Welcome back to the Christmas Around the World Series on The Storied Recipe Podcast! This series began as a crowd-sourced post titled Christmas Desserts Around the World. As the Storied Recipe community shared their cherished Christmas recipes and the memories surrounding them, I really wanted to hear MORE. So I decided to expand on a few of these with a little mini series about Christmas traditions all around the world. You can find the entire series here. Welcome Alexandra! Today’s guest is Alexandra from Norway. She contributed a recipe for her mom’s Chocolate Peppermint balls – sort of a mint chocolate truffle – or an especially beautiful homemade Peppermint Patty. In today’s episode, Alexandra also shares a recipe for the special Rice Porridge left for Saint Nicholas on Christmas Eve. In our conversation today, Alexandra who grew up near the oldest town in Norway, established in 898, shares absolutely delightful memories of ancient Norwegian Christmas traditions that she experienced both as a child and as a mother. You may recognize these as the basis of so many American Christmas traditions and imagery – before the layers of consumerism were slapped on top. The stories Alexandra shares – and especially the beautiful way she shares them – evoke a sense of magic, calm, wonder, and peace. Welcome to Alexandra – and be sure to check out her Mint Chocolate Truffles and Risgrot recipes!! Highlights Bunad – the Warrior Norwegian Queen outfit Santa Claus as Nordic Walking in the “loud silence” of snow with the smells of coffee and baked goods “Feeding your children is just the best feeling in the world” Reminiscing on the “hygge” trend Alexandra’s grandmother, a professional baker Skoleboller, Rice Porridge, and other Norwegian Christmas Food Coconut in Norwegian baking/cuisine The Norwegian Church and the “church mother” The Norwegian, concept of time and Christmas Eve vs. Christmas Day The 12 Days of Christmas and the beauty of 12th Night services Lutefisk, roast pork, homemade alcohol, and other common dishes of the traditional Norwegian Christmas dinner Linie Aquavit (Akvavit) - the traditional alcohol that travels around the world Singing and dancing traditional Norwegian folk tunes around the Christmas tree - and the traditional Norwegian Christmas tree decoration All about the recipe for Norwegian Peppermint Balls that Alexandra shared with us Listen to Alexandra Now Alexandra's Storied Recipe https://thestoriedrecipe.com/easy-chocolate-mint-truffles-from-norway Related Episodes Related Recipes Partial Transcript - First 10 Minutes Becky Hadeed Why, hello! Alexandra I'm so excited to be speaking with you. I've been listening to all your podcasts from last year and going back all the way to the beginning. Ohh I love the one with you and your boys. That was that's my favorite one so far. Becky Hadeed Ohh you know I hear that actually a lot and I was just thinking the other day, especially because my oldest is getting ready to graduate. I was thinking, I know we might need to do, you know one one last iteration of that? Alexandra Right? I think you should. That would be lovely. Becky Hadeed Well, thank you. Thank you so much for taking the time to come on and uh, for your kind words it means a lot. So can we just start by talking about this image of... What's the name of this this traditional wear? Alexandra It's called a Bunad. Becky Hadeed Say it one more time? Alexandra Bunad. B UN AD Boo nod. Becky Hadeed Bunad. OK. I mean, you looked gorgeous. You're like a Norwegian Warrior Queen Alexandra That's what the boys call me. Becky Hadeed Do you own? Do you own that? Alexandra Yes, that was a gift from my parents when I turned 21 and it comes with of course the the dress and it also has a skirt underneath it has that blouse and then it comes with a cake.