It wouldn't be Jul (Christmas) without sharing the charming home of Swedish interior stylist Anna Truelsen, right? And this year it's as cosy and festive as can be! I caught up briefly with Anna to find out more about what Christmas means to her and her ethos behind the yuletide touches in her country home!
What does Christmas mean to you?
Christmas means so much to me! I like to decorate in a simple way using what nature has to offer. I dress up chandeliers with lingonberry twigs and make garlands from fresh pine.
When do you bring in the Christmas tree?
We put up the tree on 1st December, and then a few days before Christmas when my daughter comes home from Lund University, we decorate the tree in a Nutcracker theme. We have watched the Nutcracker every Christmas together since my daughter was a child.
Your Christmas table looks beautiful!
For me, food means a lot at Christmas and I love picking herring and baking bread.
How do you celebrate Christmas?
We always celebrate on Christmas Eve at home. We start with a special breakfast and sip coffee before 'Tomten' (Father Christmas) arrives to hand out presents. And then we enjoy a a 'Julbord' (Christmas smörgåsbord) in the evening. The day ends with midnight mass at the church.
I love the sound of your Christmas Anna, thank you so much for sharing your story with us!
You can see more pictures from Anna's home on her instagram, and also see a tour from a previous December here.
I have to say, I love the idea of having decorations from the Nutcracker, how about you? My Mother used to take me to see the ballet every Christmas when I was little!
How do you decorate your tree (if you have one / celebrate Christmas)? Do you a have a theme? or perhaps your tree is decorated with an array of nostalgic items collected over the years. I'd love to hear more!
Today in Sweden is a very special day - it's Lucia! A celebration of light which brightens up the darkness, Lucia involves girls in white with a bright red sash and crowned with candles, followed by a procession of characters who are equally resplendent! Usually performed by children in schools across the country, we're treated to songs, saffron buns and glögg (spiced mulled wine)! It's one of my favourite events of the year!
Happy Lucia!
Niki
Photography: Jonas Lundberg
Styling: Anna Truelsen
Shared with kind permission
Her home is so lovely. All the candles and crystal to reflect the light. My favorite detail are the paper chains draped around. Perhaps harkening back to when children were younger and would create them as their contribution in the decorating. I love the idea of the Nutcracker themed tree. When my daughter was little we chose the bigger trees from a farm close to home it was centered around the Twelve Days of Christmas and we would attend the Nutcracker ballet in Indianapolis. Now it's a tabletop tree and The Christmas Carol performed by a band of local actors. And I've scaled down quite a lot since she began Uni so the food preparation is our main focus now, but the days between our Thanksgiving and New Years are always filled with wonder, anticipation and memories. Fingers crossed it's one with snow! Happy Lucia!
ReplyDeleteLaura K, USA
Thank you for sharing this, it sounded like you has some magical Christmas traditions when your children were younger. I love that your days between Thanksgiving and New Year are filled with wonder. Let's hope for snow! Niki
DeleteHer home exudes warmth and a friendly ambiance. I love how the Christmas decor blends, yet still stands out to seasonally adorn her home! It’s all so pretty! Our tree is usually decorated with base, traditional ornaments of one color and then we add special ornaments that have been collected each year to reflect something significant, such as a trip, a pet, a move to a new place, etc. This year we are displaying a small tabletop tree with only white lights and ribbon at the top that is repeated on a door wreath and on the fireplace. I love the simplicity, but I also miss seeing all the “special” ornaments. Happy Lucia! Sounds like a day to look forward to!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of special ornaments that hold meaning. I'm also a fan of simplicity, so all your decorating ideas resonate with me! It sounds like you have a lovely festive home - and the fireplace is the icing on the cake!
DeleteFor years our Minnesota granddaughter, Lucia, is the first year we wont’t do the small tradition of having her dress in white dress and candle crown for the enjoyment of her Nana and Papa with a tray bringing treats and small presents. She’s 12 now and with such a busy schedule asked ‘How long do I have to do this for?’ We have melded so many traditions to include some from Denmark (Papa’s), Korean, Mexican, Irish, German and all American! Scandinavian is most prominent because Nana and Papa went to school
ReplyDeleteI really love that you have kept the scandinavian traditions as well as those from other cultures. alive in Minnesota. My daughter is 13 and she is no longer involved in Lucia either. However, I did notice that she couldn't help but sing and dance to the Lucia music while decorating our tree this evening!
DeleteIs the proper greeting "Happy Lucia Day"? What a beautiful tradition. I enjoyed hearing about that as well as seeing this home which is both elegant and homey.
ReplyDeleteOur tree is full of nostalgic ornaments. This year we have 2 kittens, so the non-breakables are on the tree and I put the fragile ornaments in large clear glass vases on my mantel where my pesky little pets are unlikely to damage them. :)
What a beautiful stove (the wrought iron one).
ReplyDeleteFor me, Christmas is on Christmas Eve. You can take the girl out of Europe but you cannot take Europe out of the girl, as I like to say.
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