Our ' Sort-of ' Swedish Christmases
Since my mother is Swedish I have grown up with Scandinavian-flavored Christmas traditions. Some of my
favorite Christmas memories are from the time when I was very small, when the Swedish relatives would come to our house early on
Christmas Eve. Instead of electric lights, there would be lots of candles, and the very beautiful, glowing Christmas tree. I wish
I could capture the same 1950's American / European style, because it brings back those childhood memories. My handmade ornaments
and perfectly formed artificial tree cannot seem to be coaxed into that vintage look.
My mother would make Glögg, a mildly alchoholic-fruit concoction with whole almonds, raisins and whole spices at the bottom, served hot.
My sister and I only got a taste, but to us it was nasty. We would play a Swedish schottische record -- Uncle Gunnär taught us the dance
steps and we would pretend we could sing along in Swedish. There was general merriment, laughter and talking before the meal. As to menu,
while the older relatives were still alive, Mom would make Swedish meatballs, headcheese, sliced meats and pickled fish dishes. This
smorgäsbord would include cold-weather vegetables, salads, and a wide array of cheeses. There were also breads: black rye, Swedish limpa,
knäckebrod, and an assortment of crackers, chips and dips. There were also special pickles and appetizers.
As we ate, we'd marvel at how quickly the year went by, and after looking forward to Christmas so long, how quickly it came!
Then, out would come the Christmas cookies. Sometimes Mom would make the traditional
Pepparkokkar, a mildly spicy, hard, brown cookie. We would always have Thumbprints, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Raisin Stars, sugar cookies
and Rocky Road candy, none of which are Swedish, but which have worked their way into the Must-Have-for-Christmas list. After eating
ourselves numb, it would be Presents time!
From the Swedish relatives we always got something unique and unusual, invariably wrapped in expensive, treasure-looking foil paper that
was almost too pretty to tear open. Each year we would receive an exciting box in the mail from Sweden. The box would look travel-weary
and be addressed in unfamiliar handwriting. Inside would be odd-shaped packages wrapped in beautiful glittery tissue paper and colored
foil and tied with red string, not taped shut as we were used to. The gifts would always be interesting objects we had never seen
before -- a very special part of our Christmas gift-opening. After the gifts were opened, my sister and I would say goodnight, put
on our new pajamas and try to fall asleep quickly, so Santa would get here soon.
Through the years things have changed. The Swedish relatives are all gone now, except Mom. We still do the smorgäsbord, but it's much
simpler and more health-conscious. We're slowly adding in more traditional Swedish Christmas dishes, but so far they're too weird
for some of us! We still celebrate on the 24th, still put out the Swedish decorations, still have a great time, but an era in our family
has passed. Below is an email I received through Scandinavian Quilters OnLine (SQOL) which I think you might enjoy. Reading this almost
made me feel I was there.
["This is a little story told by a woman who is dead now. She lived in the south of Sweden, just by the waterfront on a peninsula. She
and two of her sisters had a very famous coffee shop there, which the royal family often visited. They were crazy for their vanilla hearts.
This was a little story about how Christmas was celebrated about 90 years ago in the south of Sweden. Many people there were (and still are)
wealthy, with large farms. In the rest of Sweden, the picture of a person from the south is that he is fat, rich and happy ... of course
we know it isn't like that for everyone, but it was very much so before, in the early days."]
"And so it was Christmas Eve and the last chores had to be done in the morning. We had herring for breakfast, two or three different kinds,
with egg halves, herring salad, 'dip in the pot' (a very Swedish thing), ham, different kinds of cabbage, brawn, and sausages. The Christmas
sheaf had to be put up for the birds, the tree would be dressed - it stood in the large room, which was heated by the iron stove. The
windows were steamy, but it made the candles glow even more mysterious. Father went to the barn and made sure the animals had extra
fine hay. The horses also had an extra portion of oats.
Everything should be ready by 2 in the afternoon. The Christmas table should be in order. We were around 18 people normally. Old
aunts and uncles, maids and farmhands, everyone should be embraced by the warm Christmas "togetherness". If there were any tramps in the
village, they were invited as well - that was the custom. Us kids were very impatiently awaiting Santa Claus. We practiced our
porridge rhymes and snitched some Christmas candy, which mother thought she had hidden well. Around 3 or 4 we had Christmas coffee, and
when I looked out the window across the snowy fields I felt the Christmas magic surrounding the house and the people in it. And then it
was - finally - time for Santa Claus to arrive with one gift for each kid. Of course no expensive things. I remember a small wooden
horse, white, standing on a green plate of wood with wheels underneath. I was so happy for my horse. Mother had the porridge ready, with
raisins and a large pat of butter in it. Santa was offered a large helping, because in our home it was a rule that no one was allowed to
leave without eating something first. And then, at 6, Christmas was "rung in". Mother invited us to the table and father said grace. We
had lutfisk with mustard sauce (with a lot of butter in it) and steaming hot boiled potatoes. We had Christmas beer and juniper
drink. The fine, white porridge was passed around and before anyone was allowed to taste it, he or she had to produce a rhyme.
A scalded almond was hidden in the porridge, and whoever got it was destined to be married within a year. And then we had coffee, almond
tarts filled with raspberry or cherry jam, and cream.
All the women washed the dishes very quickly, and then we danced around the tree, singing all the old songs and played games.
The Christmas candy was next to be eaten. It was mostly home-made, since it was too expensive to buy. We each had one orange wedge -
oranges were very rare at that time in this country. The nuts were grown wild, picked in the fall. Father read the Christmas story from the
Bible, if Aunt Hanna didn't manage to get there before him. She always had the glasses on her nose, the right trembling voice and looked
very pious.
And then it was time to sleep after this exciting day, filled with traditions, togetherness, and glimmering candles. And happy thoughts
and minds, even though there were no expensive Christmas presents. On Christmas Day morning everyone woke up early to go to the early
morning service. When there was enough snow we went by sleigh, otherwise we walked. When we came home it was wonderful to have coffee and
ham sandwiches. Christmas Day was a peaceful, calm day of rest, and the food was ready to just be put out on the table. On Boxing Day,
December 26, all the Christmas parties were held. Relatives and friends visited each other, and everyone ran around the village."
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved. Updated 4/20/2009.
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