the sound of music: a swedish tradition

a few years back, my coworker mentioned that many swedes

have a tradition of watching the sound of music on christmas eve.

oh how i loved hearing that...as it's one of my favorites!

i grew up watching this movie at least once a year and it's

become one of our family's favorite musicals too.

{mama mia and dreamgirls didn't make the cut}. 

eating chili, tracking santa and new pjs are our only real traditions

on christmas eve, so i thought why not add this one to our list.  

poor scoutie said he couldn't remember the movie {for shame}.
he's been learning to play do re mi on the piano and remembered
the song came from this movie which made him really excited.
 

c made a roaring fire in our fireplace {it's been in the 40s/50s at night},

and we settled down with a tub of popcorn on the couch and enjoyed

watching the von trapp family and all the beautiful music.
{i made a note to pull out the songbook which i've had for years}

we all were transfixed on the movie.

finn seemed mesmerized by edelweiss, and i'd like to think it was not only
because the children and the captain sing it so beautifully, but because i often sang
to him at bedtime when he was small. he loved that song...requested it often.
he no longer asks for bedtime songs {just a back rub or a massage}, but scout will
ask for an occasional song...and that night, he requested my favorite things.

after the movie, we sat and talked about this time in history and how scary it must
have been for all those people in the countries who were occupied by germany.

we talked about what freedom is, what it's worth and the risks people take for it.
that even today, people are fleeing their homelands to find sanctuary from dictators,

wars, etc. how lucky we are to have been born in a country where we have so much
freedom. 

as i went to bed, i thought about how five years ago, our entire family wouldn't have been
able to have that conversation, and how wonderful it is to have kids a bit older.
with age and maturity, they have a deeper understanding of concepts and ideas.
oh it's a beautiful thing to see this develop in my children.

the swedes have a wonderful tradition in watching the sound of music on christmas eve,

we'll be watching christopher plummer and julie andrews for years to come as well.

if you want to enjoy a little edelweiss, click here for the movie version of the captain
singing and his children accompanying him.  

~ i have to share that finn didn't enjoy our traditional chili dinner this year.
he begged for sushi early that afternoon and since i was going out to pick up some

staple food items, i picked up sashimi and california rolls for him.  he was in heaven.