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SWEDISH CHRISTMAS
also view web page
LUTHERANS AND SWEDES IN TEXAS
http://www.swedesintexas.com/
a great site for genealogy and history of Swedes in Texas
Narratives from the Georgetown's Yesteryears Books
A special thanks to The Georgetown Heritage
Society and Martha Mitten Allen for letting the Museum post these wonderful first person stories.
see Foreword and
Preface
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SWEDISH CHRISTMAS
Ruth S. Carlson: Christopher D. Caron, Interviewer
to see larger view of Ruth click on picture
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Every Christmas we have this early morning service called Jul
Otta. That's something they always did in Sweden and that is Christmas to me. No
matter how many I have here for breakfast, or dinner, I go to church Christmas
morning. That's something I have always loved. I get my family up, and away we
go. Now my children like to go.
We still have it at 5:30 on Christmas morning and it's beautiful. You come into
church and the candles are all lit in the windows, and the Christmas tree is on
and that's all the lights you had. The candle holders were made by our Reverend
Carl W. Bergquist, who was our pastor for twenty-one years. He made those candle
holders that hold three candles. They're made out of old apple boxes and painted
white. So, we treasure those.
We have always kept the custom at St. John's. We are very thankful that the new
people that move into St. John's and are not Swedish, they like our old custom.
Our ministers always, although they're not Swedish, have enjoyed this service.
It's just something that goes with the church. What a wonderful way to celebrate
Christ's Birthday.
One of the traditions on Christmas morning had died out in recent years. After
Jul Otta, [when we were children] they would always hand us a nice big red
apple, which was the best apple you ever ate all year long. It was cold and
crisp and I always ate mine on the way home. That was my breakfast on Christmas
morning. One day when Reverend Bill Smith was at St. John's, I was saying
something about our Jul otta service and how good the apple was, and he wanted
to know what apple I was talking about, so I told him. So then, the next
Christmas, Reverend Bill and his wife handed out apples to all of us, without
letting any of us know that they were going to do it. We were surprised! Since
then, the tradition of giving the red apple to everyone who comes to Jul Otta on
Christmas morning has been carried out.
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Swedish Christmas Tree
The
julbock is a straw goat that is still placed under the Christmas trees
of many Williamson County Swedes. Swedish legend states that the bringer
of Christmas gifts arrives on the julbock.
Another Swedish tradition is honoring the legendary household gnome,
Tomten, who was believed to live under a family’s farmhouse. According
to tradition, Tomten watched out for dangers to the family and their
animals. On Christmas Eve, many Swedish families still set out a bowl of
rice porridge for the gnome so that he will stay for another year,
protecting the family from harm.
Decorations on the Swedish tree are colorful and most are handmade using
paper and straw. Notice the Swedish flags, fringed candy holders, and
baskets that are all made of paper. Straw is tied with red string to
make the angels, stars, goat, hearts, and birds that symbolize the
spirit of the season and the Swedes’ love of nature. Candles light the
tree.
Tree decorated by Jan Faubion |
MUSEUM HOSTS TRADITIONAL SCANDINAVIAN
ORNAMENT MAKING
DEMONSTRATION
Georgetown, TX – On Friday, December 16th, the
Williamson County Historical Museum hosted Jan Whiteley and Ruth Olson who
demonstrated the process of making traditional, hand-made Scandinavian wheat
straw
ornaments. Whiteley and Olson are Williamson County natives of Swedish decent
and
members of Carlwiden Vasa, a Williamson County based Swedish cultural club.
Museum visitors had the unique, hands-on opportunity to learn about
Swedish culture while creating traditional straw Christmas ornaments of their
own to keep, free of charge!
click on thumbnail image for a video of Scandinavian wheat straw ornament making
click on thumbnail image for an enlarged view
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