dark seasons.

This tradition resonates deeply with the origin story of our Astrid Collection. During a visit to Stockholm's Gamla Stan, Susan Ohrn discovered centuries-old stars painted on a church ceiling, their unique hand-painted slashes capturing both movement and stillness. "These weren't perfect, symmetrical stars," Ohrn recalls. "They were dynamic, alive – painted by hands that understood stars aren't just lights in the darkness, but guides for those brave enough to look up."

Today's Swedish star lights range from traditional paper structures to modern interpretations in materials like metal and glass, yet they maintain their essential purpose: to serve as beacons of hope and guidance. This evolution mirrors our approach in both the Astrid and Lucia Collections, where traditional symbols are reimagined in contemporary precious metals. The Astrid Collection's star motifs, with their distinctive brush-stroke inspiration, capture that same sense of dynamic energy found in those ancient ceiling stars, while the Lucia pieces complement them with their fluid, flame-like movements.

The tradition of hanging stars in windows carries another powerful message – light isn't meant to be kept to oneself. Like the Lucia maidens' candle crowns, window stars serve both the home they illuminate and those passing by in the darkness. This dual purpose reflects our belief that personal talismans can serve both as private reminders of our inner light and as inspiration for others on their own journeys.

Levande Ljus: The Living Light

"In Sweden, they don't light a candle – they create a moment," Susan Ohrn reflects on the tradition closest to many Swedish hearts. Levande ljus, literally "living light," transforms ordinary moments into occasions for mindfulness and connection. This isn't mere illumination; it's a deliberate practice woven into the fabric of daily Swedish life, from morning coffee to evening relaxation.

The Swedish tradition of ljusfika epitomizes this relationship with candlelight. While the concept of fika – a coffee break that prioritizes presence over productivity – is well-known, ljusfika adds another layer of intention. A single candle on a café table transforms a quick coffee into a moment of meditation. Multiple candles turn a simple breakfast into a ceremony of beginning. Even in the most modern offices in Stockholm, you'll find candles flickering during morning meetings, their gentle light softening the boundaries between professional and personal space.

This duality of candlelight – both energizing and calming – inspired key elements of the Lucia Collection. The pieces capture what Swedes call levande ljus's "living" quality: the way flame responds to air currents, the dance of light on metallic surfaces, the subtle gradations of brightness. The collection's signature flame motif doesn't freeze this movement but suggests it through fluid lines in precious metals, allowing wearers to carry this sense of gentle animation with them.

In Swedish homes, the practice of levande ljus follows the sun's rhythm. Morning candles are often slim and white, their clean light matching the day's fresh start. As evening approaches, broader pillars and groups of tealights create pools of softer illumination. This progression mirrors the way many women style their Lucia pieces – smaller, more subtle designs for daylight hours, layered or bolder pieces as evening falls.

"Candlelight requires attention," notes Ohrn, "you must remain aware, present, engaged with its life." This practice of mindful illumination offers a counterpoint to our modern world's constant, unthinking brightness. Like the careful consideration that goes into placing each candle, choosing and wearing a piece from the Lucia Collection becomes its own ritual of intentional illumination – a way to carry the meditative quality of levande ljus into every moment of the day.
I'll develop the final sections while maintaining our focus on both traditional meaning and modern relevance, weaving in references to both collections:

Brasa: The Gathering Flame

In Sweden, the outdoor fire holds a sacred place in both ancient and modern traditions. From the Viking gathering circles to today's year-round eldplatser (fire pits) in gardens and public spaces, the brasa represents community, storytelling, and shared warmth. This tradition takes on special significance during winter, when the simple act of gathering around a fire becomes an act of collective resilience.

"Fire has always drawn people together," Susan Ohrn reflects, "but in Swedish culture, it also draws us inward." This duality – the fire that both gathers and centers – influenced the versatility of the Lucia Collection pieces. Like flames that can be shared without diminishing, these designs work in harmony when worn as a set, yet maintain their power as individual pieces.

Modern Swedish homes often feature both indoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits, used year-round regardless of weather. This commitment to maintaining living flame, even in an age of convenient heating, speaks to a deeper understanding of fire's role in human connection. The dancing patterns of these larger flames inspired the bold, flowing lines found in the Lucia Collection's statement pieces.

Lyktor: Light in Motion

The Swedish lantern tradition bridges the gap between fixed and portable light. From simple glass hurricanes to elaborate metal designs, lyktor allow light to be carried exactly where it's needed. This mobility holds special significance during the winter months, when traditional lantern walks bring light to the darkest corners of neighborhoods and forests.

In designing both the Lucia and Astrid Collections, this concept of portable light became central to their purpose. "Like a lantern," Ohrn explains, "each piece serves as a personal light source – one that moves with you through your day." The collections' different interpretations of light – Lucia's fluid flame motifs and Astrid's dynamic stars – offer wearers their own portable sources of inspiration.

Today's Swedish design houses create modern interpretations of traditional lanterns, often incorporating ancient symbols into contemporary forms. This evolution parallels our own approach to jewelry design, where traditional light motifs are reimagined through modern craftsmanship.

Elektriskt Ljus: The Modern Light

Sweden's relationship with electric light is unique – perhaps because of its long history with natural and flame-based illumination. Swedish design pioneered the concept of layered electric lighting, creating environments that mirror the varied qualities of natural light. This thoughtful approach to artificial illumination demonstrates how tradition can guide innovation.

The clean lines and purposeful design of Swedish lighting have influenced both the Lucia and Astrid Collections. Just as modern Swedish spaces use electric light to create distinct moods and moments, our pieces are designed to adapt to different occasions and emotions. The collections' versatility allows wearers to adjust their personal illumination, from subtle daily pieces to bold evening statements.

Carrying Your Light

These seven kinds of light – from the sacred flame of Lucia to the practical brilliance of modern design – form a complete language of illumination in Swedish culture. Each serves its purpose, yet all work in harmony to create environments of warmth, purpose, and beauty during the darkest season.

The Lucia Collection, with its fluid interpretations of flame, and the Astrid Collection, with its dynamic star motifs, carry this heritage forward. Each piece serves as a personal reminder of light's many meanings: guidance, strength, community, and hope. Like the Swedish traditions that inspired them, these collections invite wearers to be both light-keepers and light-bearers – carrying their inner flame with grace while illuminating paths for others.

"In Swedish tradition," Ohrn reflects, "light is never just light – it's a practice, a responsibility, and a gift." Whether worn alone or in combination, these pieces continue this tradition, transforming ancient wisdom about light into modern talismans of personal power.