A Glorious First Swedish Christmas

I must admit that I am not much of a fan of the festive season. When I was a kid I enjoyed it like most did but as I got older and I was away from family Christmas began to be associated with horrendous travel nightmares that often included being stranded in distant airports and paying exorbitant sums to have a hurried and not very enjoyable visit. And although I am certainly not a religious person it does seem to me that the real meaning of Christmas has been buried under a mountain of consumerism (and often a very long-lasting financial hangover that few can afford especially in light of today's economic situation).

But when you are in a new country and especially one where a white Christmas is more the rule than the exception it is easier to relax and enjoy the season more. Although the Swedes decorate in a rather more laid back style (in terms of their homes) than in Victoria the candelabras in almost every window and the perforated 'lit from within' stars really make for a warm and enchanting atmosphere (versus kitschy and garish from some lawn displays I've seen in Canada). Shops and the city itself get in to the act too as the photos below show.

Window of a hair salon

One of the streets near the Cathedral

Another Christmassy shop window

Fabulous gingerbread house that seems to have a royal occupant

This is actually Stockholm - what a beautiful light display

It seemed that every Stockholm street had a different Christmas theme for lights

A different view of the decorations in the previous picture

Another Stockholm street had decorated the trees with gigantic ornaments

Planning our class Christmas party and then having it be such a wonderful event really helped put me in the Christmas spirit. We had a great time and I highly recommend crafts (we drew names from a bowl and made Christmas cards for each other using pictures cut from magazines, glitter pens and coloured paper - what fun!). We also did an appreciation exercise that was so heartwarming and enjoyable.

It was at the party that I received my first Christmas surprise - gifts from my dear classmates. I decided, with their permission, not to open them until Christmas day (the party was December 12th). After the party we had just a few more days of school but they were good ones. On the second to last day - December 18th - we had cake, fruit salad and singing to celebrate the birthdays of three classmates that would occur while we were all apart. That also contributed to my quickly accumulating store of good cheer.

Christmas presents from classmates

Swedes do most of their Christmas celebrating on the 24th and that is when I was invited to dine with my roommates Marzi and Jin and a couple of their friends. Despite being non-Swedish they prepared a delightful meal of köttbullar (meatballs), Prinskorv (sort of like a Vienna sausage, tasted better when I was a kid, now I can eat a couple but that's my limit), scalloped potatoes (the official Swedish version which we dished out in quantity at Uplands Nation - see next paragraph - is called Janssons and features anchovies which Marzi did not use), ham with a glaze of mustard and egg into which are pressed bread crumbs, brussels sprouts, salmon and  rice - oh wait, that last one was for Jin who doesn't consider it a meal unless rice is included :-) . We had no room for dessert. Marzi and Jin gave me an H&M gift card and thus came my second Christmas gift - four very nice blouses which I desperately needed.

Thanks Marzi and Jin for adding to my wardrobe - much appreciated

Since I was going to be here over the Christmas season I wanted to do something meaningful and I had heard (I can't remember where) about Jul på Uplands (Christmas at Uplands Nation - this is the English page). I worked in the kitchen for 4+ hours each day on December 22, 23, 24 and 25. It was a very good volunteer experience although I despair over the cardiovascular system of those who partook of the Julbord (the Christmas table - heavy emphasis on meat, fat, starch and yes, more meat and more fat - nary a vegetable to be seen). I don't know how many people actually attended but I heard that it was 800 on December 24th alone. I got to sit on December 25 for half an hour with my previous landlady Gunnel (or the Angel Gunnel as I will always think of her) who always comes to Uplands Nation on Christmas. It's a great event. 

After leaving Uplands Nation at around 2:30 pm on Christmas Day I came home and lounged around for the rest of the afternoon and then after a light dinner I opened my presents from my classmates. I was so touched by their thoughtful gifts of a cozy, soft wrap, beautiful ceramic mug (I love pottery) and a package of fragrant chai tea. I know I will get hours of pleasure and comfort from these items and that I will be able to recall all of them in an instant no matter where in the world I might be. 

Me enjoying steaming chai tea in my new mug while warm in my cozy, soft wrap

Wish you could smell the tea - so fragrant

The day after Christmas (Boxing Day) I hit the sales at H&M and in the afternoon I had fika with my classmates Erika and Ryan which was very jolly. In the evening I attended a dinner at Uplands Nation for the volunteers and it was delicious (I was a bit worried that we were going to get leftover Christmas food). There was perhaps a bit more alcohol than I am used to and certainly way more singing (a big part of meals at the student nations) but surprisingly the next day I felt fine despite having drunk more alcohol than at any time in the previous year (2 glasses of champagne, a beer and probably 2 or 3 glasses of wine). We had a lovely salad followed by a juicy steak with baked potato (again no veg!) and a very yummy chocolate cake with a foamy lemon sauce. I will say I walked (or slipped and slid) home to make up for my level of consumption. Here is where I got my third gift (on top of the meal) - a gift card for the local movie house which I am planning to use for the new Star Trek movie coming in May.

Movie gift card

 
My second to last present came by the post on December 27th and I was so delighted because quite honestly I had put this out there as a 'wish'. In Canada I am used to having access to very economical sources for things like diaries but here prices for such things are over the top (in my opinion). I did end up getting myself a small diary for my purse that cost me the outrageous sum of $4.50 (it's about 6.6" x 3.25"). But imagine my joy when I opened the package to find such a beautiful, full-sized diary decorated with full colour images front and back created by my talented friend Delia. I will keep this diary at home and use it for recording special upcoming events - it is far too lovely to shove in my purse!

Front cover of the diary

Inside front cover

Inside back cover

The gorgeous back cover image

The accompanying card - also Delia's work

My final blessing of the season came on Saturday night (December 29th) when I was invited to dinner at a friend's house. There were several of us from IMCH (International Maternal and Child Health Centre) there and we had a fabulous meal with lots of laughter and interesting discussion (and can I mention VEGETABLES and almost turkey - chicken - and no ham in evidence). Santa paid us a visit too and along with chocolate we received a pair of socks each which I can tell you is something else I was wishing for - it seems like every time I go to put on a pair I find they have a hole in them and I have to throw them away. 

What a wonderful last few weeks it has been - beginning with the party on December 12th and ending tonight with saying goodbye to 2012 and welcoming in 2013. I wish for all of you reading this a happy, prosperous, healthy and joy-filled 2013. Take the time to cherish each other and acknowledge all that you are blessed with for truly without each other there is no richness in the world that is worth having.