Holiday Traditions and Decorations

- Written by Maria Holm

Holiday traditions and decorations are a large portion of December for me, being Swedish. We celebrate with easy things you can make at home yourself with family and friends, that brightens up our homes in the darkest time of the year.

These traditions, passed down through the family through generations, brings us all together over a cup of coffee, or hot mulled wine, Glögg, in Swedish, which is also a December tradition for us.

Here is an easy and beautiful decoration that maybe some of you make as well. We hang these in our kitchen windows and put in bowls on tables as decorations, to brighten our homes with the beautiful aromatic scent of orange and clove.

Oranges with dried cloves and red silk ribbons.

Use large beautiful fresh oranges, wipe them off to have a clean smooth surface to work on, on your orange.

Push dried cloves, one by one, in to the surface of the orange, in patterns you like. Be carful with your fingers, since the cloves are sharp. When you have a pattern you like and your orange is beautiful, you are done with the cloves.

Next, take red silk ribbons and wrap the orange in enough ribbon so you can hang it in your window. You can wrap it intricately or simple, your choice on how much red you want on your orange. If you are putting the oranges in a bowl or on the table as a decoration, just use enough ribbon to make it festive and nice. Make as many as you like, or one for each family member.

Now your orange and clove holiday decorations are done. Decorate your home and enjoy the bright aromatic scent!

It’s an easy decoration that last all december long, and even the youngest members of the family can make. I hope you try it and bring some Swedish holiday cheer and scents into your family traditions for this time of the year!

Happy Holiday Traditions from my family to yours!

Maria Holm