Christmas/Winter Decor: IT'S TIME

[Todash]

Today is the first day around here that it's been really cold. Yesterday it was 70 F (21 C). Today it's 27 F (-3 C). So ... clearly it is time to start decorating for the holidays, since today is the day we kiss autumn goodbye. This is actually the first year I've done it (long story), and I am determined to make it awesome even though we are pretty dang broke.

The first thing I'm working on is the front door wreath, which I plan to finish today. Pictures forthcoming.

What are you all doing? Do you do new stuff every year, or is this a time of tradition for you? DIY or buy? Inquiring minds ...

 

[Spideyman]

Wooded area= many southern pine and northern spruce/ cedars I brought from NJ( now 46 years growth). I cut branches that should be trimmed, tie and make swags with store bought plastic red bows. Use indoors and out doors. Even make one for the coons to drag off. Put seed balls in some trees for the squirrels and birds. Inside is usually all homemade crafts. have to be careful with critters.

 

[Todash]

I LOVE pine cones, acorns, natural elements ... Husband wants to recreate the Christmases of his youth, when his grandparents decorated with silver and Tiffany blue. I love that color scheme too. I'll just have to figure out how to make both work.

 

[Bryan James]

 

[Riot87]

Lol christmas is my favorite holiday


Maybe later i will post pics.

 

[skimom2]

We have our fall stuff up already Lots of fruits, sunflowers, crows, pumpkins, & turkeys. Decorating for Christmas is a family thing here, and we take our time and draw it out for a few weeks. First is the Advent wreath and Christmas CDs/movies, then the next week we have bows, colored balls in glass bowls, some santa stuff, next week (never before mid-December) the trees and angels go up (though we may just have one this year). The last week, we make cookies and candies. Just about every year the kids make something new for the tree or the walls (thus the two trees--lol. No room on just one!). We have had a wreath I made years ago, but this year I bought a fresh wreath from the Boy Scouts.

Oh my gosh, we love the Christmas season, from Advent to Epiphany (Jan 6), and not just for stuff; a lot of what we do/make is very low cost or free. It's the time together, whether it be watching movies, going to Christmas parade and Christmas Village, or at church activities, baking cookies... whatever

 

[Jojo87]

We haven't start to decoration yet and I don't think it will be much decorating this year for me. Because Juho have two crazy
cats who likes to play with everything, so have to see what we can put up.

 

[Kurben]

We have a "Tomte" thats approximately a "Brownie" in english i think. Here in sweden the santacharacter merged with the Brownie of many tales to be the Christmas Brownie so to speak. Far back in time the tradition was that you put out a dish with some goodies on so he had something to eat. In return he looked after your animals and made sure you had good luck. If you didn't he made you have small mishaps, perhaps a strange stumple or a cow whose milk turns sour but nothing that really adventures the farms existence. Our "Tomte" tries to look like the old tradition. A grey, rather dirty beard and he is small but my maternal grandmother made him when she was young and i don't know of a christmas when he hasn't stood in the window or on the table watching us eat with a wry smile on his face.

 

[Todash]

We have a "Tomte" thats approximately a "Brownie" in english i think. Here in sweden the santacharacter merged with the Brownie of many tales to be the Christmas Brownie so to speak. Far back in time the tradition was that you put out a dish with some goodies on so he had something to eat. In return he looked after your animals and made sure you had good luck. If you didn't he made you have small mishaps, perhaps a strange stumple or a cow whose milk turns sour but nothing that really adventures the farms existence. Our "Tomte" tries to look like the old tradition. A grey, rather dirty beard and he is small but my maternal grandmother made him when she was young and i don't know of a christmas when he hasn't stood in the window or on the table watching us eat with a wry smile on his face.

Oh, that is really interesting! I wonder if that's in my fairy dictionary, because it sounds very fae-like. Can you post a picture?

 

[Neesy]

We haven't start to decoration yet and I don't think it will be much decorating this year for me. Because Juho have two crazy
cats who likes to play with everything, so have to see what we can put up.

Try using a spray bottle if they go near anything that is breakable - although if they are older cats that may not work.

 

[Kurben]

Something like that in appearance. My grandmothers version was standing up. This one is eating of the dish that has been offered. It also had a greyer beard. But the clothes are worn, it is a hard life to be a "Tomte".

 

[skimom2]

Something like that in appearance. My grandmothers version was standing up. This one is eating of the dish that has been offered. It also had a greyer beard. But the clothes are worn, it is a hard life to be a "Tomte".

That is so cool! I love hearing about different traditions--can't wait to share this one with the kids

 

[Kurben]

That is so cool! I love hearing about different traditions--can't wait to share this one with the kids

Yes, it's interesting isn't? From this little guy grew the Christmas(Jul in Swedish) "Tomte" who gave away presents but he is a relation. Nowadays it is so commercial everything that the old traditions are starting to slip away since we are not any longer to any big degree living in farms or close to forests.

 

[Neesy]

Yes, it's interesting isn't? From this little guy grew the Christmas(Jul in Swedish) "Tomte" who gave away presents but he is a relation. Nowadays it is so commercial everything that the old traditions are starting to slip away since we are not any longer to any big degree living in farms or close to forests.

I will have to remember to say "God Jul" this year to you Kurben!

 

[Kurben]

I will have to remember to say "God Jul" this year to you Kurben!

Great picture. Jenny Nyström made a big career by drawing Tomtar and other things that were more fairyish

 

[Neesy]

Great picture. Jenny Nyström made a big career by drawing Tomtar and other things that were more fairyish

She a friend of yours?

I like this one - what is that white stuff? mashed potatoes? (now I have a craving for hot mashed potatoes with butter and salt)

 

[Kurben]

She a friend of yours?

At least i like her drawings. They capture the spirit of a swedish christmas of old. Perhaps we'll meet in some kind of afterlife?

 

[Neesy]

At least i like her drawings. They capture the spirit of a swedish christmas of old. Perhaps we'll meet in some kind of afterlife?

Thanks for introducing me to her art - I love these pictures!

 

[Kurben]

She a friend of yours?

I like this one - what is that white stuff? mashed potatoes? (now I have a craving for hot mashed potatoes with butter and salt)

That is very probably rice pudding (boiled, so it is hot). That was and is a traditional christmas dish in sweden. It is eaten with cinnamon and perhaps some sugar. Often one almond is hidden in it. The person who gets the almond was said to be married next year.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...I'm trying to hide, and avoid the whole issue...I'm not a humbug-I just always get drafted into dragging the boxes upstairs from the landfill we call a basement, it of the six foot ceilings and me of the nearly seven foot head...