BE A LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD

Scented candles are tricky. Too strong, too sweet, too artificial, too bland, etc. Then there comes along the perfect candle that gently stirs the air in the room without overwhelming it. As yo uwalk towards the cashier you turn it around to look at the price tag. What!!?? Sixty dollars! For wax in a tin jar!? 

That's why I'm excited about this candle (though I am yet to smell it). Made only from sustainable plant sources, sourced from a company listed as an ethic employer, and recommended by Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. Sold by Unicef Sweden for about 20 USD, meaning all profits benefit an important cause.

The perfect hostess gift. 

Or get a bunch and treat loyal customers/clients/employees this winter. 

IMAGE: UNICEF SWEDEN WEBSHOP

GREAT GRANITE

I can't remember a time in my life when this small PK bowl wasn't on my wishlist. Designed by Danish designer Poul Kjærholm in the early sixties as an addition to his popular marble ashtray, and still available from Architectmade.
IMAGE: ILUMS BOLIGHUS WEBSHOP

PREPARATIONS HAVE BEGUN

IMAGE: PAINTING BY CARL LARSSON VIA FLICKR

THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS

The Swedish Public Radio has two channels devoted to christmas music only. The channels are available between 26th of November and 9th of January.  Both stations are available online:

P2 Klassisk jul, traditional christmas music
P4 Bjällerklang, popular christmas music

As a service to those of you that are technically or "swedishally" challenged, I've also added them to the sidebar of this page. Just press play.

The Norwegian public radio also has a channel fully devoted to christmas music.
Listen in online at NRK Julemusikk.

Happy listening!

YOUR GUIDE TO YULETIDE STUFFING

An excellent summary of Swedish Christmas foods by Sivert Sidebo, Scanorama.

"Unlike the Americans, Scandinavians don't eat turkey for Christmas. Instead they serve a beautifully decorated large smorgasbord, a julbord or julebord.

The idea is to eat just a little of everything because there is always more food than you have anticipated. Most Scandinavians have made the mistake of eating too much on the first round.

The first course should be filled with different kinds of herring (mustard, arlic, or onion-pickled), other fish, often salmon (smoked, pickled, cooked or peppered), caviar, boiled eggs and potatos [sic]. Many people like to have a schnapps to go with this first course. There are also those who want some schnapps with every course.

The second course should be a plate of cold cuts like patés, smoked and cooked ham, sausages, deer, turkey, goose, and lamb ribs.

The third course is the warm one. You can fill it with brown beans, small sausages, meatballs, boiled lutefisk, potato and anchovy gratin or red and browned cabbage. Are you full yet? If not, take a fourth course of rice pudding, accompanied by either cinnamon, sugar and milk, or with fruit sauce.

For your fifth course, try some different kinds of cheeses. Camembert, blue cheese, whisky cheddar, edam or perhaps some brie. The sixth course is dessert. Come on, you can down some chocolate cake, lemon or raspberry mousse, créme caramel, gingerbread cookies, crullers, or almond tarts with strawberry jam and whipped cream.

Last but not least is the seventh course, the goodie plate. Bananas, small citrus fruits, apples, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, walnuts, jelly beans, rapberry and licorice gum drops, arrack pralines.

Now that you are pleased and content you can join the dances and games around the Christmas tree. Or take our advice: just sit back and relax."

Published with permission from Swedish inflight magazine Scanorama. 
IMAGE: IKEA ON FACEBOOK

PRIMARY COLOURS

Scandi baby gifts that can stand a good beating (and biting) and will last for generations. Streamliner Rally from Playsam, Stacking clown from BRIO, Worm rattle from Kalikå, 3D Puzzle from Micki, MULA from IKEA.

DRESS UP

I have a weak spot for black dresses. I know colour is beautiful, especially when we're talking dresses, but I just can't help it. I'm thinking little black dress for Christmas. My mother-in-law once remarked something about looking like I was in constant mourning... If push comes to shove, I'll wear red shoes!
IMAGE: LITTLE GIRL IN TROMSÖ, PERSPEKTIVET MUSEUM

IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE?

