Advent

The countdown to Christmas...

The season leading up to Christmas is known as Advent. Advent

begins on the first Sunday closest to November 30, marking the beginning of the church’s

liturgical year, also known as the church’s calendar..

Advent is especially important in Sweden, with more people attending church services on the

first Sunday in Advent than any other day of the year.

Traditionally, families in Sweden wait until the first Sunday in Advent to put up the

Christmas decorations. Favorite decorations include straw ornaments, julbocks, and

candle holders, which hold four candles, one to be lit each of the four

Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Advent calendars, which were first created in the 1930s, have become a popular way to count

down the days until Christmas. Each day has a prize, a candy, or a religious teaching hidden

inside.

Word Jumble

Rearrange the letters to make a word about winter or this activity book!

K I F C L A

D E A L C N

I T W E R N

O T B O

A D C I K

R S O C L A

N S W O

L B L E

M N T I T E

C R K I A

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1 2

3 4

5 6 7

8

ACROSS

1. It is hung by the chimney with care.

3. Milk and ; a treat that you leave

out on Christmas Eve.

5. Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka’s dog’s name.

6. You hang ornaments on one of these at

Christmas.

7. You use this to keep your head warm in the

Winter.

8 Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka’s new friend’s name.

DOWN

1. White ice crystals that fall from the sky.

2. Hot ; a winter drink.

4. He comes down the chimney and brings

Christmas presents.

7. An animal that pulls a sleigh.

Word Search

Read the clues below to try and figure out the words for the puzzle.

Start

Finish

Ice Skate Maze

Can you find your way through this ice skate maze? Be careful, or you may

end up in a dead end!

Luciadagen (St. Lucia Day)

December 13

According to legend, Lucia was a girl born to a wealthy and powerful family in

the city of Syracuse on the island of Sicily in Italy. She lived in a time where it

was unsafe to be a Christian, so she hid her religion from others. Despite the

many risks, Lucia decided to deliver food and drinks to other Christians hiding in

tunnels deep beneath her city. To help light her way, she wore a crown of candles on her head.

After people discovered Lucia’s religion, she was punished and burned at the stake on

December 13, 304 AD. Many years later, the Church named her a saint, Saint Lucia. There are

many legends about Lucia’s life, but in each one Lucia represents the symbol of light and hope

to all people. Saint Lucia Day marks the beginning of feasting, celebration, singing, and the

spirit of friendliness and goodwill that lasts throughout the holidays.

St. Lucia Day is celebrated every year in Sweden on December 13. Traditionally, the oldest

daughter in each family dresses up as Lucia, wearing a white dress with a red sash, and a crown

of candles on her head. Lucia is accompanied by her brothers and sisters, all

dressed in white. The boys, called star boys, wear hats decorated with stars and

startipped wands, and the girls carry candles. Together, they deliver saffron

buns and coffee to their parents and lead parades throughout their towns to

the local church.

Winter

Snow

Star

Sister

Skates

Chocolate

Ice

Sweater

Sled

Doll

Vinter (vean-tear)

Snö (snewh)

Stjärna (shair-nah)

Syster (seas-tair)

Skridskor (skreas-skor)

Choklad (shock-lahd)

Is (eis)

Tröja (tru-ya)

Släde (sleigh-dah)

Docka (doe-kah)

Swedish Words

Can you pronounce these winter words in Swedish?

9

8

10

17

18

21

22

24

25

34

38

39

43

41 42

40

31

6

14

15 16

19

20

26

23

27

36

35

33

37

32

30

29

28

7

5

4 11 13

12 3 2 1

Connect the Dots

Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka have a furry friend named Mike. Draw a line from one dot

to another to uncover a picture of Mike.

Julbock

A Christmas Goat

Traditionally made of straw and red ribbon, the Christmas goat, or julbock, is the oldest

Christmas symbol and a favorite holiday decoration throughout Sweden.

Legend has it that Santa rides a julbock around while he delivers Christmas

presents. Instead of coming down the chimney, Santa, or Tomten, knocks on every door and

asks “Finns det några snälla barn här?” (“Are there any nice children here?”).

Nearly every home Sweden has a julbock for decoration, and they are displayed prominently

throughout the holiday season. Since the julbock carries Tomten around to all the young

children, most Swedish houses will even place one at the bottom of the Christmas tree,

surrounded by all presents he helped bring.

Match the Mittens

Draw a line connecting the matching

pairs of mittens.

For some extra fun, color the mittens

after you’ve matched them!

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Memory

Cut out the cards, place them face down on a table and try and find the most matches!

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

Flicka

Ricka

Dicka

M A H P T A J I W O L R

K S L E A P U M A X D K

C H R I S T M A S P I E

L J O L L Y E R I C O J

T U R T R I K S Y J N R

N D N V U T A H D C S A

E Y A S N O W M A N W Q

S W M C H M H A P Y O D

E Q E H F T A L P I T P

R H N O D E S L E I G H

P M T E H N L O R C J C

S K A T E G E W H K N Z

ORNAMENT

CHRISTMAS

PRESENT

SNOWMAN

MARSHMALLOW

POND

TOMTEN

SKATE

SLEIGH

SKIRT

Word Search

Find these words hidden in the pond

below. Words may be forward,

backward, or diagonal.

