A Swedish Christmas
Kris Robinson Staveley

My mother left Sweden when she was 22, intent on settling in Australia. She took a job as a nanny in California on the way and met my father on a blind date. So, she settled permanently in North America instead.

Our family’s Christmas traditions are very much rooted in Mom’s Swedish heritage. The big celebration takes place, not on Christmas Day, but on Christmas Eve. When I was a kid, my sister and I were always very happy that we got to open our presents on the evening of the 24th; we didn’t have to wait until the next morning like all of our friends. I’m certain that my parents were equally happy to be able to sleep in on Christmas Day.

We were allowed to open one present before Christmas Eve dinner and then we settled in for the meal. For us, Christmas never included turkey or roast beef but instead was a smörgåsbord. First, the fish course that included pickled herring in many flavours, boiled new potatoes, gravadlax with pumpernickel and capers, beet and herring salad, and devilled eggs. Next, the meat course, with meatballs, ham, ribs, and a potato and anchovy casserole known as Janssons Frestelse (see below). Then cheese and fruit. The final course was a raspberry and almond cake that I will always refer to as Swedish Christmas cake. The adult beverages to accompany all of this were beer and shots of akvavit (herb-infused schnapps).

As you might guess, as kids we weren’t crazy about the first course and we also weren’t happy about how very long it took to finish dinner. Eventually we persuaded our parents to let us open a present between each course; this had the added advantage of giving us some time to digest before heading back to the dinner table.

Over time, I became more willing to try it all and came to thoroughly enjoy all the various fish dishes (and the akvavit). My American father always enthusiastically embraced this menu and so did Marc when he was introduced to it decades later. We have reduced the number of meat dishes, and tend to blend the courses a bit more these days -- we pretty much skip the cheese course - though we always find room for cake.

One other very important Swedish tradition that we follow is the presence of the Julbocken, or Christmas goat, at the base of our Christmas tree. And glögg (a rather potent mulled wine) is a necessary accompaniment to the decorating of the tree.

When we visited our relatives in Sweden for Christmas in 2008, we discovered that my mother’s version of Christmas smörgåsbord wasn’t entirely faithful to the original. Smörgåsbord there is a major, all-day extravaganza, in contrast to the limited version we manage at home. We began at lunchtime with all the fish courses, the potatoes, eggs, and, of course, akvavit and beer.

Then there was a pause for an unbreakable tradition. At 3pm on Christmas Eve all other activities cease and every single Swede, young or old, drunk or sober, sits down in front of the television to watch the Disney Christmas special. I exaggerate slightly, though apparently the tradition continues to this day. But our entire crew plopped themselves down in front of the screen, though it quickly became apparent that only we neophytes were actually watching it. For some, it is the perfect opportunity for an afternoon nap -- not surprising perhaps – the show has been broadcast every Christmas Eve since 1959. It includes a number of short films from the 30s and 40s and clips from famous Disney movies from the 30s through 70s – all dubbed in Swedish. The clips from the beloved movies of my childhood were the most bizarre – Baloo from The Jungle Book singing Bare Necessities, in Swedish, with a completely unfamiliar voice, was just disconcerting. But it was a fun, if strange, respite from the eating and festivities.

From there, it was on to present-opening, accompanied by Swedish soft drinks and juices. The pile of presents diminished slowly over a leisurely couple of hours. By about 8:30pm it was time to eat again, this time the meat course of the smörgåsbord. It was a very long, but wonderful day of food, fun and family.

I also discovered that Swedish Christmas cake isn’t a Swedish tradition at all -- just something my mother liked. Regardless, it is still an essential part of our Christmas.

Janssons Frestelse (Jansson's Temptation)

1 can anchovies, drained (reserve liquid)
4 medium potatoes, peeled and julienned
1 onion, sliced thinly
2 Tbsp butter
200 ml whipping cream

In a small casserole dish, layer half the potatoes, then onions, then anchovies, then the remaining potatoes. Pour the anchovy liquid over top. Pat with butter. Pour cream over top. Place in a 350F oven for 40-45 minutes. Check if potatoes are done and dish is golden brown. Serve hot.

Another view of Christmas
Linda & Arthur Herold

Linda:
I grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Montreal. My parents were “holiday Jews”, going to synagogue only on the Jewish holidays and celebrating with our extended family. I especially loved Hanukkah as a child, enthralled with lighting small coloured candles each night for 8 nights on a menorah and getting Hanukkah gelt (money) from my parents and grandparents. There were no other presents. For me, Hanukkah relates to the Solstice, symbolizing a shift from darkness to greater light as the room gets brighter each night with an additional candle. The glow of the candles is an offering of peace and a brighter future for us all. For our family, Christmas was just another day and we didn’t do anything special.

