It is winter, and winter really is not my favorite season. I am not a huge outdoors person, and hate the cold. However, I never cease to be amazed at the amazing neighborhood we live in. During our Christmas break we have gone for walks, the kids have been skating on the lake, the sun has been shining. It is truly magical.
We have this old, wooden church close to our house. It is very much a functioning church with kids activities and beautiful Christmas services. We went there for Trettondagsafton (which is twelfth night or Epiphany). Our daughter Elina was a camel in the church play and did a great job.
We were also able to go up to the mountains for a few days and we had a great time there. The stillness and peace is so good for the soul. The kids got to do some skiing and sledding and we played lots of board games.
Just before Christmas I made some candles. I have made candles before, but never with soy wax. The candles turn out much better and the wax is softer. My favorite kind was this Bergamot scented candle. I called it "Earl Grey Infusion" and gave some away as Christmas gifts.
This wreath was a new idea and I liked the way it turned out. We have a HUGE spruce tree in our yard and it is very useful during Christmas. In Sweden, using branches from pine and spruce trees is very common. We put them in big vases outside, make wreaths or even put some down on the porch as a mat. We usually don't use pine cones in wreaths as well but I think it gives it a nice look.
This banner always hangs in this spot during Christmas. I made it 2 years ago and it is always a favorite tradition to hang it every year. We put it up during Thanksgiving and leave it until Epiphany. Cross cultural marriage and lifestyle is a funny thing, we have such a mix of traditions. Just before Thanksgiving we put up the Advent decorations and the Christmas tree, we then have Thanksgiving dinner followed by glögg and ginger cookies and lighting of the first Advent candle. Then we celebrate Swedish Christmas on Christmas Eve, open the stockings on the morning of Christmas Day, watch New Year Celebrations from Sweden, New York, London and Dubai, celebrate Epiphany and dance around the Christmas tree before we throw it out on Tjugondag Knut. This Christmas a new tradition started when we listened to a wonderful Arabic Christmas song. I wonder how many different traditions we will have in a few years...
Looking forward to spring now!
No comments:
Post a Comment