Smorgasbord

December 5, 2025, 5:00pm

Mark your calendars!  We look forward to Immanuel’s 2025 Smorgasbord the evening of FRIDAY, December 5. The new day of the week was selected to accommodate the AA meeting Immanuel hosts on Thursdays. Smorgasbord is a buffet-style meal of Swedish origin. The biggest of the year is at Christmas - the Julbord (literally meaning ‘Christmas table’). The evening includes appetizers, dinner (with swedish meatballs & lutefisk, as well as a wide variety of side dishes), and a music program. 

Seating is limited to 200 guests so please secure your tickets promptly.  Ticket sales will open in November.

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WHY A SMORGASBORD, WHY LUTEFISK?

Before the Reformation in 1536, lent was observed from the 1st of December to Christmas Day. During lent, Christians were only permitted to eat fish, including on Christmas Eve. Even though the Scandinavians countries have a long coastline, it could be difficult for a lot of people to get hold of fresh fish in time for the festive Christmas dinner. So they found new ways to utilize preserved fish instead. The popular choice was Lutefisk.

To date, Lutefisk is a very unique Scandinavian Christmas tradition. Lutefisk is stockfish that has been soaked in water, placed in lye, and then soaked in water again!  How on earth did someone come up with such a strange idea? And although ‘strange’, Lutefisk is one of the longest standing Scandinavian Christmas traditions, and is considered, by many, to be the original Norwegian/Swedish Christmas dinner.  Many Scandinavians gather annually for a lutefisk dinner, in December, to celebrate Advent and the festive season. Many Scandinavian restaurants have it on their menu as a seasonal speciality.  Its unusual consistency might be a challenge for unaccustomed pallets. There is even division among the Scandinavians, who tend to love it or hate it.

But one thing everyone agrees on is that a lot of magic lies in the delicious side dishes. Do you dare try the most quintessentially Scandinavian Christmas Lutefisk? Whether you love it or hate it, or simply want to try it for the first time, please join us for the delicious side dishes of herring, Swedish meatballs, potato sausage, beets, boiled potatoes, rutabaga, fruit soup, rommegrot, Scandinavian cookies and more.

We look forward to your presence for the traditional Scandinavian dinner followed by beautiful holiday music!

Volunteer Opportunities!

To volunteer SIGNUP BELOW and a member of the committee will contact you with more information.

Contact Bev Lohs 612-322-2648 or Kari Totall 952-836-4484 for more information.