Lefse: A Norwegian Christmas Tradition

In my home, lefse making signals the beginning of Christmas. As soon as my dad would announce it was time to make it, we knew the holiday season had begun!

For those non-Norwegians, lefse is an ultra-thin, tortilla-like potato flatbread. The dough is made from mashed potatoes, cream, butter and flour and is rolled thin with a special grooved rolling pin. Once rolled out, it is placed on a special round griddle to bake at a very high heat. Many Norwegians use lefse much like a tortilla, to hold other food items like fish. Others use it as a sweet treat by sprinkling cinnamon and sugar on it. But for our family, we simply warm it and smear it with a little butter.

No cookie baking or tree cutting symbolizes Christmas spirit more than lefse making to me. Our family has held this tradition for many generations. My great-grandmother brought the tradition from Norway and was a one-woman force in her preparation. In fact, she would make enough lefse during the holidays to supply not only her family but the neighbors as well. It was a great side business as many transplanted Norwegians didn't have the time or skill to prepare it. She passed on the tradition to her daughter-in-law (my grandmother) and grandsons (my dad and his brothers.) Lefse is a staple side item on our holiday tables and much of the conversation revolves on the making of that particular batch.