Christmas Eve 1995 at the home of Tomine and Uno. In front from the left, no.2 Sonja Hedlund, no.3 Lynn Gullestad Second row from the left, no. 4 ?? Rødland, no.5 Karen (Rødland) Haugland, no.6 Simon Gullestad, no.7 Jonas Oudalstøl, no.8 Emma (Steinsland) Gullestad. In the back from the left, no.1 Uno Hedlund, no.3 Tomine (Oudalstøl) Hedlund, no.4 Selmer Haugland, no.9 Trygve Haugland.

Tomine (Oudalstøl) Hedlund was my grandfather’s first cousin and during my years growing up in Brooklyn we were invited countless time to Tomine and Uno’s home to experience her enormous hospitality. I will thrilled when her daughter-in-law Lois, mentioned writing about Christmas at the Hedlunds. Here is her story.

I grew up in a Norwegian American family and was part of Bethelship Norwegian Methodist Church in Brooklyn. Christmas Eve meant a good dinner with family, going to bed early so I could get up early to see what Santa had brought me and then going to Church Christmas morning, followed by another “Sunday dinner” with the family. Rather quiet compared to Christmas Eve at the home of Tomine and Uno Hedlund. Tomine was Norwegian and came from Kvinesdal and Uno was Swedish.

My introduction to the extensive preparations for Christmas there began shortly after Thanksgiving, the first year I was married to Carl. Coming home from work one evening, I opened the door to Tomine and Uno’s home and was greeted by a strong odor, one which I had NEVER smelled! I didn’t know what it was and was almost frightened by it. When I came in the house, I was greeted by Carl and Tomine both working in the kitchen. When I questioned what the smell was, I was told they were making “head cheese” – the first of many preparations for Christmas Eve at Hedlund House!

Tomine and her son Carl Christmas 1935

Christmas Eve was one of the highlights of the year for Tomine, who loved to cook and loved to have company – the more the merrier. Preparations started right after Thanksgiving, when Tomine would start making the head cheese and the kalvesus (jellied veal), the old fashioned way. And then it was time to start baking – julekaker and cookies, at least seven kinds – krumkaker, gorokaker, fattigmann, rosettes, sandkaker, pepparkakor and butter cookies. And I am not talking one batch – there were large quantities – enough to pack up boxes and bring to the neighbors on Christmas Eve. The large tins were marked and kept in the vestibule until the night before Christmas.

Tomine liked having at least 30 people at her gatherings. There were relatives, friends, and recent immigrants from Norway – it was always open house there, especially on Christmas Eve.

The buffet table was bountiful – a whole salmon that Uno purchased at the Fulton Fish Market in Manhattan and Tomine cooked just right; a ham, a turkey, meatballs, baked beans, several kinds of herring, sildesalat, cheeses, knekkebrød, rolls, beet salad, cucumber salad, jellied salads, and more. The emphasis was more on food than on giving gifts.

Tomine and Uno Christmas 1955

After several trips to the buffet table and then dessert and coffee, the table was cleared in anticipation of some very important visitors. No, not Santa Claus (he would come later in the night). A large group of singers from the Salvation Army, who were caroling in the neighborhood, would come in out of the cold to be warmed up with a hot cup of coffee and a large array of cookies. And then they would show their appreciation by singing to all who were gathered there.

After some more coffee and cake, everyone would return to their homes – some of them would be back the next day for Christmas dinner, or the following week for a New Year’s Eve celebration. And that was Christmas Eve at the Hedlunds.