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November/December 2023 | Page 1
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What’s Inside?
www.MoxieMarketingMW.com • 605-568-0181 • Kelsey Ruzicka •
• Cup of Tea with Lydia - Page 4
Publisher of this Country Register!
• Memories with Santa Claus - Page 5 • Become Inspired - Page 6 • Cowgirl Poet - Page 6
• Explore Our Backyard Feature - Page 7 • Local Artist Feature - Page 7
• Cozy Nordic Traditions - Page 8 • Lefse Recipe - Page 8
• Scandanavian Advent Calendars - Page 9 • Robin’s Nest DIY - Page 10
• The Origin of Santa Claus - Page 11 • Swedish Meatballs Recipe - Page 12 • Christmas Word Search - Page 13 • Kids Craft Corner - Page 15
Editor’s Notes
North Country Christmas: A Scandanavian Look As we come into the holiday season, uncover our favorite decorations, pull out our family recipes, and gather gifts for our loved ones to be put around the tree. We all have our own family traditions and cultural holiday festivities depending on your cultural background.
we Kelsey Ruzicka Publisher of The Country Register of ND, SD, WY, MT & N. ID
As we enter this time of family and festive warmth, it is also a great time to look at the holidays through other cultures. Scandinavian influence is very strong here in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. This holiday season we wanted to highlight “Yule Tide” by exploring the traditions of one of our regions larger cultural influence – Nordic heritage. Nordic holidays are a romantic one. I immediately think of the North Pole, reindeer, artic foxes, orange slices, gingerbread and neutral tones. It is a culture built in the snow. When researching traditions and holiday fun, I found a common thread in the Scandinavian theme. The Nordic ways are ones of simplicity and time spent. They really focus on the moment. The small things that make the holidays so fulfilling and magical. The lighting of a candle each night, the focus on family, handmade is best. It is the thought, time and people around you that matters. Not the frills or the amount of gifts. They have a whole name for the time spent between Christmas and New Years. It is expected that families use this time to rest, connect and recharge. As we all move into our own holiday traditions this year, may we take those lessons with us. May we focus on the small moments of making cookies with littles, gathering to decorate the tree, hand making gifts, and enjoying the simple moments of the season. Those are the moments we collect and the memories that last. Those are the things that fill our cup and help us start again in the new year. Wishing you all a blessed Yule Tide.
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The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, & Northern Idaho Kelsey (Snyder) Ruzicka, Publisher Produced by Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC PO BOX 2015 • Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-568-0181 Office www.countryregister.com/nrgp www.moxiemarketingmw.com Publisher’s contact numbers across the USA & Canada for The Country Register Send $3 to any publisher below to obtain a paper from another area: * Indicates these editions are available on–line at www.countryregister.com.
November/December 2023 | Page 3
Our Holiday Issue!
Country Register Founder: Barbara Floyd, 602-237-6008, info@countryregister.com, located: Phoenix, AZ USA * Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Arkansas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, 405-470-2597, lenda@countryregister.com * California: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * Connecticut: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD 21771, 866-825-2917, Fax 866-261-9641 * Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com * Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, florida@countryregisteronline.com * Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, tcrga@windstream.net * Idaho (N): Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Idaho (S): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Illinois: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com * Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA, 52339, IowaCountryRegister@mchsi.com * Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 988 9th Ave., McPherson, KS 67460, kansas@countryregister.com * Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com * Maine: Deborah Daney, 660 Country Club Road, Sanford, ME 04073, 207-324-7482 * Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Massachusetts: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Michigan: Bill and Marlene Howell, 3790 Manistee, Saginaw, MI, 48603-3143, 989-793-4211 * Minnesota: Kim & Mickey Keller, 12835 Kiska St. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, minnesota@countryregister.com * Missouri: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Montana: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Nevada (N): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950* * Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803 * New Hampshire: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822 * New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com * New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * New York: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * North Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * North Dakota: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, ohiocountryregister@yahoo.com * Oklahoma: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Oregon: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Pennsylvania: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 888-616-8319, Fax 800-609-0278 * Rhode Island: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * South Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * South Dakota: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com * Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com * Texas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Utah: Available * Vermont: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822 * Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Washington: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * West Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, jennifer@countryregisterofwisconsin.com * Wyoming: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com CANADA * Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0,780-889-3776, countryregab@yahoo.com * British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, 800-784-6711 * Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, countryregister@sasket.net * Ontario: Harriet Ramos, Box 60, 4338 Innes Rd., Orleans, ON K4A 3W3, 343-882-5812
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains
November/December • Volume 13 Issue 6
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2023. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited by law. The Country Register is a registered business trade name. Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC produces The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains. Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $18.00. Single copies: $3.00. This paper is furnished free at each advertiser, highway welcome centers, tourism centers, shows, events, and other selected locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Northern Idaho. Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from outside sources, express the opinions of their authors only and may not express the viewpoints of the management and staff of The Country Register. Such articles that are accepted for publication herein may be edited at the sole discretion of the publisher. Responsibility for products advertised in this newspaper lies with the advertisers themselves. Though The Country Register will not knowingly publish fraudulent materials or fraudulently obtained materials, we are not liable for any damages arising from the purchase or use of products advertised herein.
