Anyway, this little aside here is another consequence of my childhood in Sweden but now, without any further ado, here’s how you make them (you literally only need pine cones, felt, needle and thread and a few drops of glue):

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There’s really no right or wrong way to go about it – depending on the effort you want to put in you can keep it very simple, or go a little bit crazy, or both. I decided on a vintage scrap-book-style theme, so I just printed some vintage floral art and stuck them in, complemented with some gold washi-tape and gold marker. It turned out very pretty, and was very quick and easy to do. This way the trackers at the start of the journal all have a cohesive look, whereas as soon as I got into the book pages, things started to go in any direction possible, depending on the style and theme of the book.

Pages you will want to include:

• Title page (maybe with a quote)
• Reading goals
• TBR spread (book titles to get around to, maybe unread books you already own, or suggestions you want to try)
• Series tracker
• Monthly recap (titles read, optionally some reading stats like total page count etc. and ratings at a glance)

More fun (optional) spreads:

• 24 books for 2024
• First Lines
• Reading around the world/Through history

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The post Starting a Reading Journal from Scratch for Beginners first appeared on Around the Year.

After moving away to England 7 years ago, we kept the tradition of singing a few songs at home, and baking our version of the customary Lussebullar: since we prefer the taste, we simply make Cinnamon rolls, but roll them into the traditional s-shape required.

This year I found out that there are actually one or two Lucia events in London, but unfortunately it was too far away for me to attend weekly rehearsals.

Then last week, on an impulse, I sewed myself a white Lucialinne, the simple white shift dress worn for the festivities, which really resembles and Edwardian nightgown. Since it’s impossible to buy them here, and the dress is a really simple one, I decided to just make one, even though I wouldn’t be wearing it anywhere. Unfortunaltey I couldnt find a Luciakrona, the candle crown anywhere, and it was impossible to build one. They need to be quite sturdy and are usually made of metal, with either 5 or 7 candles. Often the bare metal is then wrapped in evergreens and secured with red ribbon. I did however make a normal wreath like the one worn by Lucia’s followers to complete the look.

I ended up shooting this short video, to capture the mood of the season:

Lucia: Symbolism and Backstory

The name Lucia or Lucy can mean light, and that together with her feast day on December 13th in the dark of winter helped her gain popularity in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden, where her feast day is celebrated as the Night of Light. Lucia is dressed in a long white gown (feel free to be creative with white skirts and long-sleeve blouses) with a red ribbon or sash tied around the waist, the ends falling down the front of the dress. Naturally the real St Lucy of Syracuse would not have dressed like that, the Lucia costume could be symbolical of her attributes (white=virginity, red=martyrdom), as well as being a crossover with a Christmas angel.

The first evidence of a a white-clad Lucia dates back to the 18th century, where she was depicted with angels wings, and carrying candles in both hands. However Lucia as a public holiday only came into fashion in the 1950s, in connection with the crowning of the towns Lucia, similar to a beauty pageant.

Men also participate in the Lucia procession and choir, usually as Stärngossar (star boys) inspired by the three wise men.

Ideas to Celebrate Lucia from Home In Style

• Watch a Lucia procession online (see a few of my favourites below)
• Bake Lussebullar and serve with mulled wine or cardamon coffee
• Light up your backyard (or a part of the forest) with candles – extra points for snow!
• Dress as Sankta Lucia or a Stärngosse and serve your family and friends cakes or pastries
• Sing “Sankta Lucia”

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Luciamorgon i Kungsholms kyrka

Sankta Lucia – Celebrating Light in the Dark of Winter December 13th St Lucy's Day 2023

Lucia 2019 – Lucia morning from Gränna Sweden

Light in the darkness | Swedish Lucia Tradition

Lucia 2022 – Lucia morning from Gräfsnäs Sweden

LUCIA – The night of light

Lucia 2018 i Kungsholms Kyrka med Kungsholmens gymnasium/Stockholms musikgymnasium

A Salutation to Light in the Darkest of Nights

Jonna Jinton Lucia 2014 "Ljus i mörkret"

Helen Sjöholm & Benny Andersson Nu tändas tusen juleljus

Lucia – Ljus i mörkret HD jonnajinton.se

Lucia 2015 Sweden (Updated subtitles)

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The post Celebrating Lucia from Home: Easy Traditions you can Start Right Now! first appeared on Around the Year.

In recent years, Christmas has become very commercialized, traditional nativity scenes giving way to plastic Santas and cartoonish elfs. It’s no wonder, that also true reason we celebrate Christmas is slowly forgotten by many, as we spend December going for parties, dinners and shows, busy celebrating in a time of what should be preparation for the Feast of the Birth of Jesus.

But what about our Christmas traditions? Many people that these have been taken over from the pagan cultures. Especially the Christmas tree faces a lot of criticism this way, as it has seemingly nothing to do with Christmas. But what is the true story?

The Christmas tree originated in Germany, and has only quite recently been popularized in Great Britain, namely by Prince Albert in the 19th century, who was of German birth. The royal family embracing this tradition led to it quickly becoming fashionable among the people of England – similar to wearing white on your wedding day, which was popularized by Queen Victoria’s choice of wedding dress.

The tradition of decorating a fir tree for Christmas can be traced back to 680 AD, when a Christian bishop, St Boniface, was sent on a mission to Hesse, Germany, which was still mainly pagan at the time. He saw that the pagans were celebrating the winter solstice by actually sacrificing a man to their gods. St Boniface decided to show the people that their gods were powerless, by cutting down a massive oak tree that was sacred to Thor, the god of thunder. The people, seeing that no punishment fell on St Boniface, asked how to celebrate Christmas.

The bishop indicated a young fir tree, that had miraculously remained unharmed in the midst of the debris of the fallen oak, and asked each family to take a fir into their homes: the pointy top pointed to heaven and the evergreen branches symbolized eternal life. Later, people began hanging wafers on the tree, to symbolize the Eucharist, which over time, were substituted for cookies and apples. Today, these early ancient Christmas tree oranments have given way to baubles and ornaments of all shapes and sizes. Candles were also added to symbolize Christ as the Light of the World, and though these have given way to LED fairy lights, many people in Germany still use real candles on their trees today.

Curious about the background of more Christmas traditions? Watch the video below, and be surprised at the unlikely origins of the traditions we now associate to Christmas!

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The post The True Origin of the Christmas Tree – It’s Not What You Think! first appeared on Around the Year.

So I did a little research on cute summer tops that would not require much fabric. I was thinking cottage-core-bustier type to be the least fabric-demanding. So going in that direction, I played with different pattern ideas, and even using a supplementary plain fabric for the larger parts of the top (such as sleeves). As it turns out, this wasn’t even necessary. With a little patch-work piecing it was possible to create an, in my opinion, very pretty top, that, when worn together with the matching skirt makes a lovely dress set.

Watch the video below to see the (very chaotic) construction process Enjoy!

…and if you want to see the skirt I made from the bulk of this fabric:

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The post January 2023 Bullet Journal Setup first appeared on Around the Year.

Below, you’ll find both written instructions and a video tutorial. Let get going!

How to make your Fabric-Covered Baubles:

You’ll need: Takes approx. 10-15 mins.

• a polystyrene ball (I used a 7cm diameter, which is quite small)
• festive fabric
• sharp craft knife
• ribbon
• our FREE pdf pattern

Divide your polystyrene ball into 6 equal sections, and use your craft knife to make cuts along each section. Make sure you cut at least 5mm deep.

Cut out your fabric using our pdf pattern. If you want to make your own, create a leaf-shape as wide as each section and as long as half the circumference of your bauble. Make sure to add a generous seam allowance all around. You’ll need 6 pieces of fabric.

Fix the fabric onto the baubles by pushing the seam allowance into the cuts on the balls using the blunt side of your craft knife. Add a ribbon bow and loop to the top of the bauble using glue or a pin.

Optional: use gold or silver cord to cover the “seams” of your bauble, this is also a good way to hide imperfections! You’ll need to add the cord before the bow though!

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(Reicht für 40 Stück)

Zutaten:

• 200g Butter oder Margarine
• 500ml Milch
• 50g frische Hefe
• 1g gemahlenen Saffran
• 1 Priese Salz
• 180g Zucker
• 800g Weizenmehl
• 1 Eigelb zum Bestreichen
• Rosinen zum Verzieren

Die Butter schmelzen und die Milch dazu gießen. Die Mischung auf etwa 37 °C aufwärmen. Die Hefe in eine große Schüssel bröseln und die Butter-Milch-Mischung darüber gießen. Mit einer Gabel kurz umrühren.

Die übrigen Zutaten hinzufügen und mit dem Handrührgerät etwa 5 min. oder mit der Hand etwa 10 min. verkneten. Etwa 40 min. zugedeckt an einem warmen Ort gehen lassen.

Den Backofen auf 200 °C vorheizen. Auf einer bemehlten Arbeitsfläche den Teig mit den Händen nochmals leicht durchkneten und sodann in kleine Klümpchen teilen. Daraus je eine Rolle formen und von beiden Seiten wie eine Schnecke aufrollen. In die Mitte jeder Spirale eine Rosine drücken.

Die Schnecken mit Eigelb bestreichen und auf einem mit Backpapier ausgelegtem Backblech ungefähr 10 min. backen und auf einem Brett oder Gitter abkühlen lassen.

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The post Einfaches Safranwecken Rezept: Traditionelle Lussebulle zum Luciatag! first appeared on Around the Year.

Ich habe eine Liste mit unseren Lieblings-Adventstraditionen zusammengestellt, die mich von klein auf begleitet haben. Statt das Weihnachtsfest vowegzunehmen, konzetrieren wir uns auf die Adventszeit!

DIY Adventsgesteck

Unser Adventsgesteck ist jedes Jahr etwas anders. Oft hatten wir ein Kastenförmiges, mit Moos und winzigen Fligenpilzchen verziert. Dieses Jahr haben wir uns für ein Adventskranzähnliches Gesteck entschieden, mit 4 dicken roten Kerzen.

Es besteht aus einer Sperrholzplatte, die wir rundlich zugeschnitten, und danch mit Tannenzweigen und Stechpalme verziert haben. Das Grün ist mit einem Heavy-Duty-Tacker befestigt. Von unten aus haben wir Nägelchen in die Platte gehauen, die die Kerzen festhalten.

6. Dezember: St. Nikolaus-Tag

Dieses Fest ist in Deutschland weit verbreitet, und bedarf daher kaum einer Erklärung. Am Niklolausabend (5. Dezember) stellen Kinder ihre Schuhe oder einen Teller vor die Tür, und am Nikolaustag finden sie darin Süßigkeiten, Nüsse und Apfelsinen, die der Nikolaus ihnen gebracht hat. Damit er kommt, muß natürlich das Nikolauslied gesungen werden! Die Geschichte vom heiligen Nikolaus von Myra könnt Ihr hier lesen.

12. Dezember: Fest der Marienerscheinung in Guadaloupe

Obwohl ich von der Erscheinung gehört habe, ist dieses Fest ist auch für mich neu, und werde sie dieses Jahr zum ersten mal feiern. Marias erschien 1531 dem mexikanischen Jungen Juan Diego, der den Bischof um den Bau einer Kirche bitten sollte. Der Bischof verlangte ein Zeichen, also trug Maria dem Juan Diego auf, Rosen zu pflücken und zum Bischof zu bringen. Juan Diego tat es, und als er die Rosen aus seinem Mantel auschüttete, sah man auf dem Stoff das Marienbild von Guadaloupe, welches bis heute nicht erklärbar ist. Wir können diesen Tag mit rosenförmigen Keksen und mexicanischem Kakao (mit Zimt, Vanille und etwas Chilli) feiern.

13. Dezember: Fest der Hl. Lucia von Syrakus

Ein Fest des Lichts in den dunkelsten Tagen des Skandinavischen Winters: dieses Fest lernte ich in meiner Kindheit in Schweden kennen. Der Luciaumzug findet am Abend des 13. Dezembers statt – weiß gekleidete Mädchen mit roten Schleifen um die Taille und Kerzen in der Hand (und bei der “Lucia” auf dem Kopf) ziehen in die Kirche ein, und singen Weihnachts- und Lucialieder.

Av Claudia Gründer – Claudia Gründer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Länk

Da die meisten von uns keine Luciaumzug mitmachen bzw. ansehen können, kann man zu Hause mit unzähligen Kerzen den dunklen Garten erleuchten (oder, wie diese Schwedin, den Wald).

Auch dazu gehören Lussebulle oder Lussekatter. Sie werden nach ähnlichem Rezept wie Zimtschnecken zubereitet, jedoch in S-Form gedreht und mit Safran gelb gefärbt, damit auch sie leuchten. Zum Rezept!

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Download your FREE template here.

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