Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin

Meetings

Swedish American Historical Society conducts regular meetings, scheduled on a Saturday afternoon in January, March, May, and October. The meetings include a presentation on a topic related purpose of the Society such as stories of Swedish immigration, historical events, customs, etc. followed by discussion and coffee with Swedish treats.

Lasting between 2 to 3 hours the meetings are an excellent way to meet and socialize with other people interested in Swedish ancestry and customs. All meetings are open to the public.

Meetings are held at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 9235 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226.

Midsommar

Celebrate Midsommar, is to celebrate the longest day of the year the Swedish way! This means decoration of the Majstång (mid summer pole) with greens and flowers, joining in the procession of raising the decorated pole along the beat of traditional violin music and then dancing and singing the special Swedish songs like “sma grodorna” (the little frogs) or “vi aro musikanter” (we are all musicians). The event also includes games, like the Swedish game of Kubb, making of flower crowns, folk dances and more.

The Midsommar celebration event is in the middle of June and current location is at the Bavarian Bierhaus at Heidelberg Park in Glendale. The event is open to the public. For information of the most recent Midsommar celebration go to the update folder.

Read more about the history of Midsommar

Santa Lucia Day

Celebrate St Lucia Day, experience Lucia dressed in white and with a crown of candles on her head followed by a procession, handmaidens, or tarnor, dressed in white gowns carrying candles and boys also dressed in white gowns and wear tall paper cones on their heads, called “star boys” because they carry stars attached to sticks. Trailing at the end of the procession features children dressed as the gingerbread man and a little santa elf. The procession sings the Lucia song and other Swedish Christmas carols.

Following the Lucia procession, the celebration continues with a smorgosboard of Christmas Swedish treats, served with coffee and soda, dancing around the Christmas tree featuring typical Swedish dances, and at the end Santa will appear to greet all the children.

St Lucia is celebrated in the middle of December at Whitnall Park Lutheran Church 5847 Lilac Lane, Hales Corners – at the corner of 104th and Forest Home Avenue

Read more about the history St Lucia Day