Preparing for a Party

This coming weekend we will be hosting the 2nd Annual Hoisting of the Glänsa Party. It is a faux Scandinavian celebration of lights. Last year, trying to work around office parties and birthdays and other celebrations, we realized we were discussing the date upon which we would put up a tree and "hoist the Glänsa" -- and a party was børn.

See, the Glänsa is an Ikea light thingy. All Ikea's holiday lights are sold under the rubric of "glänsa". Our particular Glänsa, from a couple of years ago, is three large rings hung cylindrically from the ceiling, wrapped with tiny white lights and then draped with more shiny beads and silver, gold, and transparent ornaments than tasteful people put on their Christmas trees. It is glorious, it fills the front hallway with light, and is visible from the street. We force ourselves to take it down around Easter, just so we can have the pleasure of putting it up again in the gloom of December. Photos do not do it justice, but I will post one after this year's Glänsa is hoisted.

We generally follow the menu of a Julebørd, but we are not strictly Swedish in observance -- anything vaguely Scandinavian is allowed, or even not at all Scandinavian as long as there is a reason for it (for instance, grape leaf rolls have been allowed because surely the Vikings ate them while plundering the Mediterranean). So the features will be ham, Swedish meatballs, crackers, pumpernickel and cheese, lefse, lingonberry compote, boiled potatoes, chilled asparagus, grape leaf or cabbage rolls, possibly chocolate fondue (I'm sure many Scandinavians have been to Switzerland), and apple cake. We are hoping everyone will forget lutefisk. One guest is bringing Pickled Herring Ravioli in Akvavit Sauce (hmm...); another brings her Finnish mother's heritage sugar cake. To drink will be Akvavit, Moose Milk (in copious amounts -- we ran out last year), gløgg, and Swedish sodas for the kids (thank goodness for Ikea!). The Scandinavians drink wine and beer, too.The hoisting will happen on Saturday; as guests arrive, they will each put an ornament on the glänsa. We started cleaning yesterday (40 or so guests, a dozen kids under 11). Tonight we hung the paper chain, and tomorrow we will start cooking.