No, it's the town christmas tree being flown in by helicopter. An amazingly boring video. Two and a half minutes of flying fir. But it does show 1. what "our daylight" looks like at the moment 2. what our weather is like. Which also happen to be the two most frequent questions I get these days. Well, you have your answer here. Along with an airborn tree.

ON THE GUEST LIST

When I saw these while browsing RUSTA's christmas collection I instantly liked them. I just can't decide whether they say "fun family" and "Charlie Brown Christmas" or "tacky family" and "Mr Bean celebrates Christmas". Either way, if I was hosting a holiday party, they'd be invited en masse.

IMAGE: RUSTA

PLING PLONG

These  Änglaspel classics are available at the Byggfabriken webshop again. Last year they sold out well before christmas so hurry hurry! Also available at Rum att älska, and Designonline.
IMAGE: BYGGFABRIKEN

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Svenskt Tenn presented their christmas products last week. I've tried everything: sitting on my hands, hiding my wallet, singing a Primary song every time my mind wanders in this direction, but to no avail. I see no way out other than sneaking a few gifts for petite moi under the tree myself.
IMAGE: SVENSKT TENN WEBSHOP

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

 

Tipp Tipp Tapp alternates short stories and children's songs in fun arrangements, and accompanies a sweet anthology by the same name. There's both the stillness of winterforests and tree-looting giddyness in this family favourite.
Maria Haukaas Mittet is native to Troms, and her christmas collaboration Lys imot morkertida with Oslo Gospel Choir will be our family's backdrop this christmas. Warm vocals and pleasant arrangements.
Another excellent collaboration we can't live without in this family is Grammynominated Spirit of the Season with Sissel Kyrkjebö and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. World-class arrangements and performances!
Click on the covers to listen in.
IMAGES: BOKUS, ITUNES, AMAZON.COM

LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN

Nobody knows why Swedish tradition demands seven different kinds of home made cookies if it's to be considered a proper cookie platter (usually accompanying coffee). It's a custom that suddenly gained popularity in the late 1800's, and its origin remains a mystery to this day.

What we do know is that food and retail company ICA dates back to 1917. In 1945 one of its subdivisions held a competition for cookie recipies yielding more than 8000 entries. The best recipes were compiled into a collection that quickly became a household staple in Sweden. By 2005 the 84 continually revised editions had sold 3,4 million copies over the years. An edition in English was released in 2008 and is the ultimate christmas gift for any baker with a Scandinavian heritage or interest. 

Available anywhere in Sweden, for example here (Swedish), here (English) and here (Swedish). Preview available at Amazon.com.
IMAGE: TANT GUL, USED WITH PERMISSION

JARRED

If there's anything I find universally useful it's good looking containers with lids. A jar of snacks for the desk at work, vitamins on the breakfast table, almonds by the computer, coin savings, sallad toppings, dog treats, secrets on the night stand, jam and chutneys on the smorgasbord. Scandinavian style, functionality and christmas spirit rolled into one: Höganäs burk in glazed stoneware.

IMAGE: DESIGNONLINE WEBSHOP

SWEET HOME OF MINE

This small square sign from Exmez reads Home Sweet Home. My sentiments exactly, except we're smack in the middle of moving. Home sweet home... Did you hear that, sweet home of mine? It doesn't read "Boxes Sweet Boxes." Now, go unpack yourselves, please.
IMAGE: EXMEZ.SE

COUNTDOWN

We're down to less than 2 hours of sun each day. Three more days before polar night sets. This is one of the kindest peaks to hike and ski, Lille Blåmann (Little Blue Man) and a 10 minute drive from the town center (it's also the view from our living room).
IMAGE: TERJE LEIN MATHISEN 

ALL THE PRETTY HORSES - II

I want a traditional red horse, but the unfinished horses from the original workshop might look better in our home. Should I honor tradition or aesthetics? It's a question I bet a lot of national costume wearers ask themselves when they look in the mirror as well...
IMAGE: NORRGAVEL

ALL THE PRETTY HORSES I

Sometimes a little bit of kitsch is exactly what you need to lift your spirits (and outfits) on a gray November morning. I stumbled upon the tiny Dalecarlian horses made into irreverent bijouteries by Messini Design. Such a perfect gift since it fits small packages that travel faster around the globe and arrive in time for Christmas. 

