Sandburg's Hometown

December 22, 2014

Knack - A Traditional Swedish Christmas candy
Knäck - A Traditional Swedish Christmas Candy

Swedish Christmas

by Barbara Schock

Although August and Clara Sandburg grew up in Sweden, the Christmas celebrations they experienced may have been very limited. They lived in rural areas and the times were lean. They came to America for a better life, but there could be lean years here as well.

As the Sandburg children were born, their parents tried to make Christmas a special time. In prosperous years each child received an orange, a bag of candy and a useful article such as a pair of gloves. In lean years each child received only an orange. In the nineteenth century an orange was a very special treat as they were shipped by rail from the southern states.

Food is an integral part of the Christmas season for the Swedish people. Mrs. Sandburg more than likely prepared a large meal on Christmas Eve. It might have included fish, sausage and potatoes. Dessert may have been rice pudding with one almond in it. The person who received the almond would be married or have good luck during the coming year. Afterward the family would have gone to church to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

Mrs. Sandburg may have baked a variety of cookies for Christmas—gingersnaps, spritz or sandtarts. She also may have made a candy called knäck. The word means to break or crack. It is made of equal portions of cream, golden syrup and sugar. A little butter and ground almonds can be added to the mixture. Depending on the length of the cooking time, it will develop into caramel or toffee. The custom is to pour the hot liquid into waxed candy papers.

Here is an old recipe for Knäck:

1 cup sugar
1  cup dark corn syrup
¼ cup butter
1 cup light cream
1 cup chopped blanched almonds

Combine, sugar, syrup and cream in a heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture forms a firm ball when a small amount is dropped into cold water or about 250 degrees F. on a candy thermometer. Stir in the nuts and pour into small fluted waxed paper candy cups or onto a well buttered baking sheet. If poured on a baking sheet, allow to set before cutting into small squares  with scissors whose blades have been rubbed with vegetable oil. Wrap in small squares of waxed paper. Makes about 60 candies.

Happy Christmas to all!

 

Sandburg's Hometown
Date Title
December 22, 2014 Swedish Christmas
December 8, 2014 Christmas 1878
December 1, 2014 Bunker Boots & Shoes
November 24, 2014 Galesburg, Illinois
November 17, 2014 It was Buffalo Bill's Day
November 10, 2014 The Election of 1896 (A follow-up story)
November 3, 2014 The Election of 1896 (continued)
October 27, 2014 The Election of 1896
October  24, 2014 The Rissywarn
October 20, 2014 The Parlor Stove
October 13, 2014 Ashes to Ashes
October 6, 2014 Jesse James
Sept. 29, 2014 Lester T. Stone, Public Servant
Sept. 22, 2014 It's Who You Know
Sept 15, 2014 Mother of the Illinois Flag
Sept 8, 2014 The Scissors Grinder
Sept 1, 2014 Baseball
August 25, 2014 Howard K. Knowles, Capitalist
August 18, 2014  Alcoholic Beverages
August 11, 2014 Soda Water
August 4, 2014 Sweet Corn
July 28, 2014 Marching Through Georgia
July 21, 2014 The Knox County Fair
July 14, 2014 The Panic of 1893
July 7, 2014 The Rev. T. N. Hasselquist
June 30, 2014 The Knox County Courthouse
June 23, 2014 The Family Photograph Album
June 16, 2014 Parades
June 9, 2014 Lingonberries
June 2, 2014 Where We Live
May 26, 2014 Old Main
May 19, 2014 Rhythms of the Railroad
May 12, 2014 Spring Tonic
May 5, 2014 The Milkmen
April 28, 2014 Gray's "Elegy..."
April 21, 2014 Off to War
April 14, 2014 Swedish Easter
April 7, 2014 A Father's Face
March 31, 2014 Secret Societies
March 24, 2014 George A. Murdock, Merchant
March 10, 2014 Trade Cards
March 3, 2014 The Demorest Medal
February 24, 2014 Rip Van Winkle
February 17, 2014 Cabbage Soup
February 10, 2014 Lincoln's Birthday
February 3, 2014 4  The Colonel
January 27, 2014 The Lincoln Penny - A Little History
January 20, 2014 Walking to Work
January 13, 2014  A Small Abode
January 6, 2014 Birth of a Poet
December 30, 2013 Christmas 1880
December 23, 2013 Swedish Christmas
December 16, 2013 The Reporter Sees Santa
December 9, 2013 The Coming of Christmas
December 2, 2013 The Fire Boys Talk
November 25, 2013 Galesburg Will Feast on Turkeys and Cranberries - Thanksgiving 1893
November 18, 2013 Mary Sandburg Johnson
November 11, 2013 Carl Sandburg's Bicycle
November 4, 2013 Lace Curtains
October 28, 2013 The Front Room
October 21, 2013 A Warm Breakfast
October 14, 2013 Marion D. Shutter
October 7, 2013 Cigars and Consumption
September 30, 2013 Forrest F. Cooke & August Sandburg
September 16, 2013 Forrest F. Cooke, Mayor
September 9, 2013 Dusty Streets
September 2, 2013 Typhoid Fever
August 26, 2013 Coffee and Water
August 19, 2013 A Horse! A Horse!
August 12, 2013 Gaddial Scott
August 5, 2013 The Racetrack
July 29, 2013 John Peter Algeld - Part II
July 22, 2013 John Peter Altgeld - Part I
July 15, 2013 Tramps, Tramps, Tramps
July 8, 2013 Lady Liberty
July 1, 2013 Galesburg's Fourth
June 24, 2013 John H. Finley
June 17, 2013 The World's Columbian Exhibition
June 10, 2013 Fruit Short-Cake
June 3, 2013 Horatio Alger, Author
May 27, 2013 Memorial Day, 1887
May 20, 2013 Professor Jon W. Grubb
May 13, 2013 Beginnings of Lombard University
May 6, 2013 Young Sandburg’s View of Lombard College
April 29, 2013 Thinking
April 22, 2013 Robert Colville, Master Mechanic
April 15, 2013 The Galesburg Opera House
April 8, 2013 Grocery Stores and Sample Rooms
April 1, 2013  A Hearty  Breakfast 
March 25, 2013  The Lost Wallpaper Legend 
March 18, 2013 Martin G. Sandburg
March 4, 2013 The Edison Talking Machine
February 25, 2013 Joe Elser, Civil War Veteran
February 18, 2013 Remember the Maine...
February 11, 2013 Lincoln's Birthday
February 4, 2013 Curiosity
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