Christmas in Sweden is still symbolised by a barrel of ale, or a drinking horn. So the emphasis on food and drink traditions was originally a pagan trait of the Christmas celebration. The Christmas tree is a custom that was imported from Germany in the 1880s. The foremer tradition of giving joke presents, often a log of wood, was replaced during the late-19th century and 20th century by Christmas gifts given out by the Christmas goat ("Julbocken") or, especially later, Santa Claus ("Jultomten"). The Christmas celebrations in Sweden usually starts with the first Advent in the end of November. However Christmas decorations and
Judith Tannenbaum Judith Tannenbaum Judith Tannenbaum (born February 13, 1947) is an American teaching artist and writer. Born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles, she has worked in the field of community-based arts, sharing poetry in a wide variety of settings from primary school classrooms to maximum security prisons. She has received grants from the California Arts Council and has written for journals including "PMLA" and "Teaching Artist Journal". Among Tannenbaum’s books are the memoir, "Disguised as a Poem: My Years Teaching Poetry at San Quentin" (Northeastern University Press, 2000) -- a finalist in PEN American Center USA West’s Literary Award