3: Bunad in December

A photographic countdown to July 4th

Adalynn stands ready in her red vest and white skirt, a festive nod to the traditional Norwegian bunad. Each year on the first Sunday of December, the community gathers for The Scandinavian Christmas Program — a name that might suggest a broader heritage, but the celebration is purely Norwegian. From language and music to food and dress, this yearly tradition keeps the culture of their ancestors alive in rural Illinois, one song and stitch at a time.