Index: See page 14 for advertiser’s index by name and by community as well as upcoming events. Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the January/Febraury 2024 issue are December 7, 2023.
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A Cup of Tea with Lydia: An After-Thanksgiving Teatime By Lydia E. Harris The holidays are here, creating such a happy time of year!
FESTIVE CRANBERRY-ORANGE SCONES My daughter-in-law transforms an ordinary scone mix this way.
First, we welcome Thanksgiving with feasting, football, and counting our blessings. Then the joy and excitement of Christmas quickly follow. Between these two holidays, why not plan and enjoy 1. Using your favorite scone mix, replace the liquid in the recipe with orange juice. 2. Add 1/4 cup white chocolate chips and 1/4 cup craisins. a relaxing “after-Thanksgiving” teatime? 3. Prepare and bake according to the directions. 5. Optional: While scones are warm, drizzle with a glaze made with A friend shared that after hosting their Thanksgiving dinner, she and her daughter create a 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon orange juice, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Garnish with small simple teatime for the two of them and perhaps a friend. “It’s a time to slow down, relax, and slivers of orange peel. make memories.” The foods and flavors of Thanksgiving are ones that people love to gobble up beyond that holiday. So why not turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a quick and tasty teatime? By doing so, you can extend the season of gratitude and serve up a festive prelude to Christmas. As you count your blessings, here are some recipes to consider for your after-Thanksgiving teatime. TURKEY SANDWICHES: TAKE TWO Turkey-Salad Croissants Delicious to gobble up with leftover, moist turkey. Gather 2 cups diced turkey 1/3 to 1/2 cup diced celery 1/3 cup craisins 1/3 cup mayonnaise (more if you prefer it moister) 2 T. cream or milk Salt and pepper to taste Lettuce leaves, washed Large or small croissants Directions 1. Mix together the turkey, celery, craisins, mayonnaise, cream or milk, salt, and pepper. Chill the mixture for 30 minutes to blend flavors or until ready to fill the croissants. 2. Slice croissants in half horizontally. Fill with a thick layer of turkey salad. Add a lettuce leaf. 3. Wrap and refrigerate the filled croissants until ready to serve. 4. For large croissants, cut the sandwiches in half. Serve smaller croissants whole. Makes 2 cups filling
PRALINE PUMPKIN PIE Our son’s favorite pumpkin pie. Transform an ordinary pumpkin pie recipe by adding this praline layer on the unbaked crust. Praline mixture: 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup pecan halves Combine butter and brown sugar. Cook and stir until the mixture bubbles. Mix in pecans. 1. Spoon the praline mixture onto the unbaked pie crust. 2. Pour the pumpkin filling over the praline mixture in the crust. 4. Bake according to recipe directions. 5. Chill. Serve with whipped cream. Optional: For a new flavor twist, add 1/4 teaspoon maple extract to the whipped cream. TEAS TO PLEASE Consider fall and holiday flavors of tea, such as pumpkin, cranberry, apple, Republic of Tea Ginger Peach, and spicy flavors such as chai. Brew at least one decaffeinated tea. Our family’s favorite herbal tea is Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion. ‘Tis the season to share a cup of tea with family and friends. Won’t you join me? Lydia E. Harris is a tea enthusiast, grandmother of five (Grandma Tea), and author of In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together, Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting, and her new release—GRAND Moments: Devotions Inspired by Grandkids. Her books are available through bookstores and online.