Although Xmas was not a big deal for me, it was not the case for my children. Growing up in a predominantly Christian culture in the Peterborough area, they struggled somewhat with being different. There were not many Jewish children in their class, if any. It’s challenging when the mainstream society is so focused on Xmas, with all its ornate decorations and Xmas music everywhere, and nothing representing other faiths. One year, I actually gave in to my son’s unending request to get a Xmas tree. I even took my kids to sit on Santa’s lap at the mall a time or two so they could get a sense of some of the tradition that their friends were celebrating. Maybe I wanted them to feel included in some way. I tried to make our holiday fun and special by including a small gift for each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah. Every December, I would go into my children’s classroom and do a “Hanukkah presentation” so the other children could be aware of how different cultures celebrate holidays.

Sometimes on Christmas Day we would have a party with our Jewish friends to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. In the New Testament, Jesus is described as a member of the tribe of Judah by lineage and the Hebrew name for Judah is Yehuda. So we called our Xmas Day party Yom Yehuda (Hebrew for Judah’s Day). We toasted to Jesus and the amazing prophet and visionary that he was.

As an adult I enjoy the beauty of this holiday season with its glowing lights and jovial spirit. However, I do feel frustrated by the absence of any visible sign of other winter holiday celebrations. Also, I grow weary of everyone wishing me Merry Xmas when I’m shopping. Sometimes I tell them I don’t celebrate Xmas or, more often, I graciously wish them the same. I also recall a slight frustration with sales people asking my children if Santa had been good to them this year.

I have often attended the Xmas Eve service at the Unitarian Fellowship, a lovely service ending with singing Silent Night together as we each hold a candle. There’s a magic and holiness to the spirit of the December celebrations which I cherish and appreciate.

Arthur:
I grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, where the Jewish community consisted of about 300 families in a town with a population of 170,000. I think there was a sense that we better “make nice” and not be too different if we wanted to continue to live there. In any case, as I got older it became clear to me that my parents were both agnostics who lacked even a grounding in Jewish culture and holidays, such as you might see in other Jewish families who were not “religious” Jews.

Accordingly, Christmas in our family was basically indistinguishable from that of my gentile friends, except that religion was totally absent. We had the pretty tree, the large pile of brightly wrapped gifts, and a gathering of extended family on the Big Day, along with the orgy and excitement of gift opening. Hey, at Christmas we were pretty much like everybody else.

As an adult now, I am married to Linda who is also Jewish, and we do not celebrate Christmas, but do mark Hanukkah with small gifts, a family meal, and a little bit of ceremony. It’s a Winter Solstice holiday for me, and marks the turning toward more light with longer days. We have, at times, gathered on Christmas day with other Jewish families because it’s a holiday, and all our gentile friends are busy with their families. Chinese food is optional, but since many Chinese also do not celebrate Christmas, it’s a good fit.

Personally, I relate strongly to the stories in the New Testament, and I see in the depictions of Jesus a man who was touched with cosmic consciousness, similar to my own experiences with psychedelics. In other words, he was a wandering hippy like I was. I am happy to mark his birthday.

I love the “silent night, holy night” aspect of the holiday, and the sense of sacredness and quiet that can imbue the long darkness of Christmas Eve. But when I am out in town, in the 6 weeks preceding the day, and experience the anxiety of so many people that accompanies all the shopping, I am sad to see that it has come to this. And the constant, repetitive carols and Christmas novelty songs on the radio and in stores are the worst!

Almond Bark -Becky Ingram

I used to make a batch with each kind of chocolate every year, then put a little of each into Christmas-themed cookie tins. I used them as Christmas gifts for the kids' teachers or took them as hostess presents throughout the season.

1½ lbs (750g) Callebaut or other good quality chocolate (bittersweet, semi-sweet, milk and/or white)
1 cup (250ml) unblanched whole raw almonds

Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Spread almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant.

Meanwhile, in the bottom of a double boiler, bring water to simmer. Remove from heat. Add chocolate to the top of the double boiler and stir frequently until melted. Alternatively, you can use a heavy bottom pot and very low heat to melt the chocolate, remembering to stir frequently.

The chocolate should be melted by the time the almonds are done. Stir the warm almonds into the melted chocolate. (The secret to success seems to be adding the warm toasted nuts into the already melted, warm chocolate and using a good quality chocolate like Callebaut.)

Spread mixture, in a thin layer, onto waxed paper-lined 15x11-inch (40 x 28 cm) baking sheets. Make sure you disperse the almonds evenly throughout.

To kick it up a notch, melt a different colour of chocolate and drizzle it decoratively over the bark before freezing it.

Freeze for at least 1 hour or until firm.

