1. Christmas is celebrated on December 24th. Presents are opened and the Christmas feast is eaten on what I have always known as Christmas Eve. December 25th is more a day of rest and recuperation.
2. Santa is a gnome, not a fat old man who lives in the North Pole. Tomte, as he is called here, is more of a gnome figure who according to legend lives in your house and watches over your garden during the year. He does bring presents to good little boys and girls but he definitely does not come down the chimney and he doesn't have reindeer or a sleigh.
3. Donald Duck is the new Ralphie. Every year on Christmas, Swedish families sit around the TV and watch some kind of "Donald Duck's Christmas" at 3:00. I haven't seen this one yet so I am still a bit confused, but I suppose it is like watching A Christmas Story the States. It's just something you do every year. And when I say everyone watches Donald Duck, I mean everyone! (It is probably good to know that Donald is the star of the Disney clan here. Mickey Mouse is just oen of his side kicks.)
4. There is no such thing as too much gingerbread. Seriously, "pepparkakor" or gingerbread cookies are absolutely everywhere! Since December 1, I have probably consumed 500, 000 gingerbread cookies and muffins. (I have yet to see a candy cane though.)
5. Handmade gifts are best. Handicrafts galore can be found at all the cute outdoor Christmas markets around town and all make great gifts. Ornaments are often handmade and Christmas craft circles with friends are not uncommon. Presents in general are a whole other thing here. It is not so much about the money you spend as it is the thought you put into it.
6. Superstitions exist here too. One of the foods Swedes eat on Christmas is a kind of rice porridge. They hide one peeled almond in the batch and whoever finds the almond in their bowl is said to be married within the next year. According to Klas though, when you are a kid and don't want to get married, it just means you win. This makes me think of the American tradition of searching for the pickle ornament on the tree or even pulling the wishbone on the Thanksgiving turkey.
7. As with most places, there is no such thing as over-eating on Christmas. Swedes have a tradition of a "Julbord" or Christmas table. It's basically a buffe or smörgasbord (which is a Swedish word btw) of all the tastiest Christmas foods you can imagine: ham, sausages, cheeses, breads, salads, herring, meatballs, vegetables, potatoes and much much more. Ooooh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
God Jul och Gott Nytt År!!! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)
1 comments:
God Jul!! Eat some gingerbread cookies for me! Miss you so much but looking forward to seeing you in 3 weeks!!! Hugs to you and Klas and the rest of his family. Love-Mom
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