TURKEY-AND-CREAM-CHEESE SANDWICHES My youngest granddaughter loves these made with raspberry jam. Gather 6 slices white or wheat bread 6 slices deli turkey (or leftover homecooked turkey) 1/2 cup (about 4 oz) cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 T raspberry jam or cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied) Butter Directions 1. Mix together cream cheese and cranberry sauce or raspberry jam. 2. Spread three slices of bread with the cream cheese mixture. Place 2 slices of turkey on each. 3. Spread butter on the remaining three bread slices. Place them on top of the slices with turkey to close the sandwiches. 4. Wrap and refrigerate the sandwiches until ready to serve. 5. Before serving, trim the crusts. Then cut each sandwich diagonally in both directions to make 4 small triangles. Makes12 tea sandwiches Variation: Turkey Rollups: Substitute three or four 8-inch flour tortillas for the bread. Spread each with the flavored cream cheese, add sliced turkey, and roll up. Wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut each rollup into six pinwheels.
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Memories With Santa Claus By Kerri Habben Bosman
Towards the end of a year, I sit for a bit and contemplate Santa Claus. Not the one visiting from the North Pole at the mall and not the new decorations in the stores. I just look across the living room and study the form of a 14” stuffed bearded, velvet figure who emerges every December. He spends the rest of the year in a cardboard box that held cans of food 40 years ago.
November/December 2023 | Page 5
Countryberries Designs This Santa has so many
possibilities!
This Santa has been a part of every Christmas I have ever known.
He was designed to
My great aunt, Aunt Wilma, brought him home in the early 1920’s. She was in her early 20’s, age-wise. Home then was an apartment in a six family house in Brooklyn, New York that she shared with her mother, three brothers, and a sister, my grandmother. Her father had died suddenly in 1919 when she was 17. She and my grandmother worked as winders in a small knitting mill. Their economic situation was far from prosperous, but somehow there was always enough.
pillow top with bells
Around the corner from where they lived was a store I’ve only heard referred to as “the Junkies.” I assume it was something like a thrift store. There she found our Santa Claus.
rug piece. If you’re a
Santa was there the Christmases of 1929 and 1930 that Uncle Henry had to be away at the tuberculosis sanitarium, and he was there through the Decembers my Uncle Bill struggled with a brain tumor in the late 1930’s. Santa listened to the tap of my Uncle Henry’s typewriter as he wrote his Christmas correspondence at the dining room table. He was there as my great-grandmother, Nanna, baked and cooked for the holiday. Santa was also there the Christmas of 1958, the first one she wasn’t there for. He was there as the family had grown with marriages and children arriving. One of those children, of course, was my mother. Santa was there for her first Christmas and every Christmas after. He sat upon the piano as Mom played carols and hymns every December growing up and into early adulthood. In 1967 Aunt Wilma and Uncle Henry moved from the home that our Santa had known for over 40 years. When Aunt Wilma wanted to toss him out, Mom rescued him. Thus he has been a part of every Christmas I have ever known. He was there during my first Christmas in 1973, and he moved to North Carolina with my parents, grandparents, and myself in 1978. He was there through all the changes a few decades bring, including Mom’s last Christmas in 2017. Thus he was saved during the purging of possessions when my husband, Wayne, and I sold my childhood home . Now Santa has been there for our Christmas celebrations. Wayne’s five grown children and their families gather at our house, and we all treasure being together. Santa has seen everyone open their presents, including the knitted and crocheted gifts I make every year with extra love in them. Our Santa has indeed seen better days. The velvet of his suit is flat and worn, its burgundy red perhaps a bit faded. The once white trim on his clothes is a dull brown in some places and entirely gone in others. His beard is now matted and a yellowish gray, no longer fully glued to his face. Yet, he exudes more spirit than all the untested, brand-new Santas out there. His fabric face retains every feature with that customary twinkle in his brown eyes. His cheeks are as rosy as if he just arrived on his sleigh. Our Santa is vibrant with the many decades of December memories that he carries. This Christmas, he will again see what he has seen ever since Aunt Wilma brought him home. He will see love. Kerri Habben Bosman is a writer living in Chapel Hill, NC. Her email is 913jeeves@gmail.com.
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Santa Pillow
be a wool appliqued or buttons but could also be a table mat or wall hanging. He could be a punchneedle
or
hooked
painter, create Santa on paper, wood or canvas. He’d make a cute note card. Enlarge this pattern to your desired size. Whatever craft you choose, have fun and be creative!. Not for commercial use. Please give the artist credit. .