Break the bark into bite size pieces. Be careful not to handle the chocolate too much or let it get warm before breaking it or it will melt all over your hands -- not that it’s a bad thing!

The bark can be layered between waxed paper in an airtight container or into a Ziploc baggie for up to 3 weeks – if it lasts that long!! (You can also hide it in your freezer and sneak a piece without telling anyone!)

For variety, you can use any nut of your choice or you can also use dried fruit -- although I’m not sure why anyone would want to ruin good chocolate that way!

Interview with Santa

Editor: Thank you for agreeing to this interview Santa.

Santa: Ho ho ho. Right now, I’m trying to fatten up to fit in my suit. All I do these days is fill my pie hole with Mrs. Claus’ excellent cooking. She and the elves are doing all the work.

E: So, Santa, what’s your favourite food?

S: Cookies and milk, of course! I get to indulge in that on Christmas Eve. Mrs. Claus tries to give me a balanced diet the rest of the year. Plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and lean proteins. Leading up to Christmas it’s carbs, carbs, and more carbs.

E: Santa, let’s start at the beginning. Where were you um…born?

S: Ho ho ho. I wasn’t born, child, I have always been here, even before Christmas, as it is now known, started. I am the Christmas spirit. I am there whenever there is a spirit of giving, of generosity, of goodwill to all, of peace. My corporeal form started as a 3rd century monk in what is now Turkey. I was called St. Nicolas for my good deeds and I became the patron saint of children and sailors. My feast day was December 6, and some countries in Europe consider that day a giving holiday.

E: Where did the name Santa Claus come from?

S: The Dutch people brought the idea of me to America. They called me Sint Nikolaas, which was shortened to Sinter Klaas and hence Santa Claus. In the early 1800’s, stores began to advertise Christmas shopping and had images of me. They tried to attract children and parents with the chance to see a “live” Santa. The Salvation Army hired unemployed men to dress as me and solicit donations that would be used for free Christmas meals for the poor.

E: How do you feel about men dressing up as you and pretending to be the real Santa?

S: I don’t mind if they are kind, a good listener and generous of spirit. It gives the children a lot of joy and, well, I can’t be everywhere at once. Many children understand it is a “pretend” Santa and they can pretend along with him.

E: We know you as a “right jolly old elf” in a red suit. How did that happen?

S: In the 1800’s Clement Moore wrote a poem that became known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. That gave an image of me as a portly, chimney-entering-and-leaving elf who, on Christmas Eve, in a miniature sleigh led by eight flying reindeer, left presents for deserving children. A cartoonist, Thomas Nast, used that poem to create an image of me as a cheerful man (spot on!) with a full, white beard in a bright red suit trimmed with white fur.

E: Fur?

S: Ho ho ho, it’s faux fur nowadays. He also added the idea of the North Pole, where I now live, the elves and Mrs. Claus (always grateful for that one. Hi, honey!)

E: How are things at the North Pole these days?

S: Terrible! It’s getting warmer and having a destructive effect on the environment. There is shrinking sea ice cover and I am worried for the narwhals, walruses and polar bears. The reindeer don’t like it either! I hope you people down south are doing something to
eliminate fossil fuels. I can’t be jolly about this (sighs).

E: How do you deliver all those toys all around the world in one night?

S: Well, it’s difficult to explain and I can’t divulge everything, but it has to do with understanding the space/time continuum and slowing down time so we can get around in one night. Get out your physics books!

E: And how do you carry all the toys you need?

S: Do you have any zip files on your computer? It’s kind of like that. I have eensy, teeny toys that expand when I leave them under the Christmas tree.

E: What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?

S: I love it all! The Christmas tree and decorations that sparkle. Christmas lights are fantastic! As you know, I like to eat, and I love all the special foods that appear and all the baking. I like that people get together and enjoy one another’s company.

E: Anything you don’t like?

S: I like all the carols and I really like when people get together and sing them. But I must admit that they can get tedious if heard too often. I feel sorry for people in retail that have to listen to them from the end of Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.
I also don’t like seeing anyone at this time of year (or anytime for that matter) going without. I truly appreciate when people give their time and effort to helping the poor and the marginalized.

E: Santa, why didn’t I get the Lite-Brite I asked you for when I was 9 years old? Why? (Singing) 🎶 “Lite-Brite making thi-ings with li-i-ight. Lite-Brite making things with Lite-Brite.” 🎶

S: Wasn’t that the year you hit your little brother? The naughty list is real, you know. What would you like this year?

E: All I want is for KCC to acquire a site. Oh, and for people to contribute to the newsletter.

S: Sorry, I can’t help you with that.

E: How about a Tesla?

S: Ho ho ho!