Maryann R Steckling

I remember MaryAnn as a sparkling presence throughout my childhood. My family started going to Folklore Village since before I can remember, and without fail MaryAnn was there, smiling, welcoming, and always ready to dance. One particular memory I wanted to share because it speaks to her spirit of being up for anything, especially in good-natured mischievous fun! This memory is from a Midwinter Festival at Folkore Village when I was about ten years old, so MaryAnn was probably in her early 80s. As part of the celebration of Scandinavian traditions, I was organizing a group for julebukking - also called Christmas fooling, this is when a group of friends and neighbors dress in terrific disguises and embark on a mission that's part caroling, part trick-or-treating. When a group of julebukkers knocks on your door, if you fail to guess their identities you may be required to don your own costume and join them! I was going around in secret asking people if they wanted to participate in a bit of fun and mischief, and MaryAnn was immediately up for it. I gave her a time and a place to meet with the others, and without knowing what she was getting herself into she was all in! The group of julebukkers got into their disguises, and then someone announced their arrival and they were led into the main hall to hoots and shrieks of delight. Masked or hooded and draped in everything we could find in the costume closet, they were quite a sight! MaryAnn took her task very seriously and was committed to her disguise. Some of the others began to giggle and give themselves away, but MaryAnn remained in character and really made people guess! She was the last person to have her identity revealed, and when she did finally show her face, she was beaming.