St. Lucia Procession and Yule Market on Saturday, 11/30!

Hej! I've been busy working with the VASA Order of America's Birka Lodge in Hamilton-Wenham, MA. Every year we put on a pretty awesome "Yule Market" (Christmas Market aka "julmarknad" in Sedish) the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year it will be held on 11/30 at The Community House of Hamilton-Wenham at 284 Bay Road, S. Hamilton MA from 9:00 - 2:30 .

We sell beautiful Swedish handcrafts and gifts, delicious "bullar" (buns) from Crown Bakery, the renowned Swedish bakery in Worcester, and other yummy food and drink. Most importantly we also host a Swedish Sankta Lucia procession with Swedish singing and the St Lucia "bride of light". The procession starts at 12 noon, and it's very popular so come early for good seats and treats!

See below for my shaky film from a good five years ago when my children were in the procession. Isn't it the sweetest St Lucia procession? Very pretty and unpretentious and the children are a delight. (Technically it is held on the wrong day, St. Lucia is on 12/13 in Sweden but who cares?) The procession ushers in the light and the beginning of the Christmas season. Look for me by the jul karamellor! I hope that you can make it on the 30th! And if you are interested in Scandinavian culture and heritage the lodge is looking for new members and would love to meet you. Välkommnen!

Hej tomtegubbe

God Jul!  We have had such a nice Christmas, hope you did too.  I made an abbreviated version of a Swedish smörgåsbord which proved to be a hit with our American guests.  We had ham, homemade meatballs, a nice Gouda, breads, salad with red cabbage, mandarin oranges and almonds, janssons frestelse (a potato dish with anchovis and cream), and two kinds of herring.  They even liked the herring!  We sang a couple of songs and enjoyed each others company (plus a nice Malbec) before heading to chuch and more festivities at friends.  The only thing I wasn't satisfied with was the bread so I ferreted out a Swedish sourdough recipe that looks delicious for next time.  Take a look, bread recipe  The next day more good food thanks to my hubby who made crepes with all sorts of filling.  Mums filibaba (Swedish for yummy!).  Thanks H.  (A full smörgäsbord below.  We didn't go this nuts!)

Christmas Market #2

Feeling sloppily sentimental today - not only has my precious daughter turned 8 today (!) but

I am also reminiscing about last year in Sweden (when we lived there for one year).  I love celebrating the holidays there including visiting XMas markets such as Tivoli in Copenhagen. Check out this link for more ideas: http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/best-christmas-markets-in-europe/2

Tivoli truly gives you that shivery, special Christmas feeling - it feels more like a celebration of magical times than amusement park.  Next year, Stuttgart Germany's Christmas market perhaps?  One can always dream...

Tivoli at Christmas