THE SWEDISH CHRISTMAS TREE | MY SWEDISH CHRISTMAS CALENDAR #14

[@2987chewey]

My children are 24 & 21 and every year since they were born I've bought them an ornament that related to the past year; a favorite Disney character, or toy they enjoyed, ballet dancer, whatever! Lots of wonderful memories❤️🎄

[@tamaramen4517]

My grandparents bought me an ornament every year for Christmas. So when I had my first tree it was covered in their love. When I travel I collect an ornament from the places I go so every piece has a memory.

[@KarateAriel]

I do this too! :)

[@MichelleCleve]

I just LOVE the black and white clips! I laughed so hard! You are amazing, Maria ❤😂

[@NorthernHeart]

Hihihi, I am so glad you like it. I actually laugh a bit myself too :P We're so stupid and corny but I love it :P Thank you my lovely friend

[@yaracastanhotorsater9368]

Woolly animals, sweaters, mittens, hats...anything knitted! Also my very small collection of Elsa Beskow balls

[@fairysoulz4903]

I like my tree to have very natural things on it like cranberries, icicles, pinecones, that sort of thing :)

[@ingagirard9656]

I like simple warm white lights that do not flash, and some of the clips that look like candles. I have some white balls that have crystals in them and they look like snow balls and then I use crocheted lace snowflakes that my grandmother made. Sometimes I change up the tree and use red accents like wood cranberry garland and my tomte ornaments with some of my straw ornaments as well. The Tree is my favorite part of the season and I consider going to chop it down as my gift to myself each year♥

[@catgraaf822]

I only found your channel yesterday and I am so happy I did. It is great to find some beautiful content that is not about giving away discount codes to get people to buy more stuff they do not really need, but rather to make people more conscious about the charm and joy of making time for what matters. I have lived in Sweden for two years and this is such a trip down memory lane, so thank you for that :)

[@NorthernHeart]

Thank you so much lovely!

[@sarahjanegrobler4396]

O I had such a laugh for your husband demonstrating the various ways for the xmas tree!!! *Thanks for that!!* I prefer natural ornaments. Various seeds, berries, fruit, music notes made ftom icing, bows and white lights. I love preparing my home for family and friends. Mostly all white with n bit of silver. THANKS FOR SHARING. 🌲

[@mountainhiker4890]

Love your sense of humor with the black & white movie reel! I just found your channel and subscribed and am watching as many of your vids as I can while I cook and wrap gifts. My decorating style is the same as yours...always bringing in natural elements (pinecones, pine boughs, branches) with simple rustic ornaments (like the felted wool animals) and also some silver and glass for light reflection and a little sparkle. And keeping a neutral palette of color...white, gray, beige, cream, touches of green, and mixing old/vintage and new. Thank you for sharing!

[@jayashreer3224]

I love the way you explain things. I love to decorate the tree with lots and lots of ornaments

[@MarianAmanda0919]

Wonderful and informative video! Especially the old times' vignette. You both were great!

[@nirvana_asmr_]

My Christmas tree has to be huge🎄 The lights are gold and all the decorations are red. This year I added swinging horses, nutcrackers, collected memories and then I put all the Christmas presents in a wood basket beside the tree🎄❤️ And to me is important the fact that the tree has to stay near the window and the dinner table ❣️

[@DolceSuono9]

I have a tiny apartment, so I understand the struggle for space! I like my (real, not plastic) Christmas tree to be completely decked out, very colorful, with over-sized lights, a big silver garland and covered in tinsel. It's an old fashioned look here that makes me think of happy times as a child. But, then, I like my other Christmas decor to be beautifully simple and minimal.

[@melindathomas3053]

At the moment, for Christmas 2019', I went with a green tree, red lights, with touch of gold. " Merry Christmas ".

[@jean6061]

I haven't had a tree for many years now, but when I did, I decorated it with small,artificial apples and pears. I made clusters of artificial cranberries and greens to lay on the branches. Spirals of straw, purchased in Mexico, looked like candles. I'd made folded stars out of fabric ribbon in pale pink. Small cardboard boxes and tiny paper shopping bags, both with old-fashioned pictures on them, were also added to the tree (and the artificial tree was all of five feet tall!). I really loved the tree - oh, I forgot! White miniature lights went on the tree first. One year, as I was removing the tree skirt (a gold tablecloth - easy to wash because our cat loved sleeping under the tree), I discovered that mice had been spending time under the tree, too! I think this year, I'm going to put up a small table sized tree.

