Tjugondag Knut and white elephant exchange

According to an old Swedish tradition, Julen dansas ut med julgransplundring ("Christmas will be danced out with plundering of the Christmas tree") on January 13, but the festivities continue. 

  • Members of the Swedish Cultural Society of Cleveland enjoy their “white elephants.”

  • Twenty days after Christmas and Knut’s name day (January 13) will have passed in Sweden and elsewhere, but the Swedish Cultural Society of Cleveland firmly believes another week later really shouldn’t matter, so they held their celebration on January 20 at the home of Gurli and Allan Intermill. And a goodly crowd was present.
    "Nu är glada julen slut slut slut, Julegranen kastas ut, ut, ut.
    Men til nästa år igen kommer han, år gamle vänn, ty det har han lovat."

  • No white elephants in this batch, books on Swedish crafts and a complete guide to cooking for guests.

  • After a round or two of glögg, ok, maybe three, the members and guests settled down for the inevitable "business meeting" which our president, Ingemar Svala, endeavoured to dispatch with alacrity so we could get to V.P. Anna Riesch’s evening program. For at least the past 60 years it has been known as The White Elephant.
    Each invitee must bring to the meeting a wrapped present. Nothing fancy or expensive, but something you want to trade (get rid of?) in the White Elephant Game. According to the instructions, “You do not need to buy a new gift. Use something you presently own but you think someone else will appreciate more than you do.” Oh yeah! All the presents are placed in a pile where all may observe them.
    In a container are slips of paper numbered equal to the number of people in attendance. Reminiscent of military days, beginning with any member called upon, "1" is followed by whomever is next to that person, who says "2," then "3" until everyone has a number. Someone draws a number from the container and the person with the corresponding number may choose any one of the gifts. This procedure is followed until all presents have been taken.
    But there’s a catch.
    Anyone whose number is called may either take a gift from the pile or expropriate one from another person. Which reminds me ... years ago we had a member with the ugliest vase anyone has ever seen. It was as large as it was ugly, heavy and colored between tan and orange. He had been bringing it to our Tjugondag Knut party year after year trying to rid himself of that repulsive pottery but always ended up with it himself. I think he finally tossed it in the rubbish one dark of night.
    This year, as always, with tree — and present — plundering ended, we all joined in an excellent repast provided by our most generous hosts. Thank you Allan and Gurli.