Designed by Kathy Graham
Countryberries LLC
Whimsies and necessaries for your country home and garden
330 North Road Deerfield, NH 03037 603-463-7615
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Become Inspired By Annice Bradley Rockwell
In the month of November, the leaves on the trees have lost their luster and the days are some of the shortest of our year. As the vibrant colors fade, there is a cold snap in the air signaling a clear seasonal shift. As our landscape changes right before our eyes, we are naturally drawn indoors where the glow of candlelight paired with a crackling fire in our fireplace happily warms us and welcomes us home. We are entering into a spectacular season of anticipation where we begin to plan for festivities intended to share joy. Joyful Intention Often associated with being fast-paced and frenzied, the holiday season can actually be a time of quiet creating and planning when we plan with caring intention. Designing a perfect family dinner that honors time-tested family recipes can be a soulful experience bringing up wonderful memories of childhood joy. Taking the time to recreate and share that magic with those you love is one of the most worthwhile endeavors. While the meal simmers on the stove and all of the finishing touches come together, we tend to become grateful for having the opportunity to bask in the comfort of family. Sacred Traditions Our efforts to create holiday magic are seen in our home’s as well. Our sacred traditions to highlight the splendor of the season are a special gift to share with family. Whether we are spending an evening together making festive evergreen wreaths for our barn and home, or whether we are assembling a traditional gingerbread house to be lit and enjoyed by all on Christmas Eve, there is a soulful joy in the keeping of traditions. As our families and friends gather together to share in the wonder of this special time, there is a sense of deep satisfaction that comes with knowing it was planned with joy and love. A Christmas Eve surrounded by the warm glow of candles in every window of our country home and Christmas trees nestled in all of our favorite spaces, we are reminded that the sharing of what we create for others is perhaps the greatest gift of all. --Annice Bradley Rockwell is an educator and owner of Pomfret Antiques. She is currently working on her book, New England Girl. NewEnglandGirl2012@hotmail.com
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Cowgirl Poet, Quilter, Entertainer Yvonne Hollenbeck The Quilting Flu It started innocent enough, some fifteen years ago; it was well into the winter, the ground was white with snow. He was laying in his easy chair while staring at TV as she was reminiscing about the way things used to be.
The house looks like a fabric shop, there’s quilts on every wall the basements been converted to a fabric storage hall. There’s projects on the table and more on all the beds and many that’s unfinished packed in totes out in the shed.
She looked at hubby laying there …across his lap he’d laid an old and faded patchwork quilt her Grandma Sarah made. The rolling channels bored her, the housework was all done, so thought she’d try to make a quilt, she thought that might be fun.
There hasn’t been much cleaning done since fifteen years ago, when she cut those pretty squares out and made a little throw. But, she is not alone as all her friends are quilting too, it is like they caught a sickness diagnosed, “The Quilting Flu.”
She got out grandma’s patterns that were packed away upstairs within a box of pretty scraps, then soon was cutting squares. This urge that overtook her never really went away in fact, you’d call it “sickness” if you visited her today.
A guild is their support group, but there really is no cure and the only medication is a frequent shop-hop tour. Experts call it an addiction, there is not much they can do when you’re overcome with this disease that’s called “The Quilting Flu!”
Order Yvonne’s new book, “A Stitch in Rhyme” at www.yvonnehollenbeck.com — just $15 + $3.50 postage. © Yvonne Hollenbeck; 2023 Yvonne Hollenbeck, from Clearfield, SD, performs her original poetry throughout the United States, captivating audiences in her wake. She is one of the most published cowgirl poets in the West and is not only a popular banquet and civic entertainer, but also co-writes songs with many western entertainers. Yvonne also pens a weekly column in the “Farmer-Rancher Exchange” and writes articles about life in rural America in various publications throughout the West. For more information, visit https://www.yvonnehollenbeck.com
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November/December 2022 | Page 7
Local Artist Spotlight RO CK IN ’ R IM AGE S This time of year we think of family photos and holiday cards to send to our loved ones. Becca Shellborne is out of Sundance, WY specializes in western lifestyle and marketing photography. Her images are just stunning. You’ll find yourself spending time in her Facebook feed gazing at her beautiful pictures.
