Christmas in Sweden; or, A festival of light

A quiet New England household is jolted into adventure when Professor Edgecombe receives a telegram announcing a year‑long sabbatical in Sweden. He will spend the winter translating ancient Norse manuscripts, and the whole family—reluctant daughter Dorothy, enthusiastic son John, and their ever‑curious mother—must decide whether to follow him abroad. The news awakens both excitement and anxiety, especially for the young children who have never left home, and even the household maid, Elfreda, is caught up in the whirl of plans and nostalgic longing.

Listeners are invited to share the Edgecombes’ first steps onto a snow‑covered shore, where unfamiliar customs, candle‑lit markets, and the warm glow of Swedish Christmas traditions begin to unfold. Through gentle humor and heartfelt moments, the story paints a vivid picture of cultural exchange, the kindness of strangers, and the magic of a festival of light seen through the eyes of an American family learning to belong in a new world.