What nut is hidden in Christmas rice pudding in Sweden?

What nut is hidden in Christmas rice pudding in Sweden? The answer is an almond.

In Sweden, a whole almond may be hidden in Christmas rice porridge, commonly called risgrynsgröt. Family members eat from the same dish and watch for the person who discovers the concealed almond. The tradition is associated with good fortune and, in some versions, the belief that the finder will marry during the following year.

The custom belongs to a wider Nordic Christmas tradition. In Denmark, the almond is often hidden in risalamande, a chilled rice dessert mixed with whipped cream and vanilla; the finder typically receives a small prize. Swedish preparations more commonly involve warm rice porridge, although chilled rice desserts are also served.

The almond is deliberately kept whole so it can be recognized easily. It should not be confused with cinnamon, which is a common topping for Swedish Christmas rice porridge but is not the hidden object in this tradition.