Little Scandinavian » Christmas

Christmas Charity Event with CPH Kids

Scandinavian mum — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:07:27 +0000

CPH Kids teamed up with the Danish Red Cross Youth and arranged a memorable Christmas Eve charity party for the children at the Crisis Centre in Copenhagen. In the spirit of the season, the exhibitors at CPH Kids donated both clothes and accessories and made it possible to hand out to all the 102 children at the Crisis Centre in Copenhagen a very special Christmas present. The event was according to any traditional Scandinavian Christmas party with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, lots of gorgeous presents handed out by Santa, live music, drinks from Little Miracles and delicious food provided by Meyer’s.

The party even made it to the national news showing happy children dancing around the Christmas tree and opening presents.

Little Scandinavian is hugely impressed by CPH Kids and their exhibitors for their wonderful contributions and sense of social responsibility. It makes us even more excited about visiting the children’s fashion trade show CPH Kids 2-5 February.

Did you know that CPH Kids have a charity shop at the CPH kids fair where you can find items donated by the participating designers and brands at the fair? Make rare finds and scoops from last season or even collection items not available anywhere else. All proceeds will be donated to Youth Red Cross.

www.cphkids.dk

Happy Holidays and have a Peaceful Romjul

Scandinavian mum — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:27:15 +0000

In Norway the week between Christmas and New Years Eve is called Romjul. In earlier centuries Norway celebrated Christmas from the 24th of December with Christmas eve to 6th of January and the Holy three Kings day. Romjul were the days from the Holy Christmas days until January 6th. The vikings used to call it rúmheilagr (“less holy holiday”) + jól (“Christmas”) in the old Norse language. Nowadays most of the celebration lasts only until New Years Eve and January 1st.

Romjul is a time for peace and quiet at home with time off from work and schools are closed. It is a quiet time of Christmas with shops being closed or with very limited opening hours. Romjula is a time most often spent with the family, spent with reading or boardgames indoors and walks outdoors for fresh air and reflection. Many families go skiing and sledging and also enjoy their holiday at their mountain cottages, where also New Years Eve is celebrated.

We are enjoying some quiet time in London this year, with Romjul lunches and dinners with family and friends, walks around the city’s many parks and indoor activities such as reading, playing boardgames with the girls and so on. The Christmas tree and all the decoration is still up and we are doing our very best to finish both the Christmas food and cookies… And then going for more walks!

Nativity: An angel appeared in the sky

Scandinavian mum — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Mid December is time for Nativity plays around in Nurseries and Schools in Britain, new to us when we moved here in 2007.
We think it’s a lovely tradition and the children truly enjoys it. Little A was the Angel Gabriel, with an important message to Mary.

© Little Scandinavian

Happy St Lucia Day!

Scandinavian mum — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:13 +0000

Lucia day in Scandinavia is on December 13th – a very special day in the Scandinavian calendar. Originally, St Lucia celebrated “the bearer of light” and the tradition today is still that a train of people dressed in white will walk in the dark bearing candles, singing Christmas carols.
The Lucia celebrations in Sweden can be traced back to the tradition in German Protestant families of having girls dressed as angelic Christ children, handing out Christmas presents. The Swedish variant of this white-dressed Christkind started to appear in upper-class families in the 18th century on Christmas Eve with a candle-wreath in her hair, handing out candy and cakes to the children. Another theory claims that the Lucia celebration evolved from old Swedish traditions of Star Boys (as seen in picture) and white-dressed angels singing Christmas carols at different events during Advent and Christmas. In either case, the current tradition of having a white-dressed girl with candles in her hair appearing on the morning of the Lucia day started in the area around Lake Vänern in the late 18th century and spread slowly to other parts of the country and Norway during the 19th century.

Find out more about the celebration and Saint Lucy’s Day in London or get the yummy recipe on sweet saffron buns to bake and enjoy with the family tonight!

Scandinavian Christmas Fair, in Guildford Sunday 4th of December

Scandinavian mum — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:53:33 +0000

Scandinavian Christmas Fair in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust
Sunday 4th December 2011, 10am – 4pm
Holiday Inn, Egerton Road, Guildford, GU2 7XZ.
Admission £2 – children free.

More than 30 Scandinavian companies will be gathered for a Scandinavian Christmas Fair in Guilford tomorrow, with stall holders like Danish Food Direct, Scandi Living, Totally Swedish, Polarn O Pyret, Nordic Design Forum, Dalahome, Lotta from Stockholm, Floral Symphonies and Nordic Elements, Flor-unikon to name but a few.
Shop around for the ultimate Nordic design Christmas presents, whilst sipping on a glass of gløgg (mulled wine the traditional Scandinavian Kitchen). Get into that festive spirit and raise and at money for the Teenage Cancer Trust!

Look at this homemade Reindeer Advent Calendar!

Scandinavian mum — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:32:31 +0000

A reader of Little Scandinavian was so inspired by the post How to make a reindeer advent calendar that she decided to make her own. “I loved the DIY reindeer advent calendar with brown packages. I was so inspired that I made my own.Wandering around the craft store looking for interesting containers and wrapping was great fun, and I really enjoyed putting them together.”
And we have to say it looks lovely, Trish! The green and red gift wrapping looks rather festive too! Very Scandi-Chic indeed!

Homemade reindeer Advent Calendar

Holmegaard Christmas Celebrate Decoration

Scandinavian mum — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:29:56 +0000

Bring the Nordic nature in for a contemporary Christmas celebration this year. Holmegaard is Denmark’s oldest and largest glassworks, with production of high quality glass since 1825. Leading Danish glassmakers have made their own collections for Holmegaard and today the glassworks is known for quality and timeless design.
The Celebrate ornaments by the Danish-Swedish designer team, Alken and Bengtsson, for Holmegaard Christmas was launched August 2011. The nature inspired glass ornaments in subtle transparent colours is perfect on the Christmas tree, in the window or from a branch in the ceiling for a contemporary touch in your Christmas home. The glass pieces are wrapped individually in paper and comes in a small box, perfect as an early Christmas gift. Celebrate Holmegaard Christmas retails from £10.99
The branch is from the woodlands, made by theScandinavianDad. We have 10 ornaments hanging which creates the branch into a contemporary and utterly gorgeous designer piece, perfect for both the Advent time and the upcoming Christmas celebration. Looks as lovely in the ray of the winter sun as in the shimmer of the candle light. And it was so much fun making it! I think I’ll have a hard time putting it away in January, so don’t be surprised if you see it still up around Easter…

© Little Scandinavian

Now, next on my wish list is the Holmegaard Celebrate Pearl Vase for Amaryllis (or candles), also perfect for Christmas.

Scandinavian Christmas Fairs in London 2011, part lll

Scandinavian mum — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:00:28 +0000

Located in leafy Hampstead the Danish KFUK is hosting the annual Danish Christmas Basar. We went along this weekend and stocked up on what we needed and probably a bit more.
What we had: Danish bright red hot-dog and bread.
What we bought: Christmas tree candle lights and holders, Christmas decoration, Advent Calendar gifts, nostalgic gift cards, spruce wreath for our homemade Advent Candle holder and a stem wood vase that can be used as a candle or a pencil holder.

© Little Scandinavian

Last minute: Make your own Scandi Chic Advent Calendar

Scandinavian mum — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:22:58 +0000

Only a few days left to the 1st of December but still time to make a homemade Scandi Chic Advent Calendar for the family.
What we find particular nice with this one is that when your children bring home their Christmas Decoration from school there’s a place to hang it up! Also, when emptied on the day the cones can also be saved for the Christmas tree decoration on the 23d of December, and then be filled with home made sweets and treats and be very decorative on the Christmas tree. So in addition to being reusable and multifunctional this homemade Advent Calendar is also unbelievable chic and decorative.

The base: From the forest a large branch
The parcels: Nostlagic old style, easy homemade cones, filled with sweets and small toys.

Also, do check out the handmade affordable branch pendant over at decor8blog by the Swedish blogger Anna-Malin Lindgren

Local Christmas shopping

Scandinavian mum — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:12:00 +0000

This morning I went for brunch with the lovely girls from UrbanMumsLondon and BabyccinoKids in Maida Vale, a true hidden gem next to Little Venice and the Regents Canal in the City of Westminster. And it was amazing to see one single street filled with charming independent shops on both sides, everything from children’s fashion boutique, antiques, hairdresser, floral shop, gift boutiques to pastry store, organic butcher and a independent wine shop. With a local high street like this there is no reason to go anywhere else for your Christmas shopping! How will you be doing your Christmas shopping this year? Online, locally or in shopping districts and shopping centres?
Below is a few window find from Maida Vale that I simply need to go back for, after 10am when all the shops opens!

© Little Scandinavian the shoes are from the Handmade in London Children’s footwear brand, Vevian