Fagerland said the day often began with some “dreaded” tasks like house cleaning, but was capped off with the placement and decorating of the traditional Juletre, or Christmas tree.

Fagerland highlighted a number of traditional homemade ornaments that are staples for the Norwegian Juleaften experience, which typically are made from pinecones, greenery, wood, wheat and wool. Fagerland also shared examples of Scandinavian Christmas essentials, including hjertekurv “heart baskets,” and the recognizable peperkakehus or gingerbread house.

Fagerland also explained the blending of Norse culture with the Christmas tradition, from the inclusion of pork ribs in the Christmas feast in reference to the boar Saerimnir who is killed and eaten every night in Valhalla, and the evolution of the Julebukk goat into the Christmas gift-bringer Julenisse.

“Christmas Eve is also one of the church’s busiest days. After church, Norwegians honor the dead by placing a lighted candle on graves of their loved ones on Christmas Eve. It’s a tradition my family has adopted as well. It warms my heart to see more and more candles at Rosehill cemetery on Christmas Eve,” Fagerland said. “Christmas Day is nearly anti-climatic, and often quiet with an elaborate Julefrokost brunch. It is spent with family and friends gathered to play games and watch television.”

Sons of Norway member Kari Mahle shared her personal Christmas experiences from growing up on a farm in northeast Norway during World War II. Mahle said modern Christmas celebrations in Norway more closely resemble the American experience compared to what she grew up with, beginning during the weeks of Advent as opposed to traditionally on Dec. 23.

Mahle said certain preparations did kick off the Christmas season in November when the pigs were butchered, along with several days of baking treats and preparing lefse.

“We waited for Christmas just like any other kids. I grew up in a valley that had high mountains, and my mom always said, ‘Now Christmas is that far down the mountain. Now it’s this far down the mountain,’ as it got closer and closer,” Mahle said. “We could not buy candy, so I remember my mom would make some. It was very special. It was the only candy we knew about.”

Mahle said Christmas didn’t really start until Christmas Eve, but she would try to convince her father and brothers to acquire a tree on Lille Juleaften. Another custom in Mahle’s home came after her family had enjoyed their Christmas meal, where they brought extra risengrynsgrot or rice porridge, waffles and special lefse to elders in their community.

“We would go from home to home to these old people with that treat. They were always sitting and had a table ready, so they waited for that food. The last place we went was to my grandpa so we had coffee with him,” Mahle said. “Then it was to do the chores. Of course, then we got ready for Christmas Eve.”

Mahle recalled the final task on Christmas Eve involved delivering some rice porridge to the barn for Julenisse, who served as a guardian for farms especially if they received a portion of risengrynsgrot for themselves.

“After we had eaten, we had to take rice pudding to the barn. We never saw Julenisse, but my dad would say, ‘I saw his red cap there, so I think he’s around.’ We knew he was there. In the morning we went to see if the Julenisse was there, and the cats were licking it up,” Mahle said. “It was special.”