IKEA Is Hosting A Huge Christmas Banquet – And Yes There's Meatballs

If you're anything like us, your idea of a perfect day out is a trip to IKEA to buy baskets of homeware accessories you never knew you needed and gorge on meatballs.

So naturally, we were thrilled to learn that the furniture kingdom is throwing its own festive banquet this year. Well, kind of.

The event is actually being held to celebrate Santa Lucia, which is one of the biggest events in the Swedish calendar, and falls during advent.

It's being held on Thursday, December 12th in IKEA stores across the UK, meaning the Christmas spirit will no doubt be in abundance, too.

The menu will be in buffet form, and will consist of all the Swedish classics you'd expect, from their famous meatballs to Swedish ham , salmon, potatoes, salads and crispbreads.

But that's not all. Oh no. There will also be cheese, gingerbread, eggs and variations of cabbage to enjoy. Think how high you'll be able to pile that plate...

Santa Lucia - also known as Saint Lucy's Day or The Feast Of Saint Lucy - is usually celebrated a day later on December 13th in Sweden, and is a celebration of the longest night of the year.

Third century martyr Saint Lucy is said to have brought nourishment and aid to the Christians hiding in the catacombs, using candle lit wreaths to light her path while carrying as much food as possible.

Nowadays, the day is celebrated with candle-lit processions, which is sure to be quite a spectacle as you enjoy your dinner.

There will also be traditional Swedish songs and plenty of mulled wine to get you into the spirit of the festivities.

Tickets to the festive banquet will be on sale from mid November, so make sure you check the page of your local store for more information. You will be able to reserve your space by popping into your chosen branch.

Prices haven't yet been revealed, although, given IKEA's reputation as a cheap and cheerful retailer we can't imagine it will break the bank either.

Tyla will give you all the info as we know it.

Featured Image Credit: PA/IKEA

Topics: Christmas, Tasty Food, Food & Drink, IKEA

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

@joannafreedman