Christmas Party and Julklappspel

Belle is ready for the party!

To kick off the Christmas season, Cyle and I hosted a Christmas party at our apartment.  To prepare for the event, Natalie and and Allison came out to help me grocery shop (as it is a task to not only shop while pushing a stroller but getting all the groceries and Belle on the bus is almost impossible) and bake Christmas cookies.  We made all Swedish desserts for the party.  We made gingerbread Dala horse cookies, thumbprint cookies with both lingon berry and strawberry preserves, pumpkin cookies (not Swedish but requested) and rice pudding. 

For dinner, I made taco soup, broccoli and cheese soup, and sandwiches. For the sandwiches, I went to the Apotek to get the special Christmas mustard (which was a grainy, Dijon type mustard). 

  

Of course, we had to have glögg and julmust (a Swedish version of root beer that is only available at Christmas and Easter) as it wouldn't be a Swedish Christmas party without it!  The food was delicious.  However, we all agreed that Julmust is an acquired taste as only Martin, who is from Sweden, liked it. 

Swedish Candy

Peppermint Martinis

  

After dinner, we played a rousing game of JulklappSpel.  JulklappSpel is a Swedish version of white elephant gift exchange.  To play everyone was instructed to bring three small, wrapped gifts.  The mystery presents were all put under the tree, and out came a pair of dice.  The goal was to roll a pair because when one rolled a pair, then that person could choose a present from under the tree.  The game is all luck as one could end up with everything or nothing.  The round ends when all of the presents have been taken.  During this round, everyone was able to score at least one present. 

Round 1 

Belle checking out her (mom's) gifts after Round 1

Round 2

After all the presents have been selected, all the presents are opened. Yet, at this point, the game has only begun! After everyone was able to view the presents, a timer was set and round two began. Once again, the goal was to roll a pair, but this time when you rolled a pair, you got to steal a present. It was fun to watch as people at times had everything and quickly lost it all. Only Cyle knew how much time was given to round 2, so there was lots of screaming and frantic decisions about what presents to take from each other.

At the end of round 2, Cyle and I ended up with a lot of great gifts, but the real winner of the night was Martin who won the coveted ugly Christmas sweater!
 

                              

It was a great game and added a nice Swedish touch to our American Christmas party.