Happy St. Lucia Day!

My paternal grandmother, was 100% Swedish!  My grandfather was 100% Norwegian ... oh the fun they had teasing one another!

Summer 1967 -Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle
Sister, youngest brother and me

Scandinavian values run deep in my family, but the focus always swayed to the Norsk side of things.  Grandma grew up speaking Swedish ... when she married she became fluent in Norwegian.    I was always interested in her Swedish heritage, it thrilled her when I joined the Swedish Club while in college. 

Capturing the "light" with saffron!

 When my daughter was 10, we planned to send her to Concordia Language Camp.  We allowed her to choose the language she wanted to study ... she chose Swedish!  I could imagine my grandmother's smile in heaven!  My mother in-law was thrilled as well ... she was 100% Swedish too!

St. Lucia buns are a tradition we added to our family because of Sister's Swedish Camp experiences!  In 1995, we started the tradition of her playing St Lucia for her and Brother's classrooms.  Every December 13th, Sister would dress as St. Lucia and sing the hymn in Swedish, and brother would come as a tomte!  They would serve their classmates the saffron buns and Glogg.  Christmas morning they would get in their costumes again, and wake Mr. and I with buns and Glogg!  Precious memories. 

 To maintain the tradition now that our children have grown, I make the buns on St. Lucia Day.  We enjoy a few now, freeze the remainder, and enjoy them again Christmas Day with Glogg! 

Easter 1978 - Dad, Mom Brother and myself
youngest brother, Grandma and sister

I am so grateful for the influence my grandmother had on my life!  She was an example of all that is good in this world!  Her values live on through my brother, sister and I ... we are so very fortunate ... she was a blessing in every possible way!

Do what you love!  Celebrate your heritage!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally