Betsy Devine: Funny ha-ha and/or funny peculiar

On December 13, Swedish families celebrate a festival of light, where young boys and girls in white robes “surprise” adult sleepers with songs and saffron cookies. The traditional headdress for girls was a crown with lit candles, but that can create surprises that nobody wants.

Needless to say, the Grand Hotel also offers Lucia wake-ups on December 13, although I’m told their Lucias are beautiful Swedish twenty-somethings.

I am eternally grateful to one of my dinner partners last night for this piece of useful information: that traditional costume for adults being surprised is “your most dignified pajamas.”

Our most dignified pajamas. Hmmmm. Unfortunately I don’t seem to have packed these. But I’m glad to have 4 days notice that they’ll be needed.