Two Kinds of Christmas: The first one
First, the Swedish American one which includes Santa Lucia Day, candles in the windows, glögg and potatis korv.
Sankta Lucia at North Park University. Because, seriously, what little girl is NOT excited by seeing older girls parade around with their heads on fire? It's magical and lovely and just a teeny bit daring. Mommy's headlamp looks lame next to this.
Lukas visits for the trimming of the tree. Grace decides that he is her new BFF. Mommy and Daddy begin to research convents.
The candles above the table are lit and the candles in the windows are turned on to chase away the winter darkness.
And, closer to Christmas Eve, the holiday treats are served, like Swedish meatballs! (Okay, the real recipe is here.) Potato sausage! Lingonberries! Glogg! (How to light it. How NOT to light it.) Rice pudding! Lefsa (food of the gods)!
And then MorMor and FarFar break out the toys! See those little feet under the easel? That's Grace
All in all, a lovely God Jul! Now? For part two...
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Comments
Sounds like our Christmas meal, but you appear to be missing the lutefisk!
Posted by: Marie in St Paul | December 28, 2007 2:31 PM
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Australia.Your Swedish traditions made me nostalgic for when we experienced them whilst hosting a Swedish exchange student for a year and then my son went to Sweden for a year.Still enjoy some of the foods that we learned about (son is now a chef).Best of all were Sunday mornings when a rather tired young lady would struggle out of bed after partying at the clubs the night before and make Swedish pancakes for all of us. We just had our family Christmas out on the deck in very mild weather,cold pork,ham,prawns various salads,cheese platter and a huge platter of fruit,mangos,cherries,lychees,peaches,nectarines,grapes etc.All the kids playing out in the yard or riding their new bikes etc up and down the road.What a great time of year and yet we also envy you the traditional magical snowy season.Thankyou for sharing with us and for the pleasant memories you stirred.
Posted by: Kathleen | December 28, 2007 2:43 PM
God Jul and Feliz Navidad to you and yours! Hope your 2008 is full of adventure and new discoveries in that crazy basement of yours. :)
Posted by: Melissa | December 28, 2007 4:24 PM
Wishing you and your family health, happiness, love, fun, and prosperity in the New Year!
Posted by: Sandy | December 29, 2007 6:01 PM
Thanks all! I hope you had a lovely holiday and it was wonderful returning to these sweet well wishes on the blog.
All the best of health and happiness to you and yours in 2008 as well.
And lots and lots of Lutefisk. Unless you'd rather have a sharp stick poked in your eye than eat Lutefisk. In that case, I wish you lots and lots of lefsa instead. Because that's what I'M having.
Posted by: jm | December 31, 2007 1:50 AM
I have been reading your blog from Kansas. We adore (kidding) fixing up older homes, too. It just so happens that our daughter goes to North Park. What a small world!
Posted by: Stephanie | January 3, 2008 11:35 AM