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Maine's Swedish Colony

The Swedish culture is still vibrant within the Colony with its foods festivals. The colony is comprised primarily of the communities of New Sweden, Stockholm, Woodland, Perham, and Westmanland.

The Swedish traditions are still upheld throughout the year with such festivals like Saint Lucia in December and Midsommer in June. Traditional Smorgasbords are very popular with people gathering and sharing wonderful foods. Traditional Midsommer meal include foods like KÖttbullar (Swedish meatballs), Sill (pickled herring), grilled salmon, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill, soured cream and raw red onion, and for dessert the first wild strawberries of summer, with cream are some of the delicacies that returning visitors enjoy.

Many families in the colony still maintain correspondence with distant relatives in the "old country" and are happy to share stories told with others.

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