O

ne rainy December night in a house in South Jakarta about a dozen white-robed angels in sneakers and rubber sandals sang "Se, p* v*r tr*skel st*r, vitkl*dd, med ljus i h*r Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia".

Some of the girls were wearing headwear with lit candles, imitating the appearance of Saint Lucia, a historical figure they were singing about in the song. The saint, an Italian nun, wore such headwear during the dark and cold winters in northern Europe.

"*Swedes* have celebrated Saint Lucia every Dec. 13 since 200 years ago. While waiting for summer, we need something to cheer us up," Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Ewa Polano said about the event she hosted that night.

During the procession, Swedes usually have a drink called gl*gg, which is a warm red wine imbued with cardamom, cinnamon, orange peel, ginger and cloves.

Polano said she could find most of the spices and ingredients she needed for Swedish food she served that night - she just needed to translate some of the recipes into Indonesian or English and asked the chef from the Gran Melia Hotel Jakarta to prepare them. The party had the gl*gg, kn*ck (almond toffee), koettbullar (meatballs) and Janssons frestelse (potato with anchovies).

The ambassador says she had invited the Jakarta Swedish community to the event. This community comprises a cosmopolitan makeup of Swedes and others of various nationalities who are their spouses. The party that night saw Indonesians, Colombians and Polish people, among the guests.

"The Swedish community here belongs to the Nordic club in Jakarta, Danuta Jonsson, a member of both the Polish and Nordic communities in Jakarta, said. Danuta, or Dana, said the Nordic community comprised Swedes, Danish, Finnish, Norwegians and Icelanders.

Every year, the Swedish ambassador hosts a Saint Lucia day at her house, Dana said. "This is the largest event nearing Christmas for the *Swedish* community," she said.

As for Christmas, the community has another party. "We take turns in hosting the festivities. This year we have had the Christmas party already. It was the Danish who hosted it this year," Dana said.

How does it feel to celebrate one of the most important festivities far away from home?

"I'm so glad to be in Indonesia. People here are nice and polite, but I miss the tradition and it is important to stick to it," Polano said.