Vol. 35, No. 4 Winter 2016-17

Skål to the Holidays

The holidays are once again upon us and it The history of imbibing on special (and is time to delve into the comforting traditions not so special) occasions predates the of winter. All over Scandinavia, December proliferation of Christianity in Scandinavia. and January are filled with celebrations of The Norse god Odin was credited with good food, good drink, and good company. teaching humans how to brew beer, and Just as certain cookies are part of Swedish drinking beer could take the form of worship Christmas traditions, so are traditional and offering to the deities. The Norse sagas holiday drinks such as Christmas beers, mention drinking beer, especially in celebration aquavit, and glögg. We can rest assured that of battle victories, and sometimes in the there will be plenty of opportunities to offer form of drinking challenges. When harvests a hearty “Skål!” to our friends, neighbors, were small, however, beer brewing was coworkers, and family. restricted in order to reserve enough grain for food preparation. Some claim that the word skål has a root in the skulls of the vanquished, from which Around the 1500s, the strong stuff made its Viking warriors would drink to celebrate way into society when brännvin (brændevin their victory. But this is a grisly tale, and most in Danish / brennevin in Norwegian), a likely just a story. Most agree that skål, which term for vodka or distilled liquor, became is the word for bowl in Danish, Swedish and known through Scandinavia. It was primarily Norwegian, harkens back to a time when distributed as medicine, but we can see that wooden bowls, sometimes elaborately a wider use had become common by 1551 decorated, would be filled with beer and when King Christian III of Denmark-Norway passed from person to person at community attempted to ban serving brännvin on gatherings like weddings or festival days. holidays to prevent people from attending From that tradition of passing the bowl, the church while drunk. By the 1600s, brännvin Traditional Aquavit term skål is now also a toast – “Cheers!” was widely available through home-based

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Connecting Cultures and Community Skål to the Holidays continued from front cover distilling, though the results often tasted Discover more about these and other fun, Note from awful, which led to adding herbs and other boozy histories when ASHM opens the the Director plants to improve the flavor. These selective exhibition Skål! Scandinavian Spirits. This infusions became what we now know as exciting travelling exhibition focuses on the How important is your cultural heritage aquavit, which is regularly served with heritage of beer and aquavit through stories, to you? This is a question we have been herring at any decent smörgåsbord. traditions, and recipes. Over 50 historic thinking about a lot lately. and contemporary artifacts related to King Gustav I Vasa of Sweden was fond Scandinavian drinking traditions will be Our survey for members and visitors that of a German drink called Glühwein, which on display from the Museum of Danish began in October asks various questions was a sweet mixture of wine, sugar, honey, America, American Swedish Institute, about your cultural background. I hope cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves. It Swedish American Museum, the Nordic that you have filled it out and that it was later named glödgad vin in 1609, which Heritage Museum, and the Vesterheim inspired you to think about the ways your meant “glowing-hot wine.” The word glögg Norwegian-American Museum. It may be heritage impacts your life. When I was is a shortened form that first appeared in the first collaborative project to involve talking to one of my friends who filled out our survey, I realized that I really didn’t print in 1870. Swedes consume glögg from such a broad spectrum of Scandinavian- know much about her cultural background. the beginning of Advent through the New American museums; it is as if we all I interpreted the question about whether Year, as the beverage is almost exclusively gathered around the table—Skål! my heritage affected my buying habits reserved for the Christmas season. Swedish to be asking if I preferred to buy glögg is a souped-up version of the German Skål! Scandinavian Spirits opens on Swedish things. She took it much deeper drink consisting mainly of red wine, brandy, Saturday, January 28, 2017 and will be and shared about how her Anabaptist and port infused with spices, and then on view through September 17, 2017. heritage from Switzerland imbues her and blanched almonds are added to the cup. with a sense of thriftiness when shopping Presented by Aalborg and Linie Aquavits and generosity when giving. I learned so Glögg is preferably served in a special little This exhibition was organized by the Museum of much about her as a person and about mug with a handle. While it’s not so typical Danish America, Elk Horn, Iowa. the culture she comes from because the to “Skål!” while holding an adorable cup of Museum provided a starting point for glögg, it can and does happen and everyone It is presented at ASHM through the generosity of the this conversation. enjoys the ritual: Swedish Council of America, the ASHM Auxiliary, Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, George C. We recently hosted a cooking workshop Raise your glass. and Esther Ann McFarland Foundation, where people got hands-on experience Say “Skål!” with gusto. Midsommarklubben, and an anonymous foundation. making limpa bread and potato sausage. I Support provided in part by the Philadelphia Cultural was amazed that one third of the Look your companions in the eye. Fund. Funding for the American Swedish Historical Museum is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania people who attended drove over 100 Take a drink. miles to be a part of the class. Why? Historical and Museum Commission, a state agency Look your companions in the eye again. funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I think it was because there are foods which connect them to their Swedish Set down your glass. heritage that they had never learned to make for themselves. Learning to cook together gives a sense of community and connection that you probably don’t get when you attempt a recipe on your own. Become an Aquavit These anecdotes are wonderful illustrations of the Museum’s new Ambassador marketing tagline, “Connecting Cultures and Community.” Whether Swedish or We are looking for a few members of Swiss, Norwegian or Nigerian, we hope our community who love aquavit and are the Museum helps you connect more willing to assist us with tours of Skål! and fully with your own culture and others. associated programs. If you like working with people, public speaking and are willing to learn, consider joining this group of interpreters. Training will be provided. Please contact Lauren at Tracey Beck [email protected] if you are interested.

