Mama Rika's Family Christmas Traditions

Family traditions are like post-it notes. You can stick them around everywhere to remind you of important things. Traditions act like cement. They may take a little while to get set up, but once done, they last for a really long time. Put footprints in the tradition cement before it gets really hard and save some cherished memories.

I love Christmas time!! I grew up with Christmases steeped in rich traditions and have incorporated a lot of it into my own home. Here are my sis and I by our traditional Julboken. (I'm the baby--aren't I cute?!)
Christmas baking starts early because we have to be ready for Advent! Each Sunday for the 4 Sundays before Christmas, we sit around the kitchen table with our 4 candle centerpiece. On the first Sunday we light one candle, the next week it’s two and so on until all four are burning on the final Sunday.

We dim the lights and dip tasty cookies in warm cinnamon milk. As the weeks get closer to Christmas, our Advent celebrations include more and more delicious treats. Everyone gets to have a sampling of each kind. By Christmas, we have pepparkakor (Swedish ginger thins), sarkakor (“wound cookies” otherwise known as jam thumbprints), bullar (Swedish cinnamon & cardamom rolls), knack (a carmel-like treat), rulltarta (jelly roll), Luciakatter (saffron rolls), mint flavored white covered pretzels, shortbread cookies, and more. If you ask nicely, I may be inclined to share a few recipes later. {I’ll probably share them anyway, but it would still be fun for you to ask—hint, hint—leave me a comment!}

To complement this cozy scene, we also have Dad read us a story and scripture from our wonderful count-down-to-Christmas book. I'll be letting everyone join us for this wonderful tradition. Starting December 1st, I'll post a Christmas story, scripture and song that you can share with your family each day until Christmas. Subscribe or "follow me" to start this tradition in your family this year!

During the Christmas season, we always overload on Christmas songs. We break out all of our CD’s and cassette tapes, giving each a turn to be heard. We tune in to Christmas songs on the radio. This year we are looking forward to programming our own Christmas channel on Pandora. {Ever heard of it? It’s pretty cool} Listening to the Messiah and the Nutcracker are musts, as is Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas album.

We nearly always put up our tree on the Monday after Thanksgiving for Family Home Evening. This is always an interesting event. Usually we don’t remember that it takes forever to get the branches all set up on the tree. We always must search for the bulb that loosened or died making the whole string of lights defunct. But, when it is all done, we turn out all the lights and sit and watch what a peaceful and marvelous work our efforts created.

Each year we have two Christmases. One Swedish style, one American style. We throw a big Swedish Christmas party and the older children invite several friends. It is a challenge to cram everyone in, but we push couches and other items to the edges of the rooms and set up lots of tables. We feed everyone a Swedish smorgasbord filled with meatballs, boiled potatoes, lingonberries, Kaviar, knackebrod (thanks IKEA), various cheeses, Swedish cukes, red cabba ge, “pigs feet” (they just look like that), and more. Once we have everyone completely stuffed, all the kids go play unique party games.

Tomten (Swedish Santa) comes in the middle of the games and distributes a small present to each good child. We teach everyone a few Swedish words to say to Tomten. Dad is always out getting the newspaper when Tomten comes. Everyone offers condolences to Dad for having missed Tomten.

Next, it is back to food! While the kids play more games, Mom sets out a myriad of Swedish goodies for all to enjoy with any remaining giggle punch. (Did I mention giggle punch yet? It is tradition too! Just mix Cran-Raspberry juice with Sprite until you have achieved desired result.)

Then it is back to games until the last straggler decides it is time to go home! Whew!

Christmas Eve we read the Christmas story from Luke 2. Then the kids get to open one present before bed.

Christmas morning finds each of us opening our stockings in age order, youngest to oldest. Then, we are off to breakfast of Swedish frukt soppa (fruit soup) and bullar. The kids will usually polish off their little box of “fun” (as in kinds I never buy) cold cereal as well. Dad will eat his bi-annual Lucky Charms. (Yes, I let him have it for his birthday too.)

After the nativity play, presents are sorted out and we open them one by one because we want to see what everyone got. It takes forever, but we like it.

Then we’ll usually hang out with any available relatives for a late afternoon Christmas dinner. It is always a good idea to assign Aunt Penny to volunteer to make cheesecake or some other yummy treat. We enjoy all the traditional American fair--pumpkin pie, turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, etc.

Throughout Christmas day, we’ll play games, read new books and just enjoy being together.

Sigh. Don’t you just love Christmas?