Best of Both Worlds

Step Into a Swedish Home All Decked Out for Christmas—in Nebraska.

- Mariana Schroeder

Christmas really is the best of two worlds for the Eickholt family, Swedish-Americans who have made Lincoln, Nebraska, their home along with many other Swedish families who have resettled in the last century. They celebrate Christmas with a mix of old traditions and decorations from both countries.

Anna Karin relishes her Swedish vacations and always returns with her bags full of Swedish goods, such as embroidered linens, silverware and clocks. “When I found the grandfather clock in a Swedish antiques shop, I just could not resist it. But when I was told how much it would cost to ship it to the states, I was somewhat shocked,” she says. In search of a solution, she decided to have the clock cut it into three pieces, which she could then pack into bags and take home on her return flight. “When I got to Nebraska, I put the parts back together again and painted the clock white.”

She decorated the house with bright colors and bought much of the furniture at garage sales, painting and upholstering most of the pieces herself. “Many people think of our furnishings as different and think that it is a typical Swedish thing to do things yourself. But I always thought of DIY as being American!” 

The dining table formerly belonged to her husband’s mother, while the chairs were found at miscellaneous flea markets. Fortunately for the Eickholt family, the previous homeowners left behind the beautiful chandelier, which adds a touch of glamour and romance to the dining room.