New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-12-27
the north bringing with him lengthen

Ing days.
After Christianity was introduced
this festival became identified with the
Christian celebration concentrating
the birth of Christ, but the old name
"Jul" was retained.
Christmas ia the country districts
of Norway, at the time my father was
a child, there, was by far the most i'm
portant holiday season In the year.
Preparations for it we're begun weeks
and months in advance. People did
not need to be reminded Of the ''num-
Der of shopping days left till Christ
mas for very little shopping, If any
at all, was done. AT that time every
thing from wearing apparel to TOYS
| was homemade. Every member OF
the family was supposed to get com
plete new outfit in the matter OF ward
robe for Christmas.
How the housewife could get all the
work she had planned done, would
have puzzled us. She spun all the
warn and wove all the material fer
both the boys and the girls clothing,
besides all the hosiery and mittens for
her family. Nor was this all. In
addition to her regular housework
she was expected to prepare enough
eata bles to last at least till the 9th OF
January The Christmas season was
supposed to last until then. During
this time no work, except the most
necessary, was done: the days were
given over to feasting, visiting and
aying an all around good time.
Some OF the good things the :house'
wife prepared were: flatbread, Lutte
fisk, cheese made from goats milk
and cake called "poor mans
pastry" Flatbread is made by roll
ing out the dough into very thin cir
cular sheets, about two or three feet
in diameter, which are baked on top
of large circular cast-iron disk
mounted on four iron legs between
which fire is built. The bread is
spread out on top of this disk and
when baked on one side is turned and
allowed to bake on the other. The
mothers skill in making this bread is
measured by the thinness of the sheets
which must be almost as thin as paper
and by her success in baking it with
out burning.
Lutefisk is made from thoroughly
dried fish, usually Goldfish. Clean
woodashes are stepped in water and
allowed to stand for q while when the
water is drained off. In this liquid
the fish is soaked for several days
after which it is rinsed in water and
frozen. When cooked it is served
with gravy and is eaten with aatbresd
and soup made from rich milk and
rice. Lute6sk prepared in this way is
Just as indispensable on the peasants
supper table At Christmas as turkey
and pumpkin pie are on ours at
Thanksgiving. - '.'~'' - -
To make "poor-man's-pastry,p' q
thick batter ts made and rolled out
very thin. This is cut into diamond.
shaped cakes and fried in lard after
which sugar 10 sprinkled over them.
They are so thin and delicate that We
prefer to call them "moonshine" when
We make them in this country.
Not only the women but also the
men were busy on the preparations
for Christmas. They had to haul
home a goodly supply Of 6rewood. 1t
had to be of a quality that would pro.
duce not only warmth, but light as
we'll. 1t must be remembered that in
middle Norway at this time of the
year darkness sets in at four in the
afternoon and the day does not break
until after eight the next morning.
The most pitchy pine-krots were
sorted out and piled by themselves to
be used during the holidays, as they
burned with very brilliant flame.
Lamps were rare, but homemade
tallow candles we're used.
The making OF wooden toys and
utensils also helped to keep
the men busy. Nearly everything in
the house was constructed of wood
and the supply of household goods
would need to be replenished at
Christmas. Brooms made of the
slender twigs of the birch we're also
made at home.
The farmer also went to the mill
with some grain to be ground into
flour in order to get his bins filled up
before Christmas. What would you
think if farmer went into the office
of one of our local mills and asked
the management to let him use their
mill that afternoon that he might grind
his grist? I have heard my father say
tn at this is what would be asked Of