Explore Your BackYard Feature Experience the National Elk Refuge From A Sleigh | Jackson, WY Let National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides take you on an incredible adventure. When you climb into a horse drawn sleigh that takes you for a ride onto the National Elk Refuge, you will find yourself in the middle of a western adventure unlike any other. This century long tradition continues to be a one of a kind wildlife activity. It’s an amazing and exciting way to discover first hand new things about the area’s wildlife. As you venture across the Refuge to the sounds of snow crunching beneath the horses’ feet, you will encounter sights that can only be found on the National Elk Refuge. As you climb onto your sleigh, you will meet your guide. They don’t just drive the horses. Guy or girl, your driver is a wealth of information and amazing facts. Come with questions and get ready for an interactive experience. Learn about how the National Elk Refuge came to be and why it is important still today. Fascinating facts about the elk themselves are shared as you sit just feet away from these majestic animals. As the snow comes the elk do, too. Here in Jackson Hole, you will have the opportunity to see thousands of elk that make the National Elk Refuge their home for the winter season. And the National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides takes you right to the heart of the action. You may also encounter other wildlife such as eagles, coyotes, foxes, badgers, bison, deer, wolves, as well as trumpeter swans, ducks, geese and a variety of other birds. Each ride is unique and you never know what you will see next. Tickets are purchased in the parking lot of the National Elk Refuge Visitor Center at 532 N. Cache St. in Jackson, WY from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm during sleigh ride season. December 16th Through April 6th. www.nersleighrides.com
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Cozy Nordic Traditions When thinking of the winter holidays, one often pictures warm fires, landscapes blanketed with snow, and cozy scenes of people joined together to celebrate the year with good food and cheer. Few people in the world snuggle into that cozy feeling like the people of Scandinavia and the Nordics, and it’s easy to understand why. Some parts of the Nordic region are plunged into the darkness of polar night for months at a time. With endless mountains of snow, bone-chilling temperatures, and days with more twilight than sun, staying warm and bright is a necessity. Let’s learn more about the Christmas and winter holiday traditions of the Nordics and maybe take some inspiration to get through our own chilly months. Light an advent candle every Sunday In Scandinavia we have a tradition of lighting one candle in the evening each of the four Sundays of advent. The 4 candles symbolize joy, hope, longing & peace. This is a lovely way to mark the countdown to the big day, and lighting candles helps to create a special and cozy atmosphere in the home. Many have a special advent candle-holder or wreath they use each year, and it is usually decorated with fresh greenery or other decor items to get in a Christmas spirit. Handmade decorations Dried oranges, paper garlands, dried clay and other items are often made during Christmas workshops in preparation for the season. Make a pepperkakehus (and smash it when Christmas is over)In addition to baking Christmas cookies, a traditional thing to make is a pepperkakehus (gingerbread house) which gets decorated with icing and candy. The house is first used as a decoration, and then demolished and eaten at the end of the holidays. Celebrate Julaften on the 24th Christmas Eve is the main event during the Scandinavian Christmas, so we celebrate Christmas on the 24th. This is the evening we get together with family at home to have the main big dinner. The Christmas presents are placed under the tree, and get’s opened after the dinner. On December 23rd it is common to stay in and celebrate Lille Julaften, or Little Christmas Eve as we would say in English. This is a time when family or friends decorates their home and the tree while listening to Christmas music, eating Christmas cookies and enjoy each others company. Decorate your home with nisser Although there are plenty of different ways to decorate the home during Christmas, a very cozy guy who pops up during this period is the nisse. A nisse is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore tales which is typically associated with the winter solstice and the Christmas season. They can be described as short creatures with a long white beard wearing a red cap, a bit similar to a garden gnome. According to tradition, the nisse lives in the barn, and secretly acts as the family’s guardian. However, they are known to be short tempered, and if insulted they will play tricks on you or steal things. In Norway you can often see a few nisser when you visit someones home during Christmas. When it comes to drinks, many Norwegians have juleøl (Christmas beer) with the food – a darker and spicier beer that fits perfectly with the food. Norwegians also have their own take on mulled wine: gløgg which is usually made of hot red wine and/or aquavit, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves. The drink is served with almonds and raisins in it. Slow down during romjulen The period between Christmas and New Years doesn’t really have a name in English – well in Norway the word for that period and is romjulen. This period is perfect for relaxing at home, playing board games, eating the rest of the Christmas food and all the treats as well as smashing that gingerbread house.
