The annual Sankta Lucia Celebration

Sat., Dec. 11 @ 9am

Duluth Holiday Inn

Lucia procession, program & Scandinavian brunch

Lydia Kraker Lucia 2022

Tickets must be purchased by Dec. 2 (218) 727-4416 sponsored by the Swedish Cultural Society of Duluth

Some of my fondest memories are seeing the joy in my grandmother’s face when she had all her children, their spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren surrounding her in her tiny living room at Christmas. My grandmother lived most her life in the Woodland neighborhood and this was my mother’s childhood home and now my sister owns it. I believe this is Christmas 2010. The Carlson Christmas memories will never fade. ❤️

In1967, when I was 2 years old, I got a rocking horse for Christmas!

WhenI think of Christmas memories, I think of family. This picture is from 1988 at the Sawmill Inn in Grand Rapids, Minn. As a child I always remembered my mom’s side of the family having big gatherings around Christmas time. Getting to see my cousin Cindi who lived five hours away was something I just couldn’t contain my giddiness about! We were connected at the hip at all the Christmas gatherings. Memories like these are what still warm my heart to this day! I am deeply thankful that I got to know my extended family at a young age.

Thisphoto is of my sister (Mary Litchke, standing) and me (sitting on floor) at Christmastime. My sister’s face was priceless!

Also, when I think of Christmas I think of life slowing down and reflecting on what means the most to us all. For our family, the most important part is Jesus. We love to go to church on Christmas Eve and I patiently wait for my favorite part — singing “Silent Night.” Every year I look down to that candle as I sing that song and remember why we are celebrating Christmas — the birth of Jesus Christ! Let your light shine!

Itwas probably 1993 or thereabouts, we were having our typical family Christmas at Grandma's (always got together Christmas Eve). The tree was decorated with the infamous Hallmark ornaments, with loads of gifts underneath. Everyone had enjoyed the usual Christmas dinner followed by the excitement of gift-opening!

After the gifts were opened, all of us kids would sit around enjoying and sharing our new belongings. This particular Christmas my brother, Adam Beron, received a new lego set, his favorite! He wasted no time in beginning the process of putting the new set together. He had laid on his belly with his feet/legs partly under the tree, which now had plenty of room to spare, being all the gifts were opened.

Before we knew it, the Christmas tree started to lean and then slowly started to fall...right on my brother who was still lying partly underneath. With him now under the fallen tree, with his Legos all spread on the floor, everyone else in the room burst into laughter. It was quite the sight to see! My brother, however, didn't find this as comical as the rest of us! With everyone laughing, he annoyingly asked, “Can someone please move this tree!?”

To this day, we still think that since the Christmas tree was in the corner of the room, the ornaments were mostly hung in the front. This likely made it too heavy on one side, contributing to it falling.

That was probably one of the last Christmases as kids that we had a large gift opening. After that we were all “too old” for toys.

It was certainly a time to remember and we all had a good laugh...well, except for my brother.