ROMULUS - People from all over the world come to the Finger Lakes to taste wine. This weekend, people at a Finger Lakes winery will be able to get a taste of the world.
Photos provided
A lifelike Santa Claus joins young girls in celebration of Swedish Hill Winery's Santa Lucia Day celebration last year. Santa Lucia Day is a Swedish holiday celebrated yearly at the winery in Romulus. It is tradition on Dec. 13 in Sweden, for the youngest girl in the family to dress in a traditional robe and serve her family during the special day.
A lifelike Santa Claus joins young girls in celebration of Swedish Hill Winery's Santa Lucia Day celebration last year. Santa Lucia Day is a Swedish holiday celebrated yearly at the winery in Romulus. It is tradition on Dec. 13 in Sweden, for the youngest girl in the family to dress in a traditional robe and serve her family during the special day.
Every December, Swedish Hill Winery in Romulus celebrates the Swedish holiday of Santa Lucia.
Along with its regular tasting and tours, the winery will provide live music, traditional Swedish treats and other festivities Saturday.
“I really enjoy the music,” winery co-owner Cindy Peterson said. “We started this 21 years ago, and we get several hundred people every year.”
The day of Santa Lucia celebrates the Christian saint who is said to have been born during the third century. She is also known as the “Queen of Lights.” According to legend, she dedicated her life to serving the poor and persecuted and was martyred by the Romans.
The annual celebration takes place on Dec. 13, marking the winter solstice and kicking off the Christmas season in Sweden.
On the morning of the holiday, the youngest girl in a household wakes the rest of the family with pastries and steaming coffee.
The girl traditionally wears a white dress and a crown with lights in it, and sometimes sings songs.
Peterson said that Swedish Hill will have a Santa Lucia of its own, who will serve Swedish cookies and cakes to customers in the festive clothes.
Two local guitarists will perform holiday songs, and the winery will serve glogg - a Scandinavian wine that is heated and spiced.
“The holiday is very huge in Sweden. It goes on for days, with people just eating and drinking,” said Peterson, whose grandparents were Swedish immigrants. “I like the tradition. I have lots of Swedish Christmas items, and I love to bring them out on Santa Lucia Day.”
Peterson said that the Swedish heritage shared by both her and her husband, Richard, was the main reason for opening the winery more than two decades ago.
Though Sweden is not known for wine, Swedish Hill does offer a handful of wines with Scandinavian themes. Customers can taste their Svenska and Viking wines, both available in various whites and reds.
The Petersons own a handful of other wineries in the area now, including Penguin Bay in Hector and two facilities in the Adirondacks.
But Cindy Peterson said that Swedish Hill keeps them connected to their roots.
“I think it is exciting because we kind of lost our heritage. We're not really traditional, anymore,” she said. “But I think it is important to keep your culture alive. We enjoy sharing it with other people.”
Swedish Hill draws many of its visitors on the Santa Lucia celebration because of its location near other Finger Lakes wineries, Peterson said. When they started, the winery was producing 3,000 gallons a year. Today, it is producing 200,000
Over the years, there have also been many Swedish visitors who come because of Santa Lucia and the winery's annual summer Scandinavian festival, Peterson said.
“We get a lot of people who are Christmas shopping, as well,” Peterson said. “But some of the people come for the celebration, and get really into it.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Santa Lucia Day
When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8
Where: Swedish Hill Winery, 4565 Route. 414, Romulus
For more information: Call 549-8326 or visit www.swedishhill.com
Lussekatter Buns
Lussekatter buns are popular Santa Lucia Day treats.
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup warm water
1 package yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon saffron
2 3/4 cups flour
Vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
Raisins
Put milk and butter or margarine in a small saucepan and heat until the butter or margarine melts.
Mix the warm water and yeast in a large bowl. Add the warm milk and butter or margarine mixture.
Add the first egg, sugar, salt, and saffron. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour.