IMAGE: MESSINI DESIGN WEBSHOP, USED WITH PERMISSION 

MAKING A LIST. CHECKING IT TWICE.

First item checked off the list. 3 potted bulbs in house.
IMAGE:  MARTIN CAUCHON VIA FLICKR

PARING DOWN

As much as we love christmas and all its trappings, we also love cutting back, and keeping things simple. The parents in this family felt we could live without a lot of the trimmings - a.k.a. stress- and still enjoy the season to the fullest. Perhaps that should read in order to enjoy the eason to the fullest. So we took an inventory of what matters most to us during the holidays. In short: music, food and plants.

Our christmas essentials list:

Amaryllis
Christmas music in our home. 

Lucia and saphron buns. 

Advent lights. 

Treats and goodies. 

A christmas tree.  

A special meal with local traditional ingredients.  

Reading from the gospel of Luke.

Turns out our son's list is even shorter:
Decorations (he answered "pynt" with a smile)
Gifts.
Christmas tree.
Gingerbread cookies. 

TICK TOCK

It's difficult to find a great unisex gift. It's difficult to find a beauty of an alarm clock. Those are just two reasons for why this table clock named Station is nothing short of a gem. A Danish design classic by Arne Jacobsen and available from Rosendahl. Fits snugly in a suitcase or a package overseas.
IMAGE: ROSENDAHL WEBSHOP

MY CUP OF TEA

Popcorn is my preferred staff of life and herbal teas my irrigation of choice. When we moved to the North I did an inventory and discovered more than 40 different varieties in my cupboard. Since then I've only re-stocked on two favourites in an attempt to finish up those other 40. I'm now down to only six! If you have a (caffeine-free) herbal favourite I'd love to know. It's time to stock up again!

AMONGST SKIBUM WANNABES

I've seen the signs around the house. A husband peeking out at the mountains at all times of the day, random mentions of snow conditions around the country, ski magazines on bedstands, checking lines from skiers as we drive past mountains. Yesterday the soon 4-year old wouldn't wear anything but his woollongs and  "ski-shirt", (a Quiksilver t-shirt) and threw a fit in the sports store when he realized he wasn't getting new ski boots, nor a snowboard. Then he went home to play computer games. I'm beginning to fear I'll  have a teenage skibum in a few years.
IMAGE: SKISTAR HEMSEDAL

HEJ HOPP

I realize that this isn't a record that will appeal to our international readers, and perhaps not even my husband..., but to myself and those likewise inclined this is a moodlifter extraordinaire. Christmas album  "Santa has gone home" or Tomten har åkt hem (to Haparanda!) by Benny Anderssons orchestra is released today and can be sampled here or there. Don't miss Helen Sjöholms rendition of Nu tändas tusen juleljus.
IMAGE: MONOMUSIC

WIZARDRY?

What do you think? Will I be able to convince the son that this is the epitomy of cool on December 13th?

IMAGE: CLAS OHLSON 

SWEET AND SOUR

Winter season is citrus season. Imported oranges and mandarins, satsumas, clementins. I could never figure out which little citrus was which, since grocery stores weren't exactly bothered with accuracy on the subject. They'd pretty much use the same signs regardless of which kind of citrus they were selling that week. Let's sort things out. 

Mandarin orange

Yellow to orange peel, thin peel, plenty of seeds. Sweeter than clementine.

Mandarins are so full of seeds that they're practically never distributed for sale. Instead, "mandarin" has become a groupname for all kinds of small citrus fruits. 

Clementin  (Citrus clementina)
Slightly thicker peel, rarely any seeds. A breed between mandarin orange and bitter orange (pomerans).
The former bestseller during christmas.

Satsuma (Citrus unshiu)
Slightly thinner peel, at times slightly green peel even when ripe, rarely andy seeds. Originally from Japan. The new bestseller in Scandinavia.

Tangerine
A type of mandarin oranges, mainly grown in the United States.

(Or just do as my son and call them mini-oranges...)
IMAGE: THE GRAPHICS FAIRY

FOR BRAVE SEAMSTRESSES ONLY

Speaking of needlework, the most intricate embroidery in Norway is from the region of Hardanger. That's something to keep you busy on a rainy day. Girl in bunad from Hardanger ca 1900.

IMAGE: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, USA [PUBLIC DOMAIN]

SEW LITTLE TIME

My fingers are itching to get started on sewing projects for christmas, but I can't allow myself to take time to begin unless I know I have time to finish. Need to complete more mundane tasks first, mending knees on about 4 pairs of wool pants among them.  
IMAGE: BY GRACE CHRISTIE

A NEW STAR

These modern floor-to-ceiling windows of our aprtment isn't a good fit with the traditional Swedish adventsbåge. Contemplating instead a couple of a large white stars in the living room and so far this is my favourite: Jupiter from Watt & Weke.

IMAGE: DESIGNONLINE

TOTING YOUR OWN HORN

If you ever experienced what snow can do to gift wrap while you're fumbling with car keys, I need not say a word about the brilliance of (reusable) plastic. Decorative laminated totes are also brilliant when:

- you don't have a tree to gather a pile underneath

- you need to hide wrapped gifts behind the couches 

- you need to hide ugly wrapped gifts next to the tree

- you're delivering food and/or groceries as gifts

- you need to transport unwrapped gifts home from the celebration

- you're bringing "indoor shoes" for the whole family

Carl Larsson themed shopping bag (19 SEK) from Nationalmuseum.
IMAGE: NATIONALMUSEUM WEBSHOP

THE BEST TREETMENT?

We're trying to decide when to bring the tree indoors this year. Isn't the traditional span of 23rd of Dec until 13th of Jan too late to fit recent advent customs? Should it be up and decorated by Lucia? Or by the third Sunday in advent? Any input from our always informed readers?
IMAGE: UPPLANDSMUSEET

GIFT GUIDE

As much as I hate to admit it, Scandinavian Modern and Folklore aren't for everyone. Today's gift guide is for the traditionalists and romantics. Star Fluted Christmas Cake dish by Royal Copenhagen, Fabergé inspired ornaments from Brink, Linen towel Jaktmönstret from Ekelunds, Reproductions of Billmark's Stockholm motifs from the Stockholm City Museum, Gingerbread thins in decorated tin by Annas, Candle holder Lovisa Ulrika by Skultuna.
IMAGE: ROYAL COPENHAGEN; BRINK; EKELUNDS LINNEWÄVERI; STOCKHOLMS STADSMUSEUM; ANNAS PEPPARKAKOR; SKULTUNA

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE

Bed linen Abisko from Åhléns is now available in more colours and solids! The solids in woven cotton chambray have a nicer quality and texture, but pillow cases are available as separates. Just add striped pillows to the monochrome ones, along with a woolen blanket, for a winter update. 

IMAGE: ÅHLENS

SLIPPERY SLOPES

You wouldn't believe the risk involved stepping outside the front door these days. Roads so icy you can literally skate on them. A thin layer of snow on top just to make things even worse. My bum showcases a big nice bruise as a souvenir, courtesy of Tromsö.
IMAGE: TROMSO NOVEMBER 2012, EVGENY SUBOROV

CHEWS WISELY

Homemade soft caramels and toffees are lovely and tasty and pretty and what not, but I just never muster up the energy to start a volatile sugary process that most likely will lead to failure at first attempt. My shortcut is Hemkola from Karamellpojkarna. Their retro-style packaging looks great heaped in bowls, as well as in cones on the tree.