[@1sweffling]

Fascinating, I did not know most of that history. My mother would not have lights in the house, it always had to be real candles, on the advent wreath, the table and the tree. She used to make an advent wreath that hung from the ceiling with four red candles on it, and we lit one on each Sunday in Advent. She taught us to make heart shaped woven paper baskets to hang on the tree with little sweets in, and a few small red hearts and artificial red apples were also hung. The odd strand of tinsel but not much: just the candle flames, the green tree and the few red ornaments. You and your husband have worked so hard on this vlog, wonderful black and white clips - another gorgeous advent vlog, thank you:)

[@Woeschhuesli]

Our own Christmas tree has evolved but always been pretty traditional with red and green, a little bit of cream and gold maybe, favourite ornaments that have accumulated over the years. Only recently did we begin to add lights, so pretty - we used to have candles before we lived in an old house with so much wood. 🕯 My mother-in-law used clear glass handmade baubles and green candles for many years, but we have just found the older, vintage ones she had from beforethat I will be using this year 😍🎄!! Growing up there was always a silver tree at my German relations while my husband‘s grandma always had gold... 🤣🤣 Love me any number of Christmas trees, but most beautiful outside with snow on them... 🌲🌲🌲

[@jodisampson4508]

I don't know how I Came Upon Your videos but I'm sure glad I did. You are just adorable. I love how calm your voice is and your simple way of living. My husband and I try to live similar to the way you do. We just enjoy the little things and are so happy with our Simple Life. I have been binge-watching your videos and love them all. I told my husband tonight that I want to try and make some coffee in our backyard on our fire pit, he was up for it. Loved the black and white clips of you and your husband. And loved your wedding video. You make such a beautiful couple. You are absolutely beautiful inside and out. We lived in the country for 22 years and absolutely loved it but downsized two years ago to be closer to our grandchildren. Now they can just ride their bike over anytime in a matter of minutes. I miss the country and the solitude but at this time in our life the grandkids are what matters most. When we moved into town a 6-foot fence went up in our backyard and we enclosed front porch because I'm just so used to not having people around all the time. I'm quite content being at home with my little dog and being with the grandkids before and after school. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful videos they bring me a lot of joy.

[@julien3544]

Those green glass ornaments are beautiful, thank you for this.🌲

[@bunnydannels7591]

I love my silver tree with vintage balls, clear lights, & poincettias under it with astar on top. My favorite tree was a green one decorated with cookies I baked and an angel on top.

[@jetlagen]

Another lovely episode. Loved to see the parts with your husband, you two are natural acting talents. 👍❤

[@brendadrew834]

Just bought a beautiful artificial Christmas tree that looks real and is more on the side of a German Feather tree, but a little fuller. I've hanged a few glass ornaments, those famous straw Scandinavian ornaments, and either string tiny silver beaded garland on it, or the popcorn and small red wooden balls that look like real cranberries which I found a few years ago! As a family, while my three girls were growing up we would have a tree trimming party two or three weeks before Christmas with Christmas cookies and eggnog while playing Tchaikovsky's Nut Cracker Suite which we always took them to see or George Winston's now classic December album ever since he came on the scene around 1984! The perfect mood album for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays here! Thanks for sharing your lovely tree and decorating tips as well! BTW, found a really cute little wooden Viking ship to hang on the tree to celebrate my distant Viking blood on my maternal side! Just got my DNA test back from Ancestors.com and while I already knew my background on both sides, didn't know the percentages and found out I have 3 percent Swedish blood in me. Interestingly people have wondered if I was Swedish based on my looks and I always told them no, because I didn't know about that teensy 3 percent! lol Skoal~

[@amybeth1696]

the throw back sequence was so much fun and creative; always enjoy your videos Maria 🎄

[@brittaolson6550]

I love all my ornaments and things I got at the American Swedish Institute. Once I experienced real Swedish holidays, I don’t do them the American way anymore.

[@cubbyoharaclose4562]

I am so loving learning more about your traditions in Sweden. I hope you will continue to do more videos! These are my escape to a beautiful land and its people xxxx Blessings upon you and your loved ones at the Festive season and throughout the coming year xxxx

[@sonjawohlert9904]

Your little black and white clips are so funny😂 We decorate our christmas tree traditionally with straw stars, little wooden figures and red and green baubles - not too much, not too little (lagom).🎄

[@junevolstad444]

We like lits if stars and lights. We use little ornaments that have special meanings. I have tiny silk flowers that were used on a present my husband gave me years ago. One ornament is from my parents tree when they were first married and so forth. I do love the smell of the tree the most! Thank you for sharing the history in such an entertaining way!

