Farming community Christmas traditions draw on Scandinavian backgrounds

Christmas celebrations unite communities, span generations

A live nativity program is put together each year by the Bergan Church community in the Bristol area. Courtesy photo.

Holiday traditions nourished by the farming community celebrate rural life through small, rural church congregations.

For those at the Bergen Church in Day County, the past 132 years have been rich with family events and special Christmas celebrations. The quaint little country church is north of Bristol or south of Pierpont and remains a vibrant hub of community activity.

One event is an annual live nativity.

“My husband Paul’s family have been members all their lives,” said Karen Johnson.” Forty-five years ago the church members enacted a live nativity scene at the farm of one of the members. Kenny Anderson said since there weren’t any children in Sunday school, the adults should take the parts. There were a couple of babies. The baby that filled the role of baby Jesus was Susan Sigdestad who’s now 45 years old.”

Planes, trains & automobiles: More than 383,000 South Dakotans estimated to travel this holiday