‘Twas the night of the Scandinavian Christmas Ball, and all through the Metropolitan Club…
Black-tie adorned revelers arrived with elbows to rub.
Champagne began flowing, appetizers passed around.
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
And pictures in front of the Christmas tree began to abound.
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Guests were ushered into the ballroom, just in time to dine.
And as with any good meal, there was plenty of wine.
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
After dinner we found more time to mingle and flirt.
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
While we treated ourselves to a slice (or two!) of dessert.
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Then I snuck away to my upstairs library nook,
Where I took my annual picture on a table, holding a book.
Then back downstairs we raced, in time for the ball’s main tradition:
The St. Lucia singers, offering a gorgeous musical rendition,
Of Christmas songs, most in their native Swedish,
And at the end, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in English.
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
The evening continued with a spin and a whirl,
As the Chris Norton Band let their best music unfurl.
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
Photograph courtesy of Berit Hessen
After hours of dancing, and for some, of romancing,
The evening was over, a night most entrancing.
The ladies were given flowers, before we dashed into the night.
Merry Christmas to all, and may your holiday season shine bright!
~A