Mix well.
Add more flour gradually until the dough is stiff. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes.
Coat the bowl with oil and put in your dough ball.
Cover with a towel and let the dough rise until it is doubled in size. Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 sections. Roll each section into a rope. Cross two ropes in the middle and
curl the ends into circles.
Carefully place the buns on a greased cookie sheet, cover, and let rise until they are doubled in size.
Mix the second egg and water and brush the tops of the buns. Decorate with raisins. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Source: CookingCache.com
Along with its regular tasting and tours, the winery will provide live music, traditional Swedish treats and other festivities Saturday.
“I really enjoy the music,” winery co-owner Cindy Peterson said. “We started this 21 years ago, and we get several hundred people every year.”
The day of Santa Lucia celebrates the Christian saint who is said to have been born during the third century. She is also known as the “Queen of Lights.” According to legend, she dedicated her life to serving the poor and persecuted and was martyred by the Romans.
The annual celebration takes place on Dec. 13, marking the winter solstice and kicking off the Christmas season in Sweden.
On the morning of the holiday, the youngest girl in a household wakes the rest of the family with pastries and steaming coffee.
The girl traditionally wears a white dress and a crown with lights in it, and sometimes sings songs.
Peterson said that Swedish Hill will have a Santa Lucia of its own, who will serve Swedish cookies and cakes to customers in the festive clothes.
Two local guitarists will perform holiday songs, and the winery will serve glogg - a Scandinavian wine that is heated and spiced.
“The holiday is very huge in Sweden. It goes on for days, with people just eating and drinking,” said Peterson, whose grandparents were Swedish immigrants. “I like the tradition. I have lots of Swedish Christmas items, and I love to bring them out on Santa Lucia Day.”
Peterson said that the Swedish heritage shared by both her and her husband, Richard, was the main reason for opening the winery more than two decades ago.
Though Sweden is not known for wine, Swedish Hill does offer a handful of wines with Scandinavian themes. Customers can taste their Svenska and Viking wines, both available in various whites and reds.
The Petersons own a handful of other wineries in the area now, including Penguin Bay in Hector and two facilities in the Adirondacks.
But Cindy Peterson said that Swedish Hill keeps them connected to their roots.
“I think it is exciting because we kind of lost our heritage. We're not really traditional, anymore,” she said. “But I think it is important to keep your culture alive. We enjoy sharing it with other people.”
Swedish Hill draws many of its visitors on the Santa Lucia celebration because of its location near other Finger Lakes wineries, Peterson said. When they started, the winery was producing 3,000 gallons a year. Today, it is producing 200,000
Over the years, there have also been many Swedish visitors who come because of Santa Lucia and the winery's annual summer Scandinavian festival, Peterson said.
“We get a lot of people who are Christmas shopping, as well,” Peterson said. “But some of the people come for the celebration, and get really into it.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Santa Lucia Day
When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8
Where: Swedish Hill Winery, 4565 Route. 414, Romulus
For more information: Call 549-8326 or visit www.swedishhill.com
Lussekatter Buns
Lussekatter buns are popular Santa Lucia Day treats.
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup warm water
1 package yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon saffron
2 3/4 cups flour
Vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
Raisins
Put milk and butter or margarine in a small saucepan and heat until the butter or margarine melts.
Mix the warm water and yeast in a large bowl. Add the warm milk and butter or margarine mixture.
Add the first egg, sugar, salt, and saffron. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour.
Mix well.
Add more flour gradually until the dough is stiff. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes.
Coat the bowl with oil and put in your dough ball.
Cover with a towel and let the dough rise until it is doubled in size. Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 sections. Roll each section into a rope. Cross two ropes in the middle and
curl the ends into circles.
Carefully place the buns on a greased cookie sheet, cover, and let rise until they are doubled in size.
Mix the second egg and water and brush the tops of the buns. Decorate with raisins. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Source: CookingCache.com
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