Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1949-12-23

early in December of what's in
store for them during the holidays.
when merchants uncover their dis
plays of the seasons offering.
Judging by the lavish way the
show windows were filled, the good
life seems well in hand as far as
the Swedes are concerned.
Food Attracts Attention
While clothing and other stores
don't drag their feet in creating
exhibits, the windows displaying
foods appear to draw the greatest
attention from the gawk king
crowds, who on the first night fill
the sidewalks and spill into the
streets. One bakery displays
huge cake whose slanted snowy
top is a hillside complete with
Iboulders, trees and slaloming ski
erS.
Restaurants show wild game
ready for the pot-pheasant, ptar-
migan, duck, venison, plus fancy
cuts of beef, slabs of pork and
sometimes pigs head decked
out with an apple in it's mouth
and a necklace of vegetables where
it's neck should he. Porkers seem
to hold a special place ilereabouts;
many confectionaries feature a
white candy SOW contentedly suck
ling her nine or ten candy pigs.
Community Winter Carnival
Even if there's an ice wind blow
ing and a patchy blanket of snow
on the ground, Stockholmers ride
the streetcars on Sunday after
noon out to Skansen, the city's
combined amusement park, zoo
and show place. It's time for the
Jul Marknad,' a sort of COM
munity winter carnival with a
Christmas spirit. Bad weather ap-
pears to help instead of hinder it.
Arranged in a great circle on
the grounds are little shops selling
odd ends from "Dalahastar' to
straw goats, hairy Lapp boots and
pepper cakes. Off TO one side an
auctioneer harangues a crowd and
doesn't slam his gavel until he has
squeezed out the last ore. He sells
a little of everything -wienners,
dolls, salami, simple glass mugs
("Only two of these are made each
year, just for the Jul Marknad,
he says. They are in great de-
mand-sold five already today.")
Snappy Folk Music
In the middle of the circle an
orchestra plays snappy folk music
on an open-air pavilion. The melo-
dies are of a fetching sort, and
dancers, some almost too young to
walk, some almost too old.
There's music just about every
where-even an organ grinder is
there to wheeze out his familiar,
schmaltzy tunes. He has a tin
cup too.
Back by the exit a brisk bust
ness is going on at the gl0gg
counter, where chilly spectators
line up to buy a warming glass.
The stuff contains no alcohol, but
has been spiced so well that the
resulting blend tastes good any
how. At the bottom of each glass
are three fat raisins, and they
taste good too.
Lucia Tradition
The big TODD in several Ameri-
can cities about the Lucia Bride
comes from an unpretentious and
beautiful tradition observed for
centuries in Sweden. While at
first it was strictly a home affair,
it has gradually become an occa-
sion also for genteel partying. In
advance of December 18th, when
ST. Lucia is really supposed to go
to work, numerous Lucia tests are
given amongst the Swedes. who
know how to put on a party when
they're of a mind to do so.
The other night Stockholm In
ternational House staged one just
to show the foreigners how the
thing should be done. Besides wit
Messing the standard Lucia cere-
mony, guests had a chance to
watch and take part in a series of
roll lex n & but exhaustive folk
dances, drink a tolerable amount
of genuine glogg, and sample