Lefse
Ingredients • • • • •
10 pounds potatoes, peeled ½ cup butter ½ cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon white sugar 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Directions
Step 1 Gather all ingredients. Step 2 Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes; drain. Step 3 Run hot potatoes through a potato ricer into a large bowl. Beat butter, cream, salt, and sugar into riced potatoes. Let cool to room temperature. Step 4 Stir flour into potato mixture to form a soft dough. Pull off pieces of dough and form into walnut-sized balls. Step 5 Lightly flour a clean cloth and roll out lefse balls to 1/8-inch thick. Step 6 Heat a griddle over high heat. Step 7 Cook lefse on the hot griddle until brown blisters form, about 1 minute per side. Place cooked lefse on a damp towel to cool slightly. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking them on top of each other as they’re cooked; cover until ready to serve.
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Scandinavian Advent Calendars Do you count down the days to Christmas with an Advent calendar? What kind? The Advent calendar is a holiday tradition with historic roots that seems to be increasing in popularity each year. Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christmas and commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning “coming.” Practices associated with Advent include keeping an Advent calendar, lighting an Advent wreath or Advent candles, putting up a Christmas tree, as well as other ways of preparing for Christmas that are traditional in each person’s family, such as setting up Christmas decorations, baking, or buying lutefisk. What are called Advent calendars in many parts of the world are called Christmas calendars (julekalenderen) in Norway. Jul means Christmas. In Sweden you will see adventsljustakars, or Advent candlesticks, a signal that the countdown to Christmas has begun. People begin putting them up on Advent Sunday. By the end of the first week of December, it will seem as though every home, shop and office in Sweden is displaying adventsljustakars. In the darkness of a Swedish December, many people are glad to take the chance to spread a bit of light. The advent lights are a modern interpretation of traditional advent candles. As in many other Christian countries, many Swedes keep candlesticks with four candles in their homes during Advent. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Many sources state that the first handmade Advent calendar was made in 1851. It is believed that recognizing Advent was one of the traditions that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert enjoyed and thus helped popularize. What is documented more firmly, is the early printed calendars, which began to appear in the early 20th century. One of the early producers was a man named Gerhard Lang who is said to have developed a love of recognizing Advent after being given a cookie on each day of Advent out of a special Christmas tin growing up. The first chocolate-filled Advent calendars reportedly appeared on the scene in the 1950s, and Cadbury began commercially producing them in 1971. It took two more decades before they were popular enough for the company to put into continuous production — and the rest is history. They continue to grow in popularity and new and creative ways become available for people to count down to Christmas!
Ingredients • • • • • • •
Mulled Wine
1 (750 ml) bottle of dry red wine 1/4 cup brandy (or orange liqueur) 1 orange, sliced into rounds (also peeled, if you would like a less-bitter drink) 8 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks 2 star anise 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste (or your desired sweetener) optional garnishes: citrus slices (orange, lemon and/or lime), extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise
Directions
Combine ingredients. Add wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and 2 tablespoons sweetener to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine. Simmer. Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. (Avoid letting it bubble — you don’t want to boil off the
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I am sure we are in a time warp as it is already time for the Holidays!! I am doing my best to get in the spirit of Christmas, and nothing helps do that better than making ornaments. This issue is dedicated to Scandinavia and some of their crafts, which use many natural elements like fiber, wood and ceramics. This is such a simply ornament to make but oh so cute!!
You will Need:
You will need twine (the picture shows two kinds of twine but I decided to use the more natural one), wooden beads, paint and a paint brush, ribbon, and scissors.
Step One
Step Two
Step Four
After you have all your beads in the pattern you want, you will need to tie several knots at the end. Make sure the knots are as close to the bottom of the last bead as you can get. I tied three knots. Cut a piece of twine long enough to accommodate all the beads, the loop and the knots. I used about 18 inches. You can always cut off the excess. Then tie a loop on one end of the twine.
Step FIVE
Step THREE
The last thing is to tie on your ribbon, if you choose to. Some like the minimalist look with just the beads. You can make all kinds of designs and even garland. Enjoy!! Merry Christmas!!
Pick out the beads you are going to use and paint the ones of your choice. You don’t have to paint any or you can paint them all. Allow them to dry.
Start adding the beads on the twine. Remember that the loop is the top. Decide on a pattern.
FINISHED!
