Lucia Rehearsals Saturday November 16th and Sunday the 24th from 2-4 pm

Museum members are invited to have their children participate in our annual Lucia performance on December 7th and 8th. They are sure to have fun dressing as tomtar, pepparkakor, folk dancers, star boys, and Lucia and her attendants while singing traditional Swedish Christmas songs.

Lucia performances are on Saturday, December 7th 11:30 & 2:00 (call time 10:30 am) and Sunday, December 8th 11:00 & 1:30 (call time 10 am)

Craft Night Out: Straw Julbock Ornament

What better place to celebrate St. Lucia Day than the American Swedish Historical Museum!

Christmas and wheat weaving go hand-in-hand in Sweden, with straw ornaments decorating the house and Christmas tree. The most famous and recognizable of these ornaments is the Julbock, the Christmas goat, who once brought presents to Swedish homes. Later the Julbock became the helper of the increasingly popular Jultomte.

Lucia & Christmas Market

Don’t miss this unique, magical holiday experience! The outdoor Christmas Market includes your favorite holiday deli items, Christmas decorations and gifts, and SWEA bakery treats. The Swedish Christmas Café will sell holiday foods and sweets for refreshment. Enjoy live music holiday music by the Last Chance duo throughout the day. During the market, shoppers can experience the Lucia children’s program twice daily

The Market will take place in our heated tent outside, and Lucia performances will be in the Grand Hall. Shoppers can enjoy the day, rain or shine!

Lucia & Christmas Market

Don’t miss this unique, magical holiday experience! The outdoor Christmas Market includes your favorite holiday deli items, Christmas decorations and gifts, and SWEA bakery treats - with new vendors for 2024! The Swedish Christmas Café will sell holiday foods and sweets for refreshment. Enjoy live music holiday music by the Last Chance duo throughout the day. During the market, shoppers can experience the Lucia children’s program twice daily. 

Exhibition Preview Night – Sauna is Life: Sauna Culture in Finland

The act of taking a sauna is an inherent part of Finnish culture. Sauna is Life: Sauna Culture in Finland explores the Finnish sauna tradition with an interpretive sauna and objects as well as stories, photos, and videos shared with us from home and abroad. In addition, the exhibition highlights related sweating practices from other cultural groups around the world, including the Japanese and the Lakota in the United States.