Vær så god!
This was how we were called to come to the table growing up in a Norwegian American home. Loosely translated, that means ...come and get the food!
My Nana made the best Christmas cookies. My favorite were the Spritz cookes and she always saved plenty for me. I also love krumkake and I even have one of those irons so I can make my own.
I did make the time to bake a Julekake on Sunday to share with my church family. It seemed to go over well as there wasn't much left. And that's a good thing!
My friend Joyce of Sounds of Hope blog grew up in Brooklyn, NY. We found each other online through our blogs. Go figure ....
Joyce attended the same church where my parents met and got married in Brooklyn, NY. It was Salem Gospel Tabernacle and of course, she's Norwegian American too!
Joyce wrote a great post with all the special Norwegian cookies that I remember from my childhood.
This is a photo of my nieces Kristin and Katie many years ago. At the Sons of Norway lodge, Saint Lucia Day was acted out. A girl was chosen to lead and other children follow as they sing songs. My friend L-Jay of My Little Norway has a wonderful post explaining this holiday and the foods that go along with it.
I always remember holding hands as we walked and sang our way around the huge Christmas tree.
Guess who is playing Santa at the lodge Christmas party?
Stevie and Debbie posing in front of the Christmas tree
Little Debbie with Santa
My little sister Christine with cousin James. Notice the broken leg; she fell down the stairs and that's the truth!
I think I need to make up a batch of Norwegian waffles. So who wants to stop by? LOL.
With all of our traditions and good food, let's not forget to celebrate Christ.
 |
| (Edie of Rich Graphics) |
Jesus is the reason for the season.
Blessings and love,
I love the Christmas photo memories ... My husband has Swedish in his heritage and he has memories of St. Lucia parties growing up.
ReplyDeleteHave a joy filled, love overflow Christmas,
Sarah
Such a wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteWe should compare Waffle recipes. I haven't made any this year. Living in two places makes it hard. My Julekake is wonderful. Too bad we couldn't have Kaffe together. Tusen Takk!
ReplyDeleteAll this talk of Christmas cookies and traditions has got me hungry, haha...What wonderful memories Debbie. May the Lord richly bless you and Greg with a wonderful Christmas and a New Year full of His goodness! HUGS, Debbie
ReplyDeleteDebbie:
ReplyDeleteYou already KNOW that I LOVE this post... it could just as well be me sharing these things. Isn't it a blessing to have such wonderful Norwegian genes??
I am trying, really trying... to NOT have too many of these good things to eat over Christmas, but boy is it hard!!
GOD JUL Debbie, to my other Norwegian sis!
Love you!
Dearest Debbie, Loved seeing the photos and reading of your traditions. I pray God's richest blessing on you and your hubby; may His light shine brightly upon you.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Noreen
Precious pictures and such
ReplyDeletewonderful memories. The
cookies sound so good. You
need to share recipes one
of these days.
Hope you and your husband
have a Christmas filled with
His peace and presence and
new strength and hope for the
new year.
Love,
Sandy
I have so many fond Christmas memories, too -- it's difficult not to get nostalgic! But what I find the most special to me now, is to discover that my daughter is carrying on our family traditions with her own family! Some of the things I see she is doing, I didn't even know she remembered. It is such a blessing!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, Debbie!
Blessings, Joan
How precious...I haven't looked at my own Christmas pictures in years...now would be fun! These are wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, my son's girlfriend's grandmother is Norwegian...I got so excited when I heard that thinking of you and Sonja
Merry Christmas Debbie..you in my prayers for God to meet you in such a special way this season...that you will just see His hand print!!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous heritage; and what equally fabulous traditions!
ReplyDeleteMother was a baking/cooking whiz during the holidays. A farm girl, she whipped up meat dishes & sauces, and the best of hearth breads; but also divinity fudge, spritz cookies, and an odd assortment I can still taste.
I love sharing your memories.
A blessed Christmas, my friend.
Kathleen
Dear Debbie,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderfully you are taking care of your Norwegian heritage. It gives me a lump my throat, so moving.
And God Jul , Merry Christmas spelled on every pepperkake,(pepper cookie in Norwegian), gingerbread cookie, spritz cookie.
They are a must in every Norwegian home.Children love to participate, stapling out hearts, men, women, goats, stars and other figures. Krumkake with cream and cloud berry, ah, I have already served a whole box.
Lucia and her maidens have visited many nursing homes all over the country, sing the beautiful Folk from Neaples, of all places about St. Lucia, December 13th.
Do you light Advent wreaths? Even in school we were allowed to light the four lights of Advent in December, and say the verses belonging to each Sunday in Advent.
Maybe thing changes also in the Old Country.
When I grew up, my mother would never settle for less than 12 different kind of cookies.
Now she's 85 and has to buy them, like most of us.
Food is important in Christmastime, but the Christmas Eve ceremony in the church comes first.
You know first after the Christmas bells have chimed after church, the real Christmas starts.
Wishing you the best of all Christmases, as you once more "armed" with happy childhood memories are about to celebrate a new Christmas Eve and Day.'
Yours Felisol
I love each one of your comments!
ReplyDeleteFelisol, you made me cry with your sweet words. I so want to continue my Norwegian heritage. I'm proud of it and hope to visit Norway again. I think I'm at a point in my life when I appreciate and value my roots even more.
My friend,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and sharing!
Came by to say Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year to you, Greg and the extensions of your family.
I've been blessed all the more to know you, pray for you and to call you friend this year.
All our love...
Me and Peter
Loved this post =) Loved the pictures =)
ReplyDeleteThe Julekake looks really good!
Christmas blessings to you and your family =)
Hi Debbie! I love the colorful clothing for the children in your photos! Have you seen those precious childrens books by Jan Brett? She has some tales from Norwegian origins and the little children are dressed in those beautiful, colorful outfits! Makes me wish I were Norwegian! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAwesome that you had kept those great pics and what a rich tradition! But I love the way you ended it: "Jesus is the reason of the season." Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you sister Debbie!
ReplyDeleteDebbie...Wishing you and yours a most joyous Christmas and abundantly blessed 2011!
ReplyDeleteBig Christmas Hugs!
Jackie
Thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures!! Have a Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeletehi debbie!
ReplyDeletelove the photos. love the dress actually, so cute!
Merry Christmas!
Debbie -
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always so cheerful and bring a lot of joy to so many. Merry Christmas - Marsha
How wonderful to read about your family traditions. You were(and still are) too cute! Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your Christmas traditions and memories, Debbie. I loved the photos!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, dear friend!
Love and blessings, Laurie
I am making one guess, maybe the Santa was you?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this very heartwarming, and mouth watering post.
THrough blogging I am discovering just how special Norway is - and my four Norwegian (full blooded, half, or adopted) blog friends really have done a good job of making me long to visit that lovely country someday.
But, of course, just visiting is nothing compared to actually living there and experiencing all those wonderful traditions.
Truly I believe that heaven will be a place where all the special things of earth will be fully ours. This life is only a foretaste of eternity.
Thank you for being my blog friend, Debbie, and for leaving such encouraging comments at my blog place each time you visit.
Have a meaningful Christmas season.
Love
Lidj
Love this, Debbie! Merry Christmas to you and Greg, Debbie! Much love to you~
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Beautiful traditions...so rich. I love spritz cookies, too, Debbie. Merry Christmas to you and Greg!
ReplyDeleteChristmas hugs,
Mary
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful memories, pictures and when do I get waffles? ;)
ReplyDeletePrecious sharing, Debbie.