[@janesalisbury3686]

I bought some vintage Murano glass candies online, I attached fishing-line to them for hanging in my tree. Just those and warm white fairy lights gives me a beautiful sparkling tree without using tinsel or glitter. l am new to this channel, it is lovely.

[@foldrelax4415]

I adore the parts in black and white - so funny! By the way, I have a lot of paperdecoration for my Christmas tree.

[@sylvan6415]

I loved this episode. Especially the old movie :) I prefer to have a live green tree that can be planted outside later. My favourite ornaments for it are little birds, like those that visit the garden at this time of year. My family also hang treats for the real birds on a similar tree outside. I like your felted animals very much.

[@Dany_Stormborn]

I miss this channel so much 💚❤️

[@marionbartley214]

Hello Maria, I love your video about Swedish Christmas traditions. I thought the parts that were in black and white. Where it shows you and your hubby. Trying to decide how to place the Christmas tree. so funny and cute also love all of your beautiful ornaments. I love natural trees. But no longer can have one. Because I'm allergic to Christmas trees now. So I have a very nice artificial tree it is about 4' tall. And I decorate it with clear white lights, And all clear glass ornaments. Some have decorations inside. And others are decorated with pretty designson out side. Also a few keepsakes on the tree.I love how the lights shine through. The glass ornaments making them look bright. Just a part of my tree . I love hearing about your Swedish advent calendar. Thanks for all the posts.

[@catieabutler]

This was such a fun video!! I especially loved the black and white clips - so fun! I too enjoy a minimalistic tree: lights, a few ornaments and natural colours.

[@brendadrew834]

Love your Christmas tree and decorations! Simple is best imho! I have a collection of Scandinavian straw ornaments on my tree and last year found a small wooden Viking ship with a red and white sail to hang on the tree to celebrate my distant Viking blood via my English/Scottish/Irish blood on my maternal side! Blessings and Merry Christmas this year 2019, Happy New Year as well...skoal!

[@nynke9858]

Haha, nice to see your husband in this, he's doing a great job! Ooh the tree is so important during Christmas..My tree has become more minimalistic over the years, some ornaments are from a Swedish Christmas market and some are from the thriftshop.

[@KristynLorraine]

So cute as an old fashioned couple ♡

[@LASM60]

Fresh cut tree, white lights, and antique / vintage glass ornaments. I have a beautiful silver star for the top.

[@RussianMermaid]

Your videos are such pleasure for my eyes 🎄😊💙❄

[@Susan.I]

Our tree usually has gold garland, home made ornaments and multi colored lights. With an angel on top.

[@giuseppecapilli4914]

Great story! Mt kind of Christmas tree is to decorate an outside pine tree with just white lights and wait for the snow to cover it. The lights will glow softly through the snow at night and the effect is emotional and magic.

[@caseym3073]

This year it's about having it resemble nature. Animal ornaments, white lights, and red berries.

[@ambergallant2677]

We have natural decorations. Popcorn, cranberries and dried orange slices for garland. Woolen woodland creatures, crafted birds nests, birds and seashells for white sparkle. The top of the tree has shooting stars and flying turtle doves. ❤️

[@wyldcelt]

Our tree has a bit of sparkle. But my favorite ornament is our hand carved Santa. This year I added snowflakes made of straw. I think they go well with the fancier porcelain and gold ornaments. 🎄

[@aruvielevenstar3944]

I have red, white and silver ornaments, but very rustic And Naturel.

[@illianas1403]

Jag ÄLSKADE de svartvita klippen!! Helt underbara och jag skrattade så mycket 😍😂 ni var spot-on! 🙌🏽👏🏽😍

[@kimanna_]

What a lovely video again! Thank you so much. This year we picked our christmas tree from a national Park called 'de hoge veluwe' to help remain the natural environment of a particular part of the national park. It was a lot of fun to search for your own tree and cut Them yourself. We decorated the tree minimalisticly with ligths, silver snowflakes which I collected the past few years, glass see through balls and some grey glass balls. I love the fact that we got a eco friendly christmas tree this year which we will get next year as well.

[@irenedemydova5181]

I love such stories so much! They bring up some childhood memories for me, and it's very interesting to know how Christmas was celebrated before! For me I prefer a minimalistic decorations too. I'd go more for candels, than some ornaments and toys, cause I looove candles, they become so magical this time of the year ❄️🌲 p.s. That black & white clip is so funny and cute! Enjoyed it a lot! 😍 Thank you, Maria!

[@18daisydoll65]

Too cute.... a lot of effort and talent goes into these sweet films

[@larah3484]

The little throw back clip is so funny, great job😊 your Videos are amazing ✨ have a nice day Maria

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

We stopped having a tree many years ago. I don’t like decorating them. But we have lots of lighted garland around the doorways and candles and julbock and natural “Waldorf-ish” decorations. It’s the lights that give the Christmas feeling. Then we don’t have to rearrange the furniture. Lol!

[@tundemarkus-racz5144]

When I was a child, the classic christmas tree decoration was Christmas fondant, we call it: 'szaloncukor'. It's a hungarian special candy in sparkling paper hanging on the Christmas tree. My mother always try to hide the 'szaloncukor's because of me and my nephews, we always found them and eat a lot of them before Christmas so there was'nt enough for the tree. Today instead we decorate with red balls year after year. It's permanent, the 'szaloncukor' is always disapearing ... :)

[@sylvan6415]

Love this story x

[@andrewperry6991]

Hi Maria, first of all please tell hubby thank you for being in a video with you even though it was in black and white. Has perspective of the Christmas tree is priceless please tell him thank you. My personal preference of a Christmas tree is one that we went out in the woods and got as a family when I was a child brought it back into the house it was trimmed and I'm report the whites on 1st then the Globes cancel candy canes and of course the angel on the top. My favorite bulbs that were on our tree when they got warm they would bubble almost like a lava lamp. I have not seen that type of bulb in many many many years. Synthetic trees and trees that are not real just don't cut it for Christmas. They speak of laziness in caring for the holiday and are hoping that it comes and goes as fast as possible. But on the other hand maybe they were never taught the true meaning of the holiday. Oh, you made me laugh in the video that was black and white. I hope you and hubby are well. Greetings from Canandaigua Lake New York

[@dharmendrarawat2524]

Tack for att du far information om utvecklingen av julgran,Jag dekorerar egentligen det med en serie Ijus..ha ha ha svartvitt klipp var valdigt roligt jag alaskar det..

[@CookALifebyMaeva]

Great one, I loved the black and white old movie scenes, good job on he editing and good acting job from the hubby and you ! ;-)

[@TheNinjaInConverse]

Every year since I was born, my parents have bought me a tree decoration, so when I leave the house I will have a collection to decorate my first tree, so I won't have that "pathetic first tree" many people have. I like when all of the decorations represent different events in my life; Christmas should help us recall how blessed we are! There is no color rule- just memories:) P.S. That black and white section made me giggle.

[@elledekker]

Absolutely beautiful!! I love your style! I laughed because my very first thought with those candles on your tree was...well, she definitely doesn't own a cat. 😼😁

[@noracourtney1923]

Less is more, is my philosophy🍃loved this video! You are so creative🍃🍃

[@connieolson8497]

When do you put you tree up? We have two very tiny glass pine cones 1/2”. Paper cups with children photo, glitter rims pipe cleaner hanger made when kids were 6 maybe. Love these the best. Enjoy you videos

[@friafux]

Loved your little sketch! 😂 So funny! Where did you get these woolen animals? They are so lovely! ♥️

[@sylvan6415]

I agree. Aren't they wonderful! And the sketch too :D

[@AuntMay2011]

Great video!! Have you talked about keeping the tree up until January 13th? I’m curious! 😀

[@enidmelanie1]

I miss the wonderful smell of a Christmas tree because ever since I moved to South Africa we have been putting up my husband's artificial tree. It does look beautiful though - I will post a photo at a later stage. Christmas trees in my family have always been very generously decorated with lots and lots of ornaments. No specific style, just very colourful with a great variety or ornaments. These days we have wooden ones from my childhood, glass balls from my family's decorations and ones that my hubby had, American ornaments from when we lived in the States and handmade ones that the kids made. When I was a child we used to use real candles, later fairy light and real candles and now only fairy lights.

[@enidmelanie1]

oh, and I also loved the clips with you and hubby! :)

[@angiemcdermid4845]

White lights and pearls. The ornaments are mainly woodland creatures

[@risenandreturning]

For years I hand painted mice for my kids and put them on the tree. Then, I switched to crystal deer and icicles. Then, I did owls with natural materials...then, I moved on and did all egyptian ornaments like the pyramids and sphinx. After that, I did victorian decorations, and now this year I bought a japanese bush that I will take care of thru the winter and plant in my yard next spring.... What will I think of next year????

