Annual Business meeting
The Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin 2025 Annual Business meeting was held on October 18, 2025 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church conducted by Vice President John Elliott. Meeting presentation including Committee Annual Reports are available through the following link:
2025 Business meeting and Annual Reports
Immigration Stories
Immediately following the Annual Meeting member Karen Snowberg presented Emma’s story. Emma was Karen Snowberg’s Grandmother or in Swedish Mormor (Mother’s mother). Emma came to this country from Öland, Sweden in 1882 at the age of 16. Through extensive research by the Snowbergs in the US and the Snöbergs in Sweden, Emmas life in Sweden was described. Karen an excellent writer, previously presented a story from her Swedish heritage, about Emma’s Little Brother Herman Miller Snöberg. This story is published on the web page, see link below
SAHSWI 50 years celebration
On Saturday, September 13, 2025 the Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin, Inc., celebrated its Fifty-Year Anniversary at St. Anskar’s Episcopal Church, in Hartland, WI, and also acknowledged the Wisconsin Historical Marker unveiled in 2024 recognizing Gustaf Unonius, New Upsala, and the Scandinavian Parish. About 60 people participated in the event which is published on the SAHSWI website.
Coming events
Holiday Folk Fair International
SAHSWI is participating, together with Vasa Order Linde Lodge, representing Sweden in the 2025 Holiday Folk Fair International. The fair is held Nov 21 through 23 at the State Fair park. The Nordic Council of Wisconsin is coordinating the event for the Nordic Countries Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden in the Nordic Council Cultural Exhibit booth. The theme this year is “Celebrate the Culture of Traditional Music”
Recognizing the Swedish ethnicity and for many of us the Swedish roots are important for our identity. The same goes for other Wisconsinites, descendants of immigrants from Germany, Poland, Italy, China, Norway and many more countries. The Holiday Folk Fair International is celebrating the international community of Wisconsin. Travel Around the World at Holiday Folk Fair International
Santa Lucia Celebration
Come and enjoy the 2025 Santa Lucia program, Fika, dance around the Christmas tree, and a visit by Santa Claus. The 2025 Santa Lucia is celebrated on December 14, 2025 at 2PM – 4PM at Fox Point Lutheran Church, 7510 N Santa Monica Blvd, Fox Point, WI
The celebration of Santa Lucia in Sweden on December 13th of each year ushers in the Christmas season. The Legend of Lucia goes back to the year 304 AD in Syracuse Italy. It was there the beautiful Lucia, a highborn maiden, lived with her parents. It is also in that city Lucia suffered a martyr’s death, for becoming a Christian. She was a courageous woman, who in the early days of Christian persecution, brought food to her fellow Christians, who were hiding in the catacombs from the pagan persecutors. In order to carry her offerings with both hands, Lucia lighted her way by putting the candles in her hair to light her way. Lucia administered to the poor, bringing them food and hope. The legend tells us, the maiden became an official saint.
Among the Scandinavian countries, Sweden is perhaps the country, where the Lucia celebration has its deepest roots. Tales of her courage were carried to the Northern Scandinavian countries by missionaries. Early, in the darkness of the morning, on the 13th of December, Lucia appears dressed in a white gown with flowing red ribbon around her waist and a crown of candles on her head. She is accompanied by her attendants and star boys. They go from house to house in the darkness of the morning singing, offering hot coffee, cookies and special Lucia bread made with saffron.
Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin 