Swedish-Americans from across Sedona and the Verde Valley gathered to celebrate their homeland’s foremost cultural tradition at the Sedona Elks Lodge on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Swedish-Americans from across Sedona and the Verde Valley gathered to celebrate their homeland’s foremost cultural tradition at the Sedona Elks Lodge on Sunday, Dec. 7.
According to varied legends, one night many centuries ago in the darkest hour of winter, a child named Lucia carried food and drink to starving peasants in the province of Värmland.
Wearing a long white gown and a halo of candles, she brought light and hope to the villagers in that snow-covered hinterland.
Since then, the celebration of this ancient mythical figure includes songs like Stilla natt (Silent Night), Raven raskar over isen (Ravens chasing over ice) and Nu ar det jul igen (Now it’s Christmas again).
Delicious foods are also associated with the holiday when gingersnaps and sweet, saffron-flavored buns are eaten with a hot spiced wine called glögg, or with coffee.
The most important part of the celebration as it’s conducted today is a procession when the child chosen to be that year’s Lucia walks through a darkened room, hands clasped in prayer and lights shining out from a crown of lingonberries.
Emily Olson Adams, a third-grader at Sedona Charter School, played the part of the 2008 Santa Lucia, looking every inch a Scandinavian with her long white-blond hair and sky-blue eyes.
Those enjoying her performance in the festivities were members and guests of members belonging to the Vasa Order of America, a Swedish-American Fraternal Organization.
Most of the Swedes there were accompanied by non-Swedish friends and spouses who seemed to enjoy the goings-on every bit as heartily as their mates.
That no one took their heritage too seriously was clear by the bad jokes traded back and forth and the gentle but constant ribbing from which no one seemed to escape.
Among the participants was Sandi Schenholm who was there with her husband Carl.
His mother Ebba Dorothea Schenholm was born in Iggesund and father Carl Sr. in Stockholm.
Though Carl knows for sure his last name translates into “beautiful island,” he said the only other Swedish he knows are drinking songs and swear words, all compliments of his mother.
Attending with her husband Sal was Äsa Oland Carlomagno who first came to the U.S. from the Baltic Sea in 1971, an adventurous nanny looking to perfect her English and finding a husband in the process.
“We named our son Lars Carlomagno, better known to his close friends as ‘the Swedish meatball’,” Asa said with a grin.
Regardless of their country of origin, each of the partygoers brought delicacies to the smörgåsbord — tables laden with traditional foods that included preserved meats, cheeses, pickled beets, herring, deviled eggs, rosettes, snickerdoodles and braided pastries.
Pork and potato sausages, called potatis korv, were contributed by Marilyn Anderson Elston who attended with her non-Swedish, 100- percent Cornish husband, Chuck, who played the piano during the musical part of the celebration and told some tall tales, to boot.
Creamy homemade rice pudding was served up by Louise Johnson Pantoleo while her decidedly Italian husband Vito carved a large ham he’d prepared for the party.
Growing up in the Swedish section of Chicago — called Andersonville, of course — Louise met Vito on a blind date more than 50 years ago, marrying him shortly thereafter.
Today, Louise is wearing a Swedish apron emblazoned with red Dala horses along with a stylish pair of brown antlers while Leo wears a shorter version of a similar apron.
Both are scurrying about the room making sure everyone’s enjoying the dinner and welcoming all newcomers and guests with smiles that only grew wider as the afternoon progressed.
“Our marriage was no problem to my parents,” Louise said. “They loved Vito and he loved them.”
Evidence is his love for all things Swedish, especially his wife and her family who taught him to speak their native language so well that his brother-in-law had to think twice before speaking.
As district master of Vasa, Vito’s leadership embodies the group’s policy of welcoming not only those of Scandinavian descent, but everyone who has an abiding interest in Nordic culture.
“We try to get everyone involved,” Vito said.
Members of Vasa meet monthly at the Sedona Elks Lodge and welcome guests and all those who would like to join.
Upcoming topics and events include Scandinavian music and composers, a Nordic Easter celebration, Nordic Mythology and a traditional midsummer picnic in June.
For further information, Vito and Louise Pantoleo can be reached at 282-3469.

Susan Johnson can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 129, or e-mail sjohnson@larsonnewspapers.com