HIVES SWEDISH CHRISTMAS

The Hives are working on a new record, but the members of the band took time out to get ready for Christmas ans spend it with their families. The roots rock n’ rollers hail from Sweden and the holiday is very different over there.

Hives vocalist Pelle Almqvist told us that Christmas is actually prefaced by an important holiday that happens earlier in the month.

“The big celebration. There’s a big celebration at Santa Lucia, which is the thirteenth of December where kids will walk, they’ll have candles on crowns on their heads and they’ll walk around singing Christmas Carols in white robes. It looks very cultish. That’s, like, the big thing and also people just spend it with their family.”

Hives’ Almqvist also said other than the mid-December holiday, Christmas is pretty much the same as it is everywhere else.

“Yeah, pretty much some of the same customs. We don’t have stockings though. We just put the Christmas presents under the tree and well we do have the Christmas tree and all that. Also you light a candle for every Sunday in December so you get four candles that kind of make a slope and then you light the last one on Christmas, and then it’s Christmas. And you also eat Cinnamon Buns but there’s Saffron in them instead of Cinnamon. They’re good.”

Those seeking to buy last minute gifts for any Hives fan can pick up their latest DVD, Tussels In Brussels, which features live performances and a mini-movie hosted by E-Street Band membeer and Sopranos cast member, Little Steven Van Zandt.