THE ART OF THE SMORGASBORD
This story really starts here in this art blog 62. Christmas Again & Art !!!! where we have been doing some mad dancing and other festivities. After all these goings on we have a little drink and a break before the massive Smorgasbord eating session begins which has been prepared by my father and mother and no doubt taken them days.
The table is laden with Swedish treats; gravadlax, smoked salmon, smoked ham, meatballs, smoked sausages, omelet, sauces, salads and a wide variety of breads from a dense rye to crispbreads.
As you can see we are all gutses…
This is a section of an artwork called “Over the teeth around the gums, look out stomach here it comes” Mosaic and Ceramic
However this too is done in its own traditional way because before we tackle the smorgasbord proper we have to eat the salted herring, boiled potatoes and beetroot salad. Now you can’t actually eat this until you have filled a small glass with brännvin (we use vodka) which has been in the freezer for days. It does not ever freeze just is icy cold and stops any yucky taste.
ART OF THE SCHNAPPS
Firstly we load the fork up with the herring etc, and then we raise the schnapps glass and sing ” Helan Gar” (Old Swedish drinking song about, having to drink the whole one (as in shot the glass) then you don’t get to have Halvan (the other half left in the glass etc) So we sing this all the way through and then raise the glasses and shot the schnapps and then quickly eat the loaded forks contents before the whole saga starts again.
So now you know where the drunken Swedes gets it from, it’s all Santa’s fault! Traditionally the women folk try to calm the drinking a bit by hanging on the last note of the song …tral lalalalalalalalala………………….. to make the men wait just a little bit longer for that schnapps. By now I imagine you think we are all falling off our chairs in a drunken stupor in the Jonsson-Harrison household but oh no, you have to pace yourself and the filling of the glasses slows down to just a little sip in the bottom of it before we tackle the rest of the food. See by now you understand where all these painting ideas of mine come from, no?
Meanwhile the kids are all asking when we are going to finish with the eating and drinking and when is Santa coming, not that you can blame them.
MORE ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS
So the time has finally come and of course my father then suddenly has forgotten to buy the newspaper and has to go down the street and do that. Typical, right in the middle of the festivities and you think he would learn don’t you because every damn time he goes out to get that newspaper Santa arrives and he always misses the whole thing!
Yes you heard right Santa actually comes to the house all dressed in red, big beard and very rosy cheeks, some years he is actually a little worse for wear,lol or has forgotten his glasses and has to enlist the children in the giving out of the presents. After which there will be coffee and desserts and then everyone is usually so tired and no wonder because the time would be getting close to midnight by this stage. So that concludes the Swedish part of our Australian Christmas and then another time I will have to tell you about what happens the next day the 25th which is the Australian Christmas and celebrated usually with my husband’s family.
Here is another joke from the website Funniest Christmas Jokes that tickled my fancy,
Jennifer was a pretty 18 year old girl. In the week before Christmas she sauntered up to the curtain counter, and was trying to decide which of the many types of tinsel she would buy. Finally, she made her choice and asked the spotty youth who was manning the fabric section. ‘How much is this gold tinsel garland’.
The spotty youth pointed to the Christmas mistletoe above the counter and said, ‘This week we have a special offer, just one kiss per metre’.
‘Wow, that’s great’, said Jennifer, ‘I’ll take 12 metres’.
With expectation and anticipation written all over his face, the boy measured out the tinsel, wrapped up the garland, and gave it to Jennifer.
She then called to an old man who had been browsing through the Christmas trees and said, ‘My Grandpa will settle the bill.’
Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all!
Love Marie xxxx (c)
Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES. Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.
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