Ma and pa were both children of clergymen from Värmland, and Christmases were celebrated accordingly. Ingmar Bergman and Astrid Lindgren have described them - including the old customs that I also saw. They included the making of candles, sausages, Christmas candy and decorations. A Christmas present without a related poem or a parcel without a wax seal was unthinkable. On the morning of the eve there was a morning present for everyone under the tall beautiful Christmas tree.