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The Origin of Santa Claus Santa Claus, legendary figure who is the traditional patron of Christmas in the United States and other countries, bringing gifts to children. His popular image is based on traditions associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian saint. Father Christmas fills the role in many European countries. The Dutch are credited with transporting the legend of Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) to New Amsterdam (now New York City), along with the custom of giving gifts and sweets to childre Santa Claus—otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle—has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions. Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century, when Saint Nicholas walked the earth and became the patron saint of children. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. Over the course of many years, Nicholas’s popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. By the Renaissance, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation, when the generation of saints began to be discouraged, St. Nicholas maintained a positive reputation, especially in Holland.
St. Nicholas made his first inroads into American popular culture towards the end of the 18th century. In December 1773, and again in 1774, a New York newspaper reported that groups of Dutch families had gathered to honor the anniversary of his death. The name Santa Claus evolved from Nick’s Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas). Gift-giving, mainly centered around children, has been an important part of the Christmas celebration since the holiday’s rejuvenation in the early 19th century. Stores began to advertise Christmas shopping in 1820, and by the 1840s, newspapers were creating separate sections for holiday advertisements, which often featured images of the newly-popular Santa Claus. In the early 1890s, the Salvation Army needed money to pay for the free Christmas meals they provided to needy families. They began dressing up unemployed men in Santa Claus suits and sending them into the streets of New York to solicit donations. Those familiar Salvation Army Santas have been ringing bells on the street corners of American cities ever since. Cited: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Claus https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus
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Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients - Meatballs • • • • • • • • • • • •
1 lb ground beef 1 lb ground pork ¼ cup flat leaf parsley, minced ½ tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground nutmeg ¾ cup yellow onion, grated (about 1 medium onion) 2 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper, freshly ground 4 cloves garlic, minced ¾ cup panko* 2 eggs 2 tbsp olive oil
Ingredients - Cream Gravy • • • • • • • • •
½ cup butter ½ cup flour* 4 cups beef broth 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 1 tbsp lemon juice ¼ tsp ground allspice ¼ tsp ground nutmeg 1 cup heavy cream
Directions
In a large bowl, mix the beef, pork, parsley, allspice, nutmeg, grated onion, salt, pepper, garlic, panko and eggs until combined. Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, measure out the meat mixture into roughly 35 (1.5 inch) balls. In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ½ of the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. This takes about 5 minutes. Set aside When all of the meatballs are browned, pour off any excess grease in the pan, into a heatproof vessel. Lower the heat to medium and add the butter to the pan. When the butter begins to bubble, sprinkle in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the beef broth to the pan a little at a time. Whisk the gravy until the broth is all incorporated. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, allspice and nutmeg. Whisk a few more times. Slowly add the cream. Once the gravy begins to simme, add the meatballs back into the pan. Simmer until the gravy has thicken up a bit and the meatballs are cooked all the way through, about 8-10 minutes. Serve warm over mashed potatoes or egg noodles, alongside steamed veggies and lingonberry jam. Cooking Notes: * If you take your time adding the beef broth, your gravy will stay thick, taking less time overall. *Take care not to boil the cream. It might separate if you do. Keep it at a simmer until the meatballs are cooked all the way through. *The meatballs should reach an internal temperature of 165° F and no longer be pink on the inside.
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Advertiser Directory by Name Always Your Design • Dell Rapids, SD.................................... 6 Betty’s Quiltery • Rapid City, SD........................................... 15 Creative Closet • Townsend, MT............................................. 6 Emporium, The • Belle Fourche, SD....................................... 15 Farmer’s Daughter, The • Hill CIty, SD.................................. 16 Fiber House, The • Sheridan, WY............................................ 5 Heartfelt Quilt Shop • Spearfish, SD.................................... 16 Knothole, The • Spearfish, SD.............................................. 16 Nuts & Bolts Fabric Shop • Edgemont, SD........................... 16 Quilt Connection • Rapid City, SD........................................ 16 Quilt Connection 2 • Buffalo, SD.......................................... 16 Quilters Corner • Faulkton, SD............................................... 6 Quilt Yard, The • Pierre, SD..................................................... 5 Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center • Belle Fourche SD......... 16 Wall Drug • Wall, SD............................................................ 14
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Kid Craft Corner | Stress Ball Pumpkins By Kelsey Ruzicka, Editor
A typical decor in Scandinavia are these paper hearts which people hang on the tree and fill with sweets or in the window. They are so sweet and you can make them yourself – this mini heart kit can help you.
Happy Holidays!
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Happy Holidays to You and Yours!