Swedish Christmas Traditions
There are two perennial decