Today my parents in law are coming from Barcelona to visit us and to meet Astrid for the very first time (not counting Skype). To make their stay special I have put out this years Christmas decorations early (usually I wait until the weekend before Christmas eve).Christmas in Spain and Norway are generally speaking quite different. In Norway you can’t have a good “Christmas feeling” or atmosphere without at least a dozen of lit candles. In Spain for the most part candles are associated with either church, or funerals. In Norway we have a big tradition of “Nisser” (small bearded men and women wearing red clothes. They take care of your house and animals, if you take care of them, meaning give them sour cream porridge once in a while).
In Spain the big tradition is to celebrate the three kings that visited Bethlehem to see the new born. In Norway we celebrate the waiting of Christmas Eve, the Advent time. Children (…and some grown ups) have advent calendars. Most people also put a star in one of their windows to symbolize the star which showed the shepherds and the three kings the way to Bethlehem. Both countries have nice traditions but quite different.Last year I had white and purple Christmas decorations. Remember the white trees? This year I want a more traditional red and white Christmas. Since I forget from year to year what I have in the attic, it was almost like Christmas Eve yesterday when I opened the different boxes with decorations.
I have been putting things together in new combinations, trying out and exploring what works out best. Back and forth, up and down. My goal was to not exaggerate, decorating a few spots in the house so that the feel is Christmas and not a gift or decorating shop. For some that is boring for me it is part of the relaxed Christmas feeling I like.
We celebrate x-mas at Tenerife every second year. I feel so sorry for the children that have to wait until January 5th to get their presents :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the holidays with your new born child and your in laws!
I think we have that same wreath (from ikea?) but I pulled it out this year and half of it won't light. And of course ikea makes it so you can't fix there stuff, you just have to buy more.
ReplyDeletehello !I'ma glad you're back blogging , I love your photos !
ReplyDeletewishing you all the best for the new baby too !:-)
Isn't it fun to turn the house into Christmas. I am biased, I know, but the Scandinavian Christmas is the most beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi there
ReplyDeletethanks for visiting my blog; very nice to have 'discovered' yours in turn
I love the title and what it means; reminds me of the concept of 'Liminality'
And hello to the world little Astrid! :)
Hola, me llamo Carolina y vivo en Italia, no se si me entenderàs, pero he visto algunos post en castellano y como tu blog me encantò pensè en decirtelo :0)
ReplyDeleteBesos, Carol