Sweden’s unique 3pm Christmas Eve tradition « Euro Weekly News

Since 1959, Sweden’s main public TV channel, TV1, has aired a Disney special every Christmas Eve at 3pm.

This tradition features the 1958 show Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul (translated as Donald Duck and His Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas).

In English, this program is called From All of Us to All of You. Hosted by Jiminy Cricket, it features about an hour of Disney clips, cartoons, and short films, mostly from the 1930s to the 1960s, presented as a series of “Christmas cards.”

Cherished Tradition

For many years, when Sweden only had two TV channels, this broadcast was one of the rare opportunities for people to watch Disney animations or American cartoons, making it a cherished tradition that continues today.

The Swedish version has a unique twist: a live presenter introduces the show, taking on a role similar to Uncle Walt from the original Walt Disney Presents series. Additionally, a short segment from a recent Disney movie is often included in the lineup.