Evening star., 1931-12-20

that would help to make the occasion
q round Of joyous celebration.
Nine. Bostrom is the wife Of Sweden's
Minister to the United States. Re
Gently she graciously consented to tell
OF yuletide customs in her Scandina
Wan homeland. Incidently some of
these customs were imported to the r
street legation with the advent of the
BoStroms five years ago.
To begin with, SWeQen has its own
beautiful Christmas trees. The forests
give tall blue-green frs dark spruce
and comely pines with all their balsam
fragrance to grace the happy season.
Snow, without which Christmas fes-
tivities sometimes seem but a painted
picture, spreads itself about the land
scape in Sweden at this time, decorat-
ing trees and houses and making road
wayS-along which the children watch
for st. Nicholas to come with his packs
OF gifts.
So nature and people in festive mood
Join forces to commemorate the glorl-
Gus Nativity.
sOur first celebration begins on De-
cember 49, Nine. Bostrom pointed out.
This is called st. LuciaS day"
1t is on this day that a young girl
Is chosen to be st. Lucia in her home,
or in a hospital. She wears a beauti-
tul white, flowing robe, made especially
for the occasion. On her mead is placed
wreath Of green leaves in which there
are tiny lighted candies. Sometimes
she is followed by little children wear
Ing high white hats and carrying wandS
with stars on them.
Long ago the night before December
13 was considered to be the longest
night of the year" Nine. BoStrom re-
lated. In the dark morning hours
Lucia, the saint of light, came to wake
people with lights, bringing them
coffee and hot buns
DO you still observe this day, now
that you are in Washington?" Nine.
BoStrOm was asked.
I'VE did for a time" she replied.
But now that our daughters have
grown up, We no longer do it. You see
the custom is one that especially de-
lights the children who take part in
it." And there seemed to be just a little
tinge Of regret in her voice at the
thought of such a lovely tradition pass
ing from her home.
Christmas eve has its special celebra-
ton in Sweden. Nine BoStrom told of
1t and of the way homes are decorated
for the occasion.
There is always set aside small
table for the scenes of the Nativity"
she related. There are placed on the
table a manger with Christ, the baby
in it: Mary and Joseph are beside it,
shepherds stand a short distance away,
and the startled wise men, bearing their
gold, frankmcense and myrrh, are ap-
preaching. OF course, little images of
animals are stationed at many places.
We always light candles before the
pictures of our nearest dead" Nine
BoStrom went on.
Looking about the library and draw
ing room of this attractive legation one
could not help imagining candle
lighted Christmas eve here in all its
beauty, for there are so many portraits
of interesting persons who share in the
thoughts of the Bostroms by the token
Of the lighted candle.
y x X
It would scarcely be Christmas with
out tree, either in Washington or
Sweden
In my country the people always
have large Christmas tree" Nine.
Bostrom affirmed 1t is placed in the
dining room. AS you do here in Amer
ica, We trim the tree with tinSel and
ornaments. Then We light it with many
candles"
Santa Claus comes to Sweden the
day before Christmas eve, according to
this interesting lady of Scandinavia 1t
is necessary therefore that stockings be
hung by the fireside with care before
Christmas eve draws near, else st
Nick" might never have a chance to
I'LL them.
I'VE always open our gifts on Christ
mas eve," Nine. BoStrom explained.
During that day We have taken gifts
to the poor people. We have placed
corn on the Windowsill for the birds.
In some parts of Sweden dinner on
Christmas eve is always eaten In the
kitchen" Nine. BoStrom went on. The
kitchens are secured and decorated
days ahead of time in anticipation of
this big event"
This Christmas eve meal is a regu-
lar feast. In addition to the delectable
holiday dishes which usually grace such
q celebration, a special fish prepara-
tion is always served which is eaten
with peas, butter and mustard. Ham,
too. Is served as well as special cakes.
A long table is laid out with all the
food set upon it.
Servants and family alike meet and
mingle together around this Christmas
dinner table" Nine. Bostrom said.
Each person goes sometime during
the meal, to the kitchen stove where a
1dl &c hettle VI gravy Ii DOllulS ana
dips his bread into it.
When Nine. Bostrom was asked for
the origin of the kitchen meal, and
gravy-dipping custom. she replied:
Perhaps 1t suggests the desire of
friendlineSS and brotherly love which,
OF course, the Christmas season is sup
posed to SymboliZe.'
After telling of the feast and the
opening of presents, Nine. Bostrom de-
scribed the JOY that reigns about the
great Christmas tree.
We always sing carols and dance
about the tree" she said.
On Christmas morning, while 1t Is
yet dark, the Swedish people arise to
go to mass at the churches.
Each home places a candle in the
window for this time" Nine Bostrom
said, "and it is so beautiful-tiny can
die lights at each window helping the
stars to point the way through the
darkness, over the frozen SHOWS to
the churches"
On January 13. the last of the Yule-
tide religious holidays, the SWedes cel-
citrate the coming of the wise men by
lighting their Christmas trees and 60
ing to the churches.
X X
When you have heard this much
from the interesting wife of Sweden's
envoy, you are not satisfied. You want
to hear more-about herself, about her
family, about her country. And she Is
gracious in her compliance with your
wish.
Nine. Bostrom is typical represent
ative of her race. She is tall and
blonde, and has blue eyes. She often
wears blue-a complement to her eyes
and hair. Her quiet manner of speak
ing is as pleasing as it is effective, and
her sense of humor asserts itself at the
right moment to lend emphasis to q
point she is making.
Nine. Bostrom was born in the south
ern part of Sweden, the daughter of an
army officer. She was educated in the
schools of Stockholm where her father
was stationed sssost of his life.
AS a g1rl, this talented Swedish lady