Mosaic Monday: Christmas Market Collages

A “Santaland” is built up in the town square for December. Santa himself is still sleeping, but activity might increase as we get closer to Christmas. In the tent, reminding of a Lapp cot, hot drinks are served.

In front of the old town hall, big Advent candles are lighted (one for each Sunday, or in this case Saturday, before Christmas). Advent hymns are sung by choirs from the different churches. To the fountain in the middle of the square, a special winter decoration has been added to replace the usual running water.

Shopping is encouraged by extra Christmas markets held both indoors and outdoors. The yellow wooden building is one of few remaining wooden houses in town (most were destroyed in fires long ago). It is used for art classes and other study circles, and sometimes exhibitions and markets.

For more mosaics, visit Mary’s Little Red House.

The Star

I’m not sure how widespread the tradition is in other countries, but here many people put up an Advent star in their windows this time of year. The origin is of course the star that according to the Gospel of Matthew (Ch.2) was seen by Magi (“wise men”) from the East at the birth of Jesus. 

“… and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and or myrrh.”

 

For more reflection photography, visit Weekend Reflections at Newton Area Photo.

Mosaic Monday: Snowy Christmas Collage

Christmas Day

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,

the shepherds said to one another,

'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing

that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,

and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:15,16

Christmas Eve

God Jul och Gott Nytt År

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 

Here in Sweden, Father Christmas starts his rounds to deliver presents on Christmas Eve, and he usually knocks on the door in person instead of trying to squeeze in through the chimney.

The little house is a copy of storehouse from Northern Sweden. I wasn't sure of its origin but my aunt recently told me she remembers it from her childhood; her and my mother's father came from up North. The wooden bowl on the right is also from the same parts; that I think was bought on a holiday trip our family made there in the late 60's. The body of the Santa figure is a pine cone; I got that from a friend.

The Yule Buck

Before Father Christmas, there was the Yule Buck to deliver Christmas presents in Scandinavia. Bucks made of straw are still a common Christmas decoration. This one made of evergreen branches I saw at the Christmas market in town.




And here is another one I found last week in a garden I was passing!

Christmas Market

Santaland Window Display

Time for Private and Public Advent/Christmas Decorations

Read more about our Advent traditions at my blog The Island of the Voices (the first Advent-related post was Monday 23 November).

Time to Start the Christmas Cleaning

In my personal opinion, the supermarket is "overdoing" it a bit...