Pea Soup and Punsch at American Swedish Historical Society in Philadelphia, PA

Every January, the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania holds its annual Artsoppa and Punsch Supper. Artsoppa - otherwise known as Pea Soup - is a traditional Thursday night dish in Sweden that dates back to medieval times. Medieval Sweden was mostly Catholic and traditionally fasted on Fridays, so the Thursday night supper had to be hearty. The pea soup was traditionally served with punsch, a strong arrack-based drink, bread, cheese, and dessert. This annual supper imitates these old-style Swedish meals in an attempt to promote and preserve traditional Swedish culture. Tickets for the meal start at $25 for adults, with discounts for museum members.

The American Swedish Historical Museum contains 12 permanent galleries that educate about and promote Swedish and Swedish-American culture, art, and history. The museum also contains one gallery that hosts temporary exhibits. Founded in 1926, the museum is the United States' premier institution for the recognition of Swedish-American contributions to art, history, architecture, science, music and technology. Please contact the museum directly for information on admission prices and current exhibits.