The Church sanctuary was decorated for the feast of Sainte Lucia, the Swedish Festival of Light. (*) It was December 12th, 1912 the start of the Christmas season. The sanctuary glowed with many candles. It was also draped with greenery on the pews and surrounding the church altar. Green wreaths decorated with straw stacks and Advent stars woven from straw hung on the doors, surrounded the sanctuary, and hung over the marble altar. There were red ribbons adorning both the candles and wreaths. The afternoon sun shined threw the stained-glass Tiffany windows reflecting many bright colors on the altar area.
Ester sat in the back pew with Anya. She didn’t wear a traditional wedding dress. Astrid had made her a simple pale blue dress. It was made of chiffon with a high collar and longed sleeves and a bellowed waist. The straight skirt hung just to her ankles. She carried a simple poesy of white mums and she didn’t wear a veil. Her hair was curled up in a roll at the back of her neck with soft curled strands circling her face.
Anya helped the bride straightened her skirt so she wouldn’t wrinkle it when she sat. She smiled at her friend while they waited in the back of the sanctuary for the groom and best man to enter.
Anya thought of how Ester had told her that she and Olof were to be married. It was a Saturday. Ester and Olof had just met with Rev. Wendall to declare their banns. Ester said the minister was not surprised that they wanted to announce their banns since he had seen them together at their friend, Elsa’s funeral and thought he recognized a close couple in them. He advised them that the three weeks required for their banns would bring them into the Advent calendar and he said they could wait until the ‘new’ year if they wanted to avoid the Christmas holiday decorations for their wedding. Ester told her that both she and Olof had said ‘No!’ at the same time. They didn’t want to wait. They told the minister it would be just a small wedding. Just a few friends. The minister offered his home for a small reception after the ceremony. They both were thrilled with that idea. He told them they would have to meet with him each week to discuss the different aspects of marriage. He said it shouldn’t be taken lightly. They should understand if they had any misgivings and what it would mean to their future. They were happy to do anything he said to make their life together happen as soon as possible. After meeting with the minister, Olof had gone to talk with Mr. Yongdahl to tell him of their plans and Ester went to find me. She said I was her closest friend and she wanted to ask me to be her maid of honor. I was so happy that Ester thought of me as her closest friend. I told her I didn’t have any money to get a new dress for the wedding and she said she would figure out something. She said the whole wedding will be put together on a shoestring since they had no money either.
While they waited Ester handed Anya her mums to hold then she took out the letter she had gotten from her Mama so she could read it again. It made her feel like her Mama was with her on her wedding day.
Vislanda, Sweden
My dearest Ester,
I can only say that you have lived a charmed life. The winter solstice is a lucky time to marry. How happy Carine and I are for you and your husband to be, Olof. We send prays to bless you with a happy life. Your brother, August, his wife Margit, and their daughter, Marie are coming to visit tomorrow so we can decide on a gift to send you for your nuptials. They are so happy that you will also have a baby soon. I am glad to be blessed with grandchildren. Please send us pictures of you and Olof from the wedding. I hope Olof knows what a strong, brave wife he will have. I know all the struggles you have been through and still you keep going with hope and faith. You are an inspiration to us. Take care my dear and give our love to Olof.
Mama.
Olof sat in the Minister’s room with William waiting for the Rev. Wendall to tell them when the ceremony would start. Both men sat silently in their own thoughts.
William had never expected that Olof would be his friend again. But Olof told William he was the first person he wanted to tell after he and Ester resolved to be married. William pictured that day when Olof knocked on his door again and shook his hand with such joy when William agreed to be his best man. They both knew then, no matter what, they were like brothers. They had their differences and disappointments with each other but they would always be close. He was happy for Olof and Ester and looked forward to sharing in their future as part of their ‘American’ family.
Mr. Yungdahl carried Bertie into the sanctuary and sat in the front pew on the ‘groom’ side.
He thought Bertie would soon be asleep since it was time for his afternoon nap. Probably better for the happy couple not to have a fussing child interrupting their wedding. Yungdahl missed his wife at special times like this. She would have said ‘Walter, we know what happiness is and I feel this young couple will be like us.’ This memory made him smile and he said a silent pray for his young friends to share in the joy he had had with his dear wife. He also was honored they shared their lives with him.
Astrid and Lars arrived in a flurry as usual. Astrid made a fuss over the bride and her maid of honor while Lars walked to his seat to the left, the bride’s side, where Astrid had directed him to go. Her whisper filled the nearly empty sanctuary.
“Ester you shouldn’t be sitting. It will wrinkle your dress.”
Ester stood up immediately.
“Anya, I love that color on you. I knew it would work so well with your pale skin. No one would ever know this suit wasn’t made especially for you. Luckily I didn’t have any more use for it. And that trim on the collar, cuffs, and hem add such sophistication and style to a simple jacket and skirt. You will have lots of use for it after the wedding, I predict. You both look so lovely.” She kissed them both on the cheeks.
Ester and Anya giggled at Astrid’s comments while watching Astrid prance down the aisle to her seat next to Lars. Lars stood up when she entered the pew to make sure she was happy with her seat. When they both settled comfortably, Lars took her hand and said,
“You always make even the simplest occasion exceptional, my dear.”
Astrid smiled and directed him again. “Now Lars, I will let you know when to go to bring Ester down the aisle.”
Just then the organist began to play. Astrid hurried Lars to the back of the sanctuary. Rev. Wendall walk out to the church alter followed by the groom and his best man. Then Rev. Wendall called for the guests to rise and the wedding march began filling the sanctuary.
Anya proudly walked down the aisle followed by Lars with the bride on his arm. He walked Ester up the steps to take her place in front of the minister next to Olof. Ester handed her bouquet to Anya and the bride and groom took each other’s hands.
“Dearly beloved we are gathered here…” Rev. Wendall began.
Olof looked into Ester’s eyes and he thought about his new family. This is what he wanted his life in America to be like. He would work hard to keep his family comfortable and happy.
Ester looked into Olof’s eyes and she thought how her expectations of living in America was never this. She thought she would be alone raising a child by herself and now her life was just the opposite. What amazing things happen in America!
Mrs. Wendall, the minister’s wife, welcomed the wedding party and guests to their home when they all arrived after the ceremony. The guests came first since the wedding party had stayed in the sanctuary after the ceremony to take pictures for Ester’s Mama. When the bride and groom entered the Minister’s home, the guests threw flower petals at them. Mrs. Wendall had the dining table filled with traditional dishes for the feast of Saint Lucia. The bride and groom toasted each other with grog while the guests cheered ‘Skoll’ and they all joined in a hearty meal honoring the bride and groom. All the bride and groom could do was smile at each other and laugh at each other especially when the wedding guests clinked their glasses for them to kiss.
The guests toasted Mr. and Mrs. Olof Johnson, the happy couple, over and over. Ester thought to herself during the many toasts. Yaj, Mr. and Mrs. Olof Johnson were husband and wife now. I am proud that we have chosen to ‘Americanize’ our name to commemorate the beginning of our future life together in America. When she smiled at her husband Ester knew Olof would always be my only love.
SLUTER (The End)