IMAGES: PRESS IMAGE FROM CLOETTA

GREAT GRUB FROM SENJA

My first months this far north I couldn't wrap my head around what local people ate. It took some getting used to, even for a Swede, but now I'm the first in our family to suggest smoked cod or fish patties for dinner.

This book would've gotten me into the game a lot sooner. A well edited collection of the basic flavours and dishes of the region: lapskaus, seikaker, mølja. By now I've sampled most of the dishes, but this gem remains on my wish list. (I'll even forgive their GD's choice of fonts.) If you know anyone from the northern parts of Norway, this is the ultimate gift. Available here: Senjakokken.

 A big thank you to authors Roger Kristiansen and Eirik Nilssen for sharing an excerpt with us, it'll be up here as soon as I get it translated. Stay tuned.
PRESS IMAGES BY PHOTOGRAPHER EIRIK NILSSEN

THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN TO THE FATHERS

I don't have a grave to visit, since I have no relatives in the area. Instead, we'll light candles, dig out old photos, and tell our son about those we remember with love.
IMAGE: RÖKE KYRKA, PHOTO BY DAVID CASTOR

THANK YOU

Annas Jul mentioned Scandinavian Christmas among the five blogs that mean the most to her own blog. I'm flattered, of course. Thank you for the encouragement! 

(I tend to surf around according to mood and agenda, so I can't participate in the challenge and nominate my 5 top bloggers, simply because I don't have any set favourites. Sorry about that, Anna.)

IMAGE: PANDURO HOBBY

ALLHELGONA

Today is Allhelgonaafton in Sweden, the national holiday conveniently combining the celebration of All Saints' Day (a.k.a. All Hallows' Eve or Halloween), and All Souls' Day the first weekend in November.

It's been in vogue since the 8th century or so, meant to infuse the celtic tradition of descendant worship with a Christian purpose. Over centuries, its religious content has been modified back and forth in the flux of Catholic and Protestant influences. Sometime around the 1940's, Italian immigrants lit candles on graves on All Saints and Christmas, and the custom caught on again in Sweden. Most families celebrate with a visit to family graves or memorial sites, followed by fancy family dinners. This modest holiday is therefore the most lucrative for Swedish grocery stores, even surpassing Christmas in terms of net sales!
IMAGE: LILJEHOLMENS STEARINFABRIK, USED WITH PERMISSION

VOTES FOR WOMEN

Anna Rogstad was the first female member of the Norwegian parliament Stortinget, in 1911. A remarkable feat since votes for women were introduced 1913, two years later, in Norway. The right to vote was extended to women in Finland 1906, Denmark 1916 and Sweden 1921. Contrast that to Samoa in 1990, Lichtenstein 1994, Qatar 2000, Unites Arab Emirates 2006, and what's worse: some nations are not even on the list.

Don't ignore the importance of your vote, wherever you live in the world, and recognize that a price was paid for it by someone else. As the world awaits the US election, let's remember those that made possible a female voice in the ballots. If you don't know their names, spend some quality time with Google.
IMAGE: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NORWAY

PLAYLIST FOR NOVEMBER

  

I know that christmas bloggers around the world have confessed to playing christmas music already. I don't care what they say, it's too soon. Try Lisa Nilsson's soothing, warm, vocals, Jan Johansson's melodic sensibility, and Georg Riedel's updated childhood nostalgia as backdrop for crisp days and chilly evenings. If you haven't heard these before, click on the covers to preview. It'll be a treat for your ears.

ME AND YOU DONALD, ME AND YOU

Architects and interior designers are in agreement: regardless of the size of a client's home or size of a project, the one thing everyone wants is more storage. I suppose that's the only thing Donald Trump and I have in common regarding real estate. This solution from GRANIT is more of a show-off than hide-away, but it looks good. 

IMAGE: GRANIT