Our Christmas: a Scandinavian-american Christmas / Jul Season in Tradition and Practice

Publisher Marketing: Our Scandinavian-American Christmas/Jul Season is a virtual smorgasbord of traditions and practices celebrated each year from late November through early January. They are a blend of religious observances and secular celebrations. Some traditions, such as the Christmas tree, are an adaptation of traditions from non-Scandinavian areas. Other traditions, such as dessert baking and the use of lights, have distinct Scandinavian origins. The purpose of this book is to present, enlighten, preserve, and perpetuate our Scandinavian-American Christmas/Jul traditions and practices with the intent to make your season more meaningful and enjoyable. To fulfill that intent stories, traditional crafts, songs, and recipes, are included through-out this book. Reading the stories, making the crafts, singing the songs, and baking the cookies, will increase your Christmas/Jul Season enjoyment. A systematic discussion of such a varied and interwoven content is difficult. As a result this book's discussion begins with the Julstav Calendar and then proceeds in date order, beginning in November with Advent and ending in January with the Jul's Leaving. Non-date specific elements have been woven into this presentation format. This book is a guide to add meaning and enjoyment to your season.