NORDIC STYLE CHRISTMAS

Mischievous elves, homemade glogg, gingerbread and real fir trees with simple handmade decorations – Jul in Scandinavia is a precious time for family and friends to come together and celebrate. God Jul!

Pictured here:

Wild reindeer are a common sight in Norway

As in many secular countries, Christmas in Scandinavia is very much about being with family and friends, eating good food, getting out in the snow and singing traditional songs. In fact, Swedes, Norwegians and Danes have never adopted the word Christmas and refer to the holidays as Jul (Yule), its 'original' pagan name.

Christmas falls within days of the winter solstice, which is believed to have been when the Vikings held their midwinter sacrifice celebration. But some historians now say that it is more likely to have taken place in January, which is when they appeased the gods by slaughtering animals and putting on a grand feast.

Throughout Scandinavia, as elsewhere in Western nations, the pagan Yule rituals were adopted by the church when the area became Christian from the 11 ODs and onward, and today they are a mixture of heathen and religious celebrations, with additions throughout the centuries. These include the Christmas tree which started becoming common in Scandi homes in the 1700s and advent candles, which arrived in the early 20th century and can now be seen in every window come December.

Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway all have 24 December as their main day of celebration, when families gather and presents are handed out. What most Scandinavians hold dearest at Christmas time is the food, and it is at the dinner table where we find slight variations in the way they celebrate.

Clockwise

from left: The colder months in Scandinavian countries can be particularly harsh yet also stunningly beautiful. Further out into the countryside you’ll see cabins set among snowcovered forests-a picture-perfect scene of a Nordic winter; A famous depiction of Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway who ruled from the 9th to the 10th century-the word Jul was first used in an ode to him; wooden woven hear decoration

Clockwise from

left: A traditional Scandinavian Christmas table; Snow covers the village of Sjøholt, Norway, famous for the 19thcentury Ørskog church; Nisse (elves) for sale at a Christmas market, Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark

The Christmas smorgasbord, called Julbord (Christmas table), or Julfrukost (Christmas Lunch) is of the highest importance to many, and the Swedes possibly more than others-although a Dane or a Finn might disagree.

The Swedish Julbord is essentially a smorgasbord buffet, which is eaten in ‘rounds’. A common Julbord session will include two fish rounds, the first with several types of pickled herring, then another with salmon: cured and smoked. The cold cuts The Christmas smorgasbord, called Julbord (Christmas table), or Julfrukost (Christmas Lunch) is of the highest importance to many, and the Swedes possibly more than others-although a Dane or a Finn might disagree.

The Swedish Julbord is essentially a smorgasbord buffet, which is eaten in ‘rounds’. A common Julbord session will include two fish rounds, the first with several types of pickled herring, then another with salmon: cured and smoked. The cold cuts

All Scandinavian countries have a mischievous elf, a tradition dating back to the Viking era. In Norway and Denmark he’s called a nisse and has the features of a goat (Julebukk), while in Sweden he is known as a tomte.

The Danes, like the Swedes, enjoy Julefrokost on several occasions throughout December-often one with work, one with the family, and one with friends, but on Christmas Eve they serve Christmas duck with sugar fried potatoes and gravy, and drink wine, only to have Julefrokost again on Christmas Day.

The red and white of these simple-to-make felt decorations are incredibly effective and will add an instant Scandi look to your festive home.

YOU WILL NEED

•Squares of red felt, approximately 23cm x 23cm •Scraps of white felt •Red and white stranded cotton embroidery threads •Pins and needles •Chalk or ‘disappearing’ fabric pen •A soft pencil •Small scissors •Polyester filling or cotton wool (for the stuffing) •Narrow red, white or red and white ribbon, about 20cm per decoration •Small bells, buttons, sequins or other adornments (optional) •Red and white sewing threads (optional)

METHOD

1 Decide which festive shape you’re going to start with-maybe a heart, star, reindeer or Christmas tree-and then make a paper template. Draw round it on the felt using the soft pencil. Then cut it out, cutting just inside the pencil line, and repeat to produce a matching felt shape.

2 Now sew a decorative pattern, like a snowflake, or heart of white felt onto your red shape using tiny running stitches with one or two strands of red cotton. Or you could just add sequins or buttons.

3 Place the pair of felt pieces on top of each other, wrong sides together, and pin them in place. Cut a length of two strands of white thread and knot the end. Now do a blanket stitch around the edge (approximately 2-3mm from the edge). Carry on round the whole shape until you get to the rope,where the ribbon will be.

4 Cut a length of ribbon that is 15-20cm long, depending on preference. Fold it in half and insert the ends between the two pieces of felt,pinning them in place. Then continue stitching, taking care that the ribbon is caught by at least two stitches. Alternatively, you can sew the ribbon on the outside afterwards, turning the ends under to hide them, using matching sewing thread or a single strand of embroidery thread.

5 Stop your stitching at the appropriate corner, or else about 2cm from the start of the stitching, to leave a gap for stuffing. Push small amounts of stuffing into the decoration, using the blunt end of a pencil to help fill narrow parts like the points of the star. Then close the hole with a few tiny stitches to stop it coming undone. Hide the end of the thread in the middle of the decoration. Trim round the edges with a small pair of scissors to make the felt edges tidy-and it’s ready to hang.