[@susieq2734]

You two are so cute !!!! ♥️🥰

[@MegMerrilies]

I like the simplicity of your tree. I would love to have candles on the tree but it's a fire risk with a cat, as you know cat's and christmas trees are a bad mix haha! So I just have white lights and I like the little wood and felt ornaments I have. Overall there's a red and green look and a nature theme. I loved the old fashioned silent movie look you used and you and hubby didn't have to try too hard - his beard looked just the part! Your filming is very professional I must say!

[@elainewaller4707]

I have a tabletop tree with mostly red and gold angels, one day I will do one with a seacoast theme

[@betsyross2.065]

At my granddaughter"s request ,we did Santa's Candy shop completely over the top ,big loud red, pink,white,silver,just an explosion of a movie set ...

[@candimay4404]

Totally off topic. But the picture on youtube for this video shows a dazzling bright white room with tons of natural light streaming in the windows! LOVE it!! I've noticed similar uncovered windows in other pictures of Scandinavian homes in winter. I am sure the limited winter sun explains the white interiors and uncovered windows, but how in the world do you keep the house warm??? Here in America, we often cover our windows, especially in the winter, with thick heavy curtains. You can FEEL the cold coming off the glass in the winter if you don't!! How can I enjoy the winter sunshine like you do without going broke trying to stay warm?

[@NorthernHeart]

Warm indoor slippers in wool, base layer in merino wool under your clothes and a fire in the fire place ☺️☺️and lots of coffee and maybe a knitted beanie indoors too! The cold does come from windows and doors, your can feel it sort of slipping through were there is a window or an older door. One thing to do is to hang curtains between rooms instead of in front of windows. Then the heat source in that room has an easier time warming that particular room and one colder room doesn’t affect another warmer room (if that makes sense). Also we’re used to the cold I guess ☺️☺️

[@candimay4404]

Ahhh, ok. So you don't expect the indoor temperature to stay around 72 F in the winter, I suppose. In most homes I know here in the US, we try to keep the indoor temperature consistent all year long. Probably a foolish thing to do.

[@nevnarien]

Hahah jag dööör vad roligt med de svartvita klippen - sån Surprise 😂😂 ni fick verkligen till den där ålderdomliga looken 😂

[@NorthernHeart]

Hahahaha, fan vad kul! Magnus är ju inte direkt aspepp på att va med överlag, men han spelade med hur bra som helst i denna :P Lite vatttenkammat och hängslen på det så :P :D

[@TommyStarsson]

*sååååå himla fint*

[@jwlundgren]

In the US I had a tree about my height, 165 CM. Here in Sweden, we have two 2 ft trees, one in Texas/Western style, one in Swedish colors with the flags which are getting very hard to find!

[@Parlandorka13]

I like glass ornaments, especially the ones what have a little story. An old-old bubble from my great-grandmother, a small which my husband found on a junk-clearance, a red-white heart from Lapland, and so on. I don't like the fancy color-coded tree decor.

[@veronicak4694]

Hello, I came across your videos today and love them. Numbers 13 and 25 are marked private. Is there a way we can view them? If it was intentional, then I respect that. Just wasn't sure and wanted to ask. Thank you!

[@coastalcutie2000]

We have homemade ornaments. I even belong to a club that exchanges homemade ornaments for the tree.

[@gailbader8149]

I love the paper stars; can they be ordered online?

[@ninawildr4207]

Me too!

[@hattyburrow716]

You can get simple ones on amazon, the prettier ones, like Maria’s are available at Christmas markets

[@karenneese3115]

I'm just curious. I've noticed alot of swedish homes are showing ladders with lights hung on them. Is this a custom also?

[@deborahmcginnis8307]

As long as it's a real live tree or recently cut one I'm ok but don't try to give me one of those fake plastic artificial pieces of junk! Love your simple little tree. Blessings.

[@juliekauran3589]

I don't use a tree any more as birds came in side my house for the dry dog food and sat in the tree, I love birds and used to feed them just outside my family, kitchen, meals area. It is nice that the birds trust our family, train their young, nest in the trees, but the sitting in the Christmas tree is too much.

[@courtport6957]

My tree looks like I have a cat and a toddler.... -_-