Today S and I went to the Swedish Christmas Bazaar.
It is held once a year at the Swedish Church in Toorak.
They sell a lot of Scandinavian Christmas decorations, food, fabrics, clogs and all sorts of other odds and ends. The weather was just divine. Warm with a lovely breeze. The smell of danish meatballs cooking drifted around tempting people over to have some even though it was still mid morning.
S opted for a hot dog, followed by some tea cake, Danish Christmas cookies, kransekager, icecream and a soft drink. Needless to say it was not long before he decided he had actually eaten too much and had to sit down.
I opted just for coffee and a taste of cake.
Whilst we were both walking around and looking at things, S kept saying to me that he could hear people speaking Danish and did I know what they were saying. Only snippets were familiar to me. But the accent brings a sense of my childhood to me. My parents had lots of Danish friends visiting us when we were little and I recall their accents. The Swedish accent has more of a sing song sound to it.My parent spoke Danish to each other but had decided to not teach us the language after my older sister was teased and called a "wog" as a child. I can understand the most basic parts of it like yes, no and thank you. However, when I hear as part of a conversation, then a few more words make sense to me.
The Swedish Church is where my parents were married in 1959. Below is a photo of where they were married.
On the wedding day the minister asked my mother if she had to get married. She replied that she did as she was five months pregnant. His advice to her was to stick it out for three years, not to have any more children to her future husband and then get divorced. Hardly what a bride wants to hear on her wedding day. He had seen the writing on the wall.
My mother married in emerald green, which is apparently bad luck. Years later the dress was cut up and the fabric used to make clothes for my dolls.
Twenty nine years and four living children and one deceased child later my parents finally divorced. I said to my mother that if she was unhappy with dad, why did she have four children.
To which she replied that when you have children you at least know that someone will love you.
I found that comment terribly heartbreaking.
But she was right, we do love her.
Ciao
LC
Mothers are a gift, not to be taken lightly...she is a strong woman
ReplyDeleteIwalktheline: Mother's are such a gift and should be treasured as such. They carry a great deal of emotional weight with the love they have for their children. Thank you for coming by.
ReplyDeleteLovely little church, Linda. It's too bad the minister put such a damper on the occasion, but as you say, I guess he saw the writing on the wall.
ReplyDeleteWhat your mother said is terribly sad. At least she has had you and your siblings to bring her joy.
I have heard of the emerald green being unlucky. Is your mom Irish?
Kat
(are there a lot of Danes in Australia?)
I'd like to think that the passion that produced the four of you, was love. Maybe not perfection, but love nonetheless...
ReplyDeleteMy own parents bicker like small children... but how could you not bicker after 54 years?
Tell me what you think about what she said? It tears at my heart a little, but it also makes me think she is a strong woman and it seems to me also that she raised a strong daughter.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about squelching the language. Same thing happened with me and Spanish; Dad wanted to 'assimilate' once we moved north. I've had to learn most of it outside of the family.
ReplyDeleteWow, I would have cried if my Momma said that. Do you get to visit with your Mom much? She is an amazing woman.
ReplyDeleteKathleen: Both my parents are Danish. There is a fairly strong Danish community here - they have a big club that is fairly popular.
ReplyDeleteIt was sad what she said, but I think she had happy times with us.
Mizmell: It would be impossible not to bicker in a marriage - the whole concept of marriage is kind of funny. Stick two people together for all those years? It seems to work though somehow for many.
Hope: I think when you are in the middle of things you just muddle around and do your best. I have very fond memories of my mother's kindness.
ReplyDeleteDD: I think that was the thing to do then to fit in. Now, here, you are expected to make your children speak the native language which is good.
Catherine: My mum lives about three or fours hours flying time away. We msn a lot and chat, but I saw her about 12 months ago. She finds me a bit intense and, subsequently, annoying.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun bazaar. I really wish I could have been there. My husband is one-quarter Swedish and I know almost nothing about the culture or customs.
ReplyDeleteAs for your parents, that story is really quite sad, but it sounds like your mother was a very strong woman. And I think emerald green sounds quite lovely.
Jennifer: The food is great and the atmosphere is lovely. Yes, mum was strong, but really, you just do what has to be done in life don't you? Her dress, by the way, was lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad but yes, at least she had you guys. :)
ReplyDelete