December month is a dark month in Scandinavia, so no wonder that we Swedes have adapted to the Santa Lucia celebration. Every year on December 13th, the Lucia arrives with candles on her head and with an entourage of maids, star boys, gingerbread boys/girls and small Santa Claus men, singing the traditional chorals.
This year, the Swedish embassy with Ambassador Staffan Herrström and spouse Karin, together with the embassy staff, invited to a very special Lucia celebration at beautifully Christmas decorated Oriental Mandarin Hotel December the 11th.
Already by entering the lobby, you received a Christmas feeling. Around 500 guests from the Diplomat Corps and the Swedish community and Thai representatives, enjoyed a beautiful evening.
The food was delicious, Swedish Christmas ham, meatballs, canapes with herring, salmon, truffle etc. Swedish Glögg (a typical hot beverage made of wine, several spices, cognac/whisky, sugar etc.) saffron buns and much more were offered to the guests.
Ambassador Staffan Herrström impressed us by giving a welcome speech in both Thai and English.
Time for the happening, Lucia arrives but this time she has a unique entourage, GOSSKÖREN The little Boy’s Choir from Göteborg.
A bunch of very talented young men singing “a Capella”. This Santa Lucia performance made us both becoming a bit nostalgic, but we also had some real good laughter.
These guys know how to mesmerize the audience. The atmosphere was great during the evening and everybody seemed to be so satisfied and happy. The lovely hostesses from the embassy did a fine job and Chef Andreas, from the Swedish residence, watch over the food, nothing went wrong.
The night after the reception at Oriental, many of us from SWEA (Swedish Women Educational Association) decided to enjoy one more evening with The little Boy’s Choir.
We booked a table at ABOUT EATERY, there the boys, for the second year, were entertaining the guests. Its manager/owner Signor Giulio Saverino welcomed us warmly and looked after us during the evening. A special menu was created by the Chef and it tasted lovely.
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At ABOUT EATERY you have a chance to talk with the guys between them performing. The evening was as pleasant as it could be and we are already looking forward to welcoming the Little Boy’s Choir to Bangkok next year.