2 Winter 2012-132016-17 | Vol. 35,30, No.No. 44 Farewell to Our Senior Curator

It is with mixed emotions that we announce with the first bringing our collection and that the Museum’s Senior Curator, Carrie the story of New Sweden into one concise Hogan, has accepted a position with the exhibition, and the latter providing the New Jersey Historic Trust as their Senior Museum with a space for young children Historic Preservation Specialist and will be and families to explore and play. leaving ASHM at the end of November. She has curated or co-curated 23 When Carrie joined our staff in 2006, the exhibitions and installed many more subject of Swedish culture and history was that have been seen by approximately relatively new to her, having studied history 104,000 visitors. She is known for her and political science at Webster amazing ability to mentor interns, build University before completing her master’s “Philadelphia: The Great Experiment- A Lost relationships with donors, and give degree in museum studies and history, with World (1600-1680)” and “The Forgotten engaging tours. She has been a vigilant a focus on African American history at Journey”. steward of the Museum’s collections and University of Missouri St. Louis. Yet she building, and she has supervised multiple wasted no time and dove head first into the Carrie has made enormous contributions conservation and building improvement subject of New Sweden, along with multiple as a staff member in her 10 years here. projects. In addition she has been an aspects of Swedish history, culture, arts Carrie curated two of our major long-term enthusiastic colleague and co-worker on and design. Her expertise on New Sweden, exhibitions, Sven Gunnarson and Jonas any and every project which needed an specifically on the subject of Queen Nilsson New Sweden Gallery, as well as extra hand. She will be greatly missed, but Christina, has been highlighted at the delightful and engaging Pippi we wish her well in her future endeavors. conferences and speaking engagements, Longstocking gallery. Both of these have along with two recent documentaries been hugely significant to the Museum,

Now We’re Cookin’! Limpa Bread On Sunday October 9th, a group of aspiring ½ cup brown sugar ½ Tbsp dry yeast • Mix first six ingredients then add hot water. chefs gathered at the American Swedish ¾ Tbsp caraway seeds 3 cups • Wait for water to cool to around 100° then Historical Museum to explore Swedish 1 tsp fennel seed 2 cups rye flour add yeast and proof. 1 tsp salt cuisine. Auxiliary President Dawn Gould led 1 tsp grated orange peel • Add 1 cup white flour and 2 cups rye flour 1 cup raisins the group while they made limpa bread 1 Tbsp butter to make a soft dough. Let rise 1 hour. and potatiskorv (potato sausage). In this 1 Tbsp molassas (optional) • Knead well, adding 2 cups white flour as 2 cups hot water totally hands-on workshop, participants needed, add salt, shape into 2 loaves, and did everything from knead dough to case let rise for 1 hour. sausages. The recipes used were combined • Bake 350° for 45 minutes to 1 hour. from traditional Swedish and Scandinavian sources. If you are feeling adventurous or nostalgic and want to recreate a family tradition, be sure to try the recipes we used Potatiskorv (Potato Sausage) at home! Small Serving Size • Scrub and trim potatoes as needed (do not peel). Bake ½ lb. ground beef until half done. (Potatoes may be used raw, but darken ½ lb. ground pork quickly.) Grind potatoes. 1 lb. potatoes 1 finely chopped onion • Mix all ingredients (except casing) and add potatoes. ½ tsp salt • Stuff loosely in casings. Prick casings. Tie sausage in ½ tsp ground allspice desired lengths. ¼ tsp white pepper Pinch of ginger • Place sausage in pan and cover with water. Heat over ½ tsp sugar burner until water has evaporated and sausage crisps, or Sausage casing bake in oven at 300°.

