Dec 25 2008
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
The change of holiday traditions over the past two years leaves my husband and I working to establish new traditions. I grew up with Swedish traditions for Christmas and the idea that extended family is important. Now, however, my cousins and I are the parents and grandparents and traditions change.
In our Swedish tradition, we assembled as an extended family on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; Christmas Eve was usually divided between two or three sides of the family (my grandmother’s relatives and my grandfather’s relatives on my mom’s side and for several years my grandfather’s side on my dad’s side). It didn’t matter who hosted the festivities; since all sides are of Swedish descent, everything was basically the same.
The evening began with velling, a warm milky rice soup flavored with cinnamon. Then, we were all seated: kids at one table and the adults at a different table. The first items to be passed around the table were limpa (Swedish rye bread) and then the boiled potatos and lutfisk. One year, as we arrived at my aunts, I remember the people in the kitchen trying to decide what to do since the lutfisk had dissolved into a plate of soupy, jelly-looking ooze. This was followed by Swedish pickled ham and korv; the only foods, in my mind, that were worth eating. Dessert consisted of ice cream and numerous homemade cookies.
After dishes were done, we could all retire into the room where the tree stood with presents all around. When I was a kid, it seemed to take forever to open presents since we got presents from each aunt and uncle. As I grew older, I became a part of the adult sector who received “house to house” gifts. Each family made or purchased something to give the entire family: candy, breads, mulling spices, candles, unique ornaments, or some other specialty.
Gifts were followed by going to the candlelight carol service at church.
Christmas Day was a turkey feast and the singing of carols. My aunt was a phoenomenal piano player who could play any carol by ear and most of the rest of us sang in a choir somewhere. We sang everything from “Angels We Have Hear” to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”
I remember these get togethers fondly since, in the last two years, they have disappeared. My cousins parents have become very ill, and since they have large families, they have decided that having everyone together is too much, especially for the kids. That left my husband and I alone for Christmas Eve.
It is time to start new traditions: steaks, baked potatos, and cookies for dessert. Next year, we will add something new until we have our own traditions.
