e Christmas smorgasbord, called Julbord
(Christmas table), or Julfrukost (Christmas
lunch) is of the highest importance to many,
and the Swedes possibly more than others
- although a Dane or a Finn might disagree.
e Swedish Julbord is essentially a
smorgasbord buffet, which is eaten in
'rounds'. A common Julbord session will
include two fish rounds, the first with
several types of pickled herring, then
another with salmon: cured and smoked.
All Scandinavian countries have a
mischievous elf, a tradition dating back to
the Viking era. In Norway and Denmark
he's called a nisse and has the features of a
goat (Julebukk), while in Sweden he is
known as a tomte. e Danes, like the
Swedes, enjoy Julefrokost on several
occasions throughout December - often one
with work, one with the family, and one
with friends, but on Christmas Eve they
serve Christmas duck with sugar fried
potatoes and gravy, and drink wine, only to
have Julefrokost again on Christmas Day.
Clockwise from
left: A traditional
Scandinavian
Christmas table;
Nisse (elves) for
sale at a Christmas
market; Snow
covers the village
of Sjøholt, Norway,
famous for the
19th-century
Ørskog church
28
VIKING
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