Connecting Cultures and Community 3 To Register For Events call 215-389-1776, or visit online at Upcoming Events and Registration Info www.americanswedish.org/calendar.htm

There is always something going on at the Lucia & Christmas Market Semlor and a Movie American Swedish Historical Museum. See Saturday, December 3 Saturday, February 11 below for scheduled events. Please check 11:30 am - 4:30 pm 11:00 am Drop in for our family- Treat yourself to a rich semla, a with the Museum to confirm dates and friendly Lucia Fest, with Lucia cream and almond paste filled other details. Refunds will not be granted processions at 1pm and 3pm. Swedish , along with a for cancellations after the registration The Christmas Market includes your favorite cup of hot coffee and a Swedish film.Semlor deadline. To register for events by phone holiday deli items, Christmas decorations, and are often eaten before the start of lent, the call (215) 389-1776. Online registration is gifts, and the SWEA tables will be Swedish version of “ Tuesday.” Event tickets open all day. The Swedish Christmas Café are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. Ticket available through links in the Museum’s will be selling holiday foods and sweets price includes one semla, additional semlor email announcements or on the for your refreshment. Admission is $10 for are $6 each. Register by phone or online by Events Calendar page of our website, non-members, $7 for members, children February 8th. americanswedish.org/calendar.htm. 4-12 $4, and children under 4 are free. Reservations are not required, but tickets may Skål! Scandinavian Sprits MONTHLY PROGRAM: be purchased in advance on our website. Tasting Event Toddler Time Saturday, February 25 10:30 am - 11:30 am Guided Tour 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm The third Tuesday of each Wednesday, December 28 Join us for an aquavit tasting at month ASHM offers specially 10:00 am - 11:30 am the Museum to celebrate our designed programs to Have holiday guests that you need to entertain? newest exhibition Skål! Scandinavian Spirits. introduce Swedish culture through art, Looking for a way to get out of the house after Exhibit sponsor Arcus will be on hand to provide science, and literature in uniquely fun and the holiday crush? Do you want to see the samples of aquavit while the Curator of the creative ways to children ages 18 months to American Swedish Historical Museum in a new exhibit, Tova Brandt from Museum of Danish 4 years old. The cost is $5 per child or free way? Join us on December 28th for a guided America in Iowa, will lead an exhibition tour. for Museum Household Members. There is tour of the Museum! Don’t miss this opportunity Aquavit samples, refreshments, and the tour no charge for accompanying caregivers. to get an in-depth look at the gallery spaces are included with general admission, free for Register by phone or online. with Executive Director, Tracey Beck. Spaces Museum members. We hope to see you there, on the tour are limited and pre-registration Skål! Tuesday November 15 is recommended. $5 members, $15 non- What’s Cooking? members. Registration deadline is Waffle Day Tuesday December 20 December 23rd. Saturday, March 25 Warm Holiday Traditions 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Genealogy Meeting Every March at the end Tuesday January 17 Saturday, January 28 of the month in honor of Colors in the Museum 1:30 pm the Annunciation Day Tuesday February 21 Save the date for the winter Genealogy Club (Maria Bebådelsedag), Swedes eat waffles. Animals of the North meeting. Gather with fellow ASHM members Intrigued by this tradition? Stop by the Museum and explore the branches of your Swedish for Waffle Day to get the whole story, along Julbord ancestry. Not a member, not a problem, with some tasty Swedish waffles served with Friday, December 2 there is still plenty of time to get your ASHM whipped cream and strawberry jam, and of 6:00 pm membership. Make a day of it and follow up course coffee. $12 for non-members, $8 for Nothing makes the holiday the genealogy program with research time in members includes waffles and a beverage. season cozier than coming the library and be sure to sign for our delicious Register by phone or online, or pay at the door. together with family and pea soup dinner! friends for a very special Swedish Julbord. Easter Family Fun Day Join ASHM for cocktails and an authentic Pea Soup and Punch Supper: & Egg Hunt Christmas smörgåsbord dinner followed by Ärtsoppa och Punsch Sunday, April 9 a Lucia procession. The Christmas Market is Saturday, January 28 2:00 - 4:00 pm open all evening. Members $50, non-members 6:00 pm Introduce your little ones to $60. Cash bar. Register by phone or online by Warm up on a chilly winter’s Swedish Easter traditions. November 28th. night with a bowl of Swedish Easter Family Fun day includes Swedish Easter yellow pea soup and a cup of punsch. Dinner is crafts, face painting, Easter witch dress up, served with sharp cheese, bread, and . and an Easter egg hunt! This event is free for Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for members and children 2 years and under and non-members. Register by phone or online by $10 for non-members. January 23rd.

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Winter 2016-17 | Vol. 35, No. 4

Images from Recent Events Photographs by ASHM Staff

u People attending the Crayfish Dinner got to try local Aquavit from Rowhouse Spirits.

u In October we had our very first, hands-on cooking workshop where we learned how to make Swedish potato sausage and limpa bread.

u Board Chair Bo Bergqvist and Exectutive Director Tracey Beck with the 2016 Amandus Johnson Volunter Service Award Recipient, Dawn Gould.

t We were happy to see many members joining us for the 2016 Annual Meeting.

 At Toddler Time in October we got to meet a box turtle, screech owl and mallard duck in person, as the Academy of Natural Sciences came to teach us about animal classification.

 After the Annual Meeting we celebrated the Museum’s 90th Anniversary with cake and Scandinavian folk music.

t One of the new events this fall was the popular Antique Appraisal Day.

p SmörgåsBeer’d attendees enjoyed a beautiful p Children created p At Toddler Time summer evening at the Museum. their own Olympic flags in July, we went on a at Toddler Time in boat hunt around the August. Museum. Connecting Cultures and Community 5 Do you want to make a contribution? There are several easy ways to support us. Contributions Visit our web page americanswedish.org/support or call 215-389-1776 for more information.

As a nonprofit organization, the American Annual Giving Find the Perfect Gift Swedish Historical Museum relies on the and Contributions generosity of its friends and supporters July 16 - October 15, 2016 As we approach the to meet the costs providing programs and final months of 2016, Gold services, year-round, to thousands of we want to remind Merck Partnership for Giving local, national, and international visitors. Roberta Petusky everyone that there is Thank you for your contributions! Earl & Sylvia Seppala still time to enter our Membership Recruit- Silver ment Contest* for a chance to win a ticket New Members Pia & Richard Halloran to every ASHM event in 2017! An easy way July 16 - October 15, 2016 Bronze to enter is by giving gift memberships to Organizational Charo Alvarez-Birger friends and family. Gift memberships to the West Deptford Free Public Library C.R. Karlsson ASHM make for wonderful gifts that can be Ruth Lindeborg, Julia & Leonard Busby, enjoyed throughout the year and don’t take Household in memory of Robert Savage up any valuable shelf or closest space in Annie Bancroft & Margaret Haviland Jere & Birgitta Paddack one’s house. They may be purchased onsite, Robert & Carole Berley Karen Reeds, in memory of Robert Savage Robert Borgstrom Kirk & Shelly Seagers over the phone or on our website. Simply Christine & Alex Bosco-Ivanick tell us what message you want included for Laura & Omar Clinton-Dudyk Friend the recipient. For Christmas gifts, please Marie Conger Len & Flo Beck Angela & Karl Daubert-Shouler order no later than December 16 to ensure Adrienne & Bjorn Bolinder Jill Greenfield & Zach Savage holiday delivery. Robert & Ingrid Cagan, Carrie Hammond in memory of Jay Heinicke Karen & Kenneth Hoelzie William Callahan & Vivianne Englund Callahan Matt & Be Kallio Marianne Eybye Amy & Kevin Kempe-Volz Kay Ford Jun & Bernard Li-Liu Kathleen Hutchison Alison & Daniel Mygas-Keefe *Please note, contestants must recruit a Midsommarklubben, Naa Okine-Norren minimum of 5 new members to qualify for in memory of Jay Heinicke Cristina Perachio & Casey Laduke the grand prize. Barbara Ruczynski Jonathan Poole & Erin Cederlind Heather Sakosky & Sandor Aguilar Birgitta & Bill Wilson, Robert & Andrea Schneider in memory of Robert Savage If you do like getting people good, old Cara Schraf & William Trevethick fashioned “stuff,” you can still support the

Natalie Torres & Luis Feliz Museum by doing your holiday shopping Deidre & Justin Walsh-DiPhillipo In Memoriam on AmazonSmile. The ASHM will receive Individual The ASHM lost some very special members in 1% of your total purchase when you select Thomas Nilsson the last few months. We send our deepest the American Swedish Historical Museum Jay Reinfeld condolences to their friends and family. as your charity of choice and make sure Franz Fogt shopping originates from Lee Arnold Mette Parker http://smile.amazon.com/. Happy holidays! Matt Jennis Cesar Bargues Dennis Johnson Dennis was an active member of the museum Seniors/Students for decades, serving several terms on the Board Jennifer Jan Winte of Governors. His expertise as an architect was greatly valued on the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He was a constant source of ideas for the Museum some of which resulted in the Viking Dinner (2000), the Genealogy Club, and the Men’s Pea Soup Committee. He and his wife LaVonne received the Amandus Johnson Service Award in 2003.

6 Winter 2012-132016-17 | Vol. 35,30, No.No. 44

Membership Please print all information as you wish it Application & Renewal Form to appear on the membership roster. Return this form to: Name(s) American Swedish Historical Museum Address Attn: Membership 1900 Pattison Avenue City State Zip Philadelphia, PA 19145-5901 Telephone Email Among the benefits of membership are: • free admission to the Museum and library o $35: Senior/Student o $75: Organizational (Non-profit only) o $500: Patron • use of the ASHM Swedish Film Library o $50: Individual o $125: Friend o $1,000: Key Contributor borrowing system o $65: Household o $250: Sustaining o $2,500: Life • guest passes Make check payable to ASHM or o Charge my: VISA | MasterCard | Discover • subscription to the newsletter • discounted subscription rate to Account # Sweden & America magazine • 10% discount in the Museum Store Exp Date • discounts on admission to most events, workshops and Swedish language classes The official registration and financial information of ASHM my be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. For more information, please call 215-389-1776. Your membership contribution to the American Swedish Historical Museum is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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For the past four years, the American While the program has been successful with Swedish Historical Museum has offered flexible caregivers who can bring children onsite Toddler Time programs to children during the day, ASHM recognizes that many ages 18 months to four years old and their working families have children in daycare or caregivers. The program engages children preschool and are unable to attend these through interactive stories, music, games, early learning cultural experiences. In an art activities, and museum exploration. effort to provide these quality programs Children build language and social skills to all children, ASHM has adapted themes while becoming comfortable in a museum from its Toddler Time program to create setting. Toddler Time is an hour long comprehensive outreach and field trip program held the third Tuesday of each opportunities for pre-kindergarten children month at 10:30am and brings together attending daycares. Through this program, local member families and people who are ASHM will also provide an introduction discovering the Museum sometimes for to Swedish culture in an effort to inspire the first time. children to explore new ways of life outside their own experience. ASHM hopes to find grant funding to be able to offer these programs free of charge to facilities who serve low income families.

Connecting Cultures and Community 7 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID 1900 Pattison Ave. Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, PA 19145 215.389.1776 Permit No. 1350 www.americanswedish.org

americanswedish @americanswedish

Connecting Cultures and Community

Somethings Fun, Somethings New: Museum Shop Holiday Update Every fall, the Museum Gift Shop seems to with Viking ship and Swedish flag motifs! A Swedish be bursting with new and holiday themed We also added new tea flavors to the mix, Christmas inventory, as we prepare for the winter including blueberry and lingonberry, which We would be amiss shopping season. Over the past year, our you can pair with a tea infuser mug. if we did not mention gift shop buyer has been seeking out new the wonderful items, as well things requested by shoppers. Apparel and assortment of So we are happy to share with you some of Home Décor Christmas décor that the fun and new things to treat yourself or Stay warm and cozy has recently taken over the shop. We have your loved ones to from the Museum! this winter in elegant, new ornaments, along with old favorites, Scandinavian socks. including adorable felt angels and hearts Sweets & Treats Show your heritage by En Gry & Sif in Sweden, along with tiny Food and sweets are with socks that say mitten ornaments and tomtar handmade in always a hit, and we Sweden or Norway, or sport a pair made Minnesota. The shop also had a wide variety have replenished our in Iceland. We have multiple patterns, of new lights, candles and Advent stars supply of many items, including some made of wool and angora, and more to light up your home during the as well as added in regular and knee high length. You can holiday season. some new things to also get toasty with your favorite warm tempt you. We are stocked again with Anton beverage in one of our many mugs, including Be sure to stop in and check things out Berg marzipan, Marabou and Fazer chocolate, the charming new Houses of Sweden the next time you are here! both milk and dark, and more. And, we now pattern, which is also available on trays, have glögg and fruit flavored hard candies textiles and napkins.

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