Merry Christmas to all of you! My heart goes out to everyone who is ill, who lost someone this past year, who is lonely, who lost his or her job, who is working in a hospital on Christmas Day... I hope 2021 will be better.... May the New Year bring you happiness, good health and a lot of love!
Feliz Navidad, Feliz Natal, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, Vrolijk Kerstmis!
I just love Christmas wreaths! They are such a welcoming sign when you walk by a beautifully decorated house. Traditionally wreaths were used by the ancient Etruscans, Greeks and Romans, who used them as crowns (like a diadem), to show their social status and achievements. Wreaths represent eternal life, being a circle, with no beginning and no end.
In ancient Greece athletes, who won at the Olympic Games, were honored with laurel wreaths. Nowadays they are still used in Italy, when someone graduates from university. ( I always "envied" the Italians for this beautiful tradition.)
During modern history wreaths were used for many different occasions and in many different forms. For example Harvest wreaths, Midsummer wreaths, Easter wreaths, Advent wreaths, funeral wreaths, etc. They can be made out of branches, flowers, berries, plants, ribbons and of course modern decorations.
Here are some Christmas wreaths that I came accross recently. Beautiful, arent't they?
Christmas is still six weeks away... but I'm already planning for Christmas dinner. I love setting the table in a (slightly) different style every year. My favourite plates for Christmas, are the blue ones by Iittala, from the Taika collection.
But I also love a traditional Christmas table setting, with classic red and green colors, white and red flowers, paired with pine twigs and holly leaves. How about you? How will you set your Christmas or Holiday table?
Scented soaps by Ortigia Sicilia:
https://www.ortigiasicilia.com/
Set of 6 Christmas bells with tartan bows by Zara Home:
https://www.zarahome.com
Mini panettone cake by Tre Marie:
https://www.tremariericorrenze.it/it/english/
Mini chocolates by Tony's Chocolonely:
https://tonyschocolonely.com/int/en
Italian seasoning by Xenos:
https://www.xenos.nl/
Contact Lens Case Cherry by Pylones:
https://www.pylones.com/en/
Kitchen timer in the form of a coffee maker (moka) by Flying Tiger:
https://shop.dk.flyingtiger.com/
Smiley bracelet by H.O.F. Fashion:
https://www.hoffashion.nl/
Wooden Christmas tree by Galleria Bavaria:
https://www.galeria-bavaria.com/en/
Christmas napkins by Zara Home:
https://www.zarahome.com
This year instead of going to the local Mexican restaurant, we celebrated Dia de los Muertos at home, combined with Halloween. Without the traditional Mexican music, pan de muertos and the waiters with their faces painted, it was not the same. But the margaritas and tacos tasted just as good!
I didn't grow up with neither Halloween nor Dia de los Muertos, so in the beginning it felt strange to celebrate the dead and eat candy in the form of skulls and skeletons, but over the years I learned to appreciate and even love it.
At the end of the day, both Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, go back to an ancient, Celtic celebration, Samhain or (how it was later called) All Hallows Eve. Already thousands of years ago, people celebrated their dead. But most of all, I think it's a celebration of life. Honor the people who passed away and their lives. And celebrate, have fun, party... Carpe Diem!
Mexican food by KUA Mexican Kitchen restaurant:
http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.com/2014/09/kua-mexican-kitchen-hague-netherlands.html
Mr Skeleton cakes and macarons by De Bijenkorf:
https://www.debijenkorf.nl/
Chocolate pumpkins by Lanwehr GmbH, Confiserie:
https://www.lanwehr.eu/