Directions

Combine gelatin and ½ cup of the

water in a stand mixer affixed with

the whisk attachment (handmixers

can also be used—but you will need

to be extra careful!).

In a small saucepan combine the

remaining ½ cup of water, granulated

sugar, corn syrup and salt.

Place saucepan over medium heat,

cover and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

Uncover and cook until candy thermometer reads 240°F (approximately 7 to 8 minutes).

Immediately remove pan from heat.

Slowly and carefully pour sugar mixture into gelatin with mixer on low speed. Once all of

the sugar mixture is added, increase speed to high until mixture is thick and lukewarm

(approximately 12 to 15 minutes). Add vanilla extract.

Combine confectioner’s sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl.

Grease a 13”x9” baking pan. Add sugar and cornstarch mixture until bottom and sides are

completely covered. (Set aside remaining mix.)

Spread sugar mixture from stand mixer into greased pan.

Allow to sit for 4 hours or overnight.

Turn the marshmallows out of the baking pan and cut into 1” squares. Dust all sides of

marshmallows with the remaining confectioner’s sugar/cornstarch mixture.

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Enjoy in a nice cup of hot chocolate!

**Recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com**

Homemade Marshmallows

Ingredients

3 packages unflavored gelatin

1 cup ice water

1½ cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

¼ tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

¼ cup confectioner’s sugar

¼ cup cornstarch

Christmas Wish List

Use these empty boxes to create your wish

list to send to Santa. Draw pictures of toys

you’d like to receive for Christmas!

FLICKA, RICKA, DICKAPAPER DOLL ACCESSORIES

DESIGN A NEW WARDROBE FOR YOUR PAPER DOLLS. COLOR, CUT OUT, AND DRESS UP!

PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN USING SCISSORS. ASK AN ADULT FOR HELP IF NEEDED.

THE FLICKA, RICKA, DICKA BOOK SERIES IS AVAILABLE AT ALBERTWHITMAN.COM AND AT BOOKSTORES.

AW811.02

1 T O C K I N G

N

H

O

O

W

3 O O K I E

4

F

O

A

L

L

N

A

A

T

5 I K E

6 R E E

7 A T

E

E

O

S

R

S

8 E R T I E

ACROSS

1. They are hung by the chimney with care

3. Milk and ; a treat that you leave

out on Christmas Eve

5. Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka’s dog’s name

6. You hang ornaments on one of these at

Christmas

7. You use this to keep your head warm in the

winter

8 Flicka, Ricka and Dicka’s new friend’s name

DOWN

1. White pieces of ice that fall from the sky

2. Hot ; a winter drink

4. He comes down the chimney and brings

Christmas presents

7. An animal that pulls a sleigh

Word Search

Read the clues below to try and figure out the words for the puzzle.

S

M

B

T H

C S

Advent

The countdown to Christmas...

The season leading up to Christmas is known as Advent. Advent

begins on the first Sunday closest to November 30, marking the beginning of the church’s

liturgical year, also known as the church’s calendar..

Advent is especially important in Sweden, with more people attending church services on the

first Sunday in Advent than any other day of the year.

Traditionally, families in Sweden wait until the first Sunday in Advent to put up the

Christmas decorations. Favorite decorations include straw ornaments, julbocks, and

candle holders, which hold four candles, one to be lit each of the four

Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Advent calendars, which were first created in the 1930s, have become a popular way to count

down the days until Christmas. Each day has a prize, a candy, or a religious teaching hidden

inside.

Word Jumble

Rearrange the letters to make a word about winter or this activity book!

K I F C L A

D E A L C N

I T W E R N

O T B O

A D C I K

R S O C L A

N S W O

L B L E

M N T I T E

C R K I A

_F_ _L_ _I_ _C_ _K_ _A_

_C_ _A_ _N_ _D_ _L_ _E_

_W_ _I_ _N_ _T_ _E_ _R_

_B_ _O_ _O_ _T_

_D_ _I_ _C_ _K_ _A_

_C_ _A_ _R_ _O_ _L_ _S_

_S_ _N_ _O_ _W_

_B_ _E_ _L_ _L_

_M_ _I_ _T_ _T_ _E_ _N_

_R_ _I_ _C_ _K_ _A_

M A H P T A J I W O L R

K S L E A P U M A X D K

C H R I S T M A S P I E

L J O L L Y E R I C O J

T U R T R I K S Y J N R

N D N V U T A H D C S A

E Y A S N O W M A N W Q

S W M C H M H A P Y O D

E Q E H F T A L P I T P

R H N O D E S L E I G H

P M T E H N L O R C J C

S K A T E G E W H K N Z

ORNAMENT

CHRISTMAS

PRESENT

SNOWMAN

MARSHMALLOW

POND

TOMTEN

SKATE

SLEIGH

SKIRT

Word Search

Find these words hidden in the pond

below. Words may be forward,

backward, or diagonal.