Phoenix
don't forget that you will have at least three presents to open when you get to Los Angeles in January. Well, four presents if you count me!! We will have to book some extra time together...will you be bringing the mistletoe? I can think of several interesting places to dangle it 
Why presents? Because you have been deliciously naughty this year and presents are always fun!!
Good Jul och Gott Nytt År to you, too.
So here is the deal about the Swedish smorgosboard that we all eat on Christmas Eve.
We have the following on the table: The Christmas ham (jul skinka) is the center piece, surrounded by aquavit (a liquor - snaps) and dill marinated gravlax, succulent tiny meatballs, boiled tender baby potatoes, and assortment of pickled herring (onion, garlic and mustard for example), lingonberry preserve, salads, and an overflowing platter of sliced regional cheeses. For dessert there is rice pudding with a lucky almond hidden inside, predicting marriage or newfound riches whoever finds the prize. And there is more on the table usually too, but it is very individual from family to family.
After dinner there;s a visit from "tomten", a Christmas gnome who is believed to be a sprite that once lived under barns to protect the livestock. He comes to each house with gifts and candy for the children. When I grew up, I was always amazed that my dad always missed tomten. My dad always told us that he had to go and buy the newspaper, and amazingly enough tomten always arrived when he was gone...lol.
Also tomten always came on his skis, and we would crowd around the windows, waiting in anticipation, when suddenly we would recognize his silhouette, sliding gracefully on his skis and carrying a large sack on his back. The loudly while banging on our door he would proclaim: "Ho, Ho, Ho"
Terrified, excited and thrilled we threw the door open to receive his gifts, then disappear into the darkness.
So this is a Christmas in Sweden 
Also in regards to meatballs, I usually say there are as many variations of Swedish meatballs as there are mothers in Sweden. But there IS such thing as Swedish meatballs. They are usually more bland than Italian meatballs. Anybody having meatballs at IKEA knows this. But they are delicious.
I included a link below to a Swedish family's website about how they celebrate Christmas.
Ho, ho, ho everyone!
Swedish Anna
I think I need to come to LA really soon...Now I am getting excited 
You are such a sweetie and good friend
See you soon!!
xoxo
Swedish Anna