Come rain or shine ...

white, or not, before we know it it is here. Christmas. The same old story. We invade the stores and the streets, 

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  Roaming the streets of Södermalm, Stockholm, our travel writer/photographer Bo Zaunders ran into a bevy of Santas a few blocks east of Medborgarplatsen, all full of the Christmas spirit and happy to pose for his camera. From all of them, and all of us ...

• on the lookout for just the right gifts for those special people in our lives ... the tree will be up in many homes already in a couple weeks, the turkey replaced by the ham, and the glögg will start simmering.
  For Swedes and Swedish-Americans the season’s activities includes Lucia, with all her legends, Christmas bazaars and gatherings to sing and dance or collect those final items we've been looking for.
  Our comprehensive guide to Christmas in Swedish America is being put together right now - if you're planning an event or know of an event near you, do let us know; upload event info at http://www.nordstjernan.com/calendar/ (FREE of course!) or send an email to editor@nordstjernan.com