A merry Swedish Christmas

Stephanie Frith

As Anika Logart read the last line of “Tomten,” a Swedish story about

Santa Claus, the jolly old man in the red suit suddenly appeared behind

her and the lights in the room came back on Sunday at Costa Mesa

Neighborhood Community Center.

Children grabbed their parents’ hands and scrambled to get in line to

meet “Tomten” -- Swedish for Santa Claus -- as adults tried to pull

cameras out of their purses and pockets.

About 1,000 people from all over Los Angeles and Orange counties came

to the center to see him and celebrate Swedish customs during the holiday

season.

The Swedish Educational Women’s Assn.’s 17th annual Swedish Christmas

Bazaar featured a St. Lucia procession, storytelling, folk dancing and

crafts.

“This event is like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for me,” said

Linda Tait of Huntington Beach, who brought her husband, Les, and

children, Hunter, 3, and Emelie, 11 months, to the bazaar. “It signals

the beginning of the holiday season.”

Les Tait, who held his son in his arms while waiting in a growing line

to meet Tomten, said the event is good way to keep the Swedish culture

alive.

“My wife is Swedish. It keeps us in touch with Sweden and the people

here are a real tightknit group,” he said. “We all enjoy coming here.”

The Christmas bazaar is hosted each year as a way of raising money to

send children to Sweden to study. So far, the organization has sent as

many children to Sweden as there have been bazaars, said club President

Susanna Wilkinson.

“Each year, we are just amazed at how many people with Swedish

heritage come to attend our event,” she said, watching as a group of

members dressed in bright folk costumes prepared for the St. Lucia

procession.

“Each year, we make a little more money to send another [child] to

Sweden. No wonder it gets so busy in here.”

For Petra Strecker, who moved to California three years ago from

Sweden with her husband and two children, the event doesn’t just mean

helping to send students to Sweden or even to have her children meet

Tomten. For her, it is a way of preserving traditions that families can

take part in together.

“I think it is good for people to come and see a Swedish event,” she

said while helping her 4-year-old daughter, Ellen, make an ornament of

oranges, cloves and ribbons, a craft sponsored by the Swedish School in

Tustin.

“Even making these ornaments is a tradition. And that is what this is

all about.”

Meanwhile, on the stage, the lights were dimmed again and the group of

women in folk costumes began to sing.

“You can just tell that this is a wonderful family event,” Logart

said, closing the story of Tomten and tucking it under her arm. “People

just seem to want to be a part of this.”