Tradition, Food & Bjärv- Part II

I'm not a morning person. Any of my close friends, family and former roommates can assure you of that. So when 6:30am arrived and I had only gotten 4 hours of sleep, I wasn't the happiest of campers. I was surprisingly enough, up when the knock on my door occurred. I wasn't ready or awake, but I was up.

Back in May I heard that some of our family friends were coming into town for Hyllningsfest. One of them (Gene) had even signed up for the 15k. I think because of the running frenzy that some of the members of my St. Louis church had, I thought it would be a great idea if my sister and I signed up for the 5k. Of course we didn't start training until August and then even then didn't really stick to it as well as we should. However, in the course of those months we had talked my parents into doing the 2 mile walk.

About a week before the race, when we decided we should actually sign up, my sister and I decided we would rather have this be a fun event and enjoy it rather than kill ourselves trying to run it. So we too decided the 2 mile walk was the event for us...at least this year. By the day of the race we had 7 adults and 2 kids signed up for the walk in our group. That all leads us up to that morning when my sister knocked on my door. Not long after that my parents joined us and we were off to the registration table. Did you know how dark it is at 6:30 in the morning? I don't normally see it from that side. ;)

 

At approximately 7:25am our race started. We were off! We set a pretty good pace and were enjoying the early morning with each other. Our group ended up splitting up a little with the first of us finishing at about 7:50am. Just as the first 5k runners were finishing their race. They did start a little after us, so as not to run us over. That gave us the rest of the time to watch the runners come in and wait for Gene to finish his 15k. Which he did in what I call a great victory! He was the 1st in his age group to finish. That earned him a well deserved medal. Way to go Gene!

After the race it was time to find our spots to watch the parade. We met up with my nephews, who were sporting their Swedish costumes. Of course they were, even the mail man was wearing his Swedish costume to deliver the mail. That's just what we do. Anyway, we had to find a good spot, because dad was one of the rifle men protecting the flags as they were marched down the street. So after that 2 mile walk, dad had to walk to the other end of Main to get in the parade, walk the parade route, and then walk back towards the beginning of the route to find us. I'd say he earned a Viking on a Stick or whatever he decided to treat himself with that day.

At the beginning of the parade one of the cars that went past was carrying the Ambassador of Sweden. I was sitting on the curb trying to explain to my oldest nephew what an Ambassador was, when I realized that the Ambassador was speaking to me. In Swedish! At first I thought he was just speaking to the crowd, then he said "Uppsala, ja!" My sister asked me "How do you know the Ambassador?" It was then that it dawned on my that I was wearing my Uppsala shirt and the Ambassador had noticed. If I knew that, I would have practiced my Swedish, but instead all I could do was smile and wave back.

I spent the rest of the parade helping the kids around me catch as much candy as possible and watching so they didn't run in front of a float to get said candy. They have so much candy now, I don't think I will have to buy any Halloween candy for them. But then what kind of aunt would I be if I didn't spoil them rotten? My oldest nephew even got picked from the crowd by the college basketball team to shoot a basket. They even helped him to dunk the ball in the moving hoop they had. Missed that photo opportunity, but it is still a great memory.

The rest of the day was spent working, but come night fall it was time to wind down. I had been invited to hang out with some friends. I was the perfect ending to a festive weekend. Hanging out with friends new and old. Sharing stories, singing (Abba, Journey, classic Disney hits, etc.), and laughing a lot into the wee hours. While it was not as traditional as my past Hyllningsfests, this might have been the best. Until next time.

Tradition, Food & Bjärv- Part I

This past weekend was Hyllningsfest in my home town. A celebration of our Swedish heritage. A festival that I have loved for as long as I can remember and while this year's was not quite the same, it is one to be remembered. My preparation for it started weeks before when my sister wanted me to help her make Swedish costumes for her sons. I was all for it and then proceeded to procrastinate until almost the last minute, but the vests I was making did indeed get done. And while I'm guessing they aren't going to hang onto their Swedish costumes like those of my past,

the pictures and stories will last.  And maybe even the story of how I waited until two days before Hyllningsfest to sew them will be remembered.

As Friday (the first day of the festival) came I was bound and determined to have a good time even though I was scheduled to work for most of the actual festivities. After working a crazy morning, I was headed of to join my parents and family friends downtown to watch the Folkdanslag (adult Swedish dancers). I have enjoyed watching them since I was a kid. They have such a passion for the dances and traditions. The members dancing don't to seem to have aged at all and are still loving what they do.

Although I was going to the Smorgasbord just about an hour after watching the dancing, I decided this might be my one and only chance to get a Viking on a Stick. This was an inspiration my family had once on a trip and suggested it to the Swedish Folk Dancers while my sister was in the group. They tried it, it worked and has been a tradition ever since. Since I only get a chance to get it once every two years, it almost seems better than Christmas presents. I know, I know, you are saying 'What is it?' Answer: Swedish meatballs, Swedish rye bread on a skewer, dipped in a batter and deep fat fried. AMAZING is what it really is. (I actually sent my sister on a quest on Saturday to pick me up more and put them in the fridge).

After the dancing and the Viking on a Stick, it was time to walk across town and take my mother to the Smorgasbord. We had planned to get there early, eat early and get to my dad's concert in plenty of time. WRONG. This was actually the first time I had been to the Hyllningsfest Smorgasbord and had only served at the Midsummer's Smorgasbord, so I didn't know how it worked. Instead they called ticket numbers. But it worked out because while waiting to be seated we got to listen to Bjärv. I didn't know it was that group at the time and I didn't know anything about the group. The folk music they were playing was so jovial that I was hoping the little girls I was with would want to go dance to it, but alas they didn't and I was to nervous to dance alone. The guys (Olof, Ben, and Petrus) were having such a good time and it made their music that much better. I was reluctant to actually go to Smorgasbord and leave the music behind. I couldn't have known this would not be the last time I saw them. So off to the Smorgasbord I went. Yummy food!

After the delicious food, we hurried to watch the Men's Choir, which my dad was a part of. It was a magical moment to be sitting the the church that I grew up in, seeing it packed, listening to my dad (and the rest of them) with my nephew sitting on my lap. It's memories like that, that remind me of why I moved back to Lindsborg in the first place. The men (40 of them) volunteer and only practice for one night a week for seven weeks before the hour long performance. It was the perfect dessert to the Smorgasbord.

To end Friday night I decided to see if any of my fellow classmates were at the Öl Stuga. There were very few, but I did run into Ryan. He and I had gone to school together from kindergarten through high school together. And low and behold, he was friends with Bjärv. I ended up staying, until last call which might not have been a great idea seeing as I had to be up at 6:30am to get ready for the race. But who needs sleep during Hyllningsfest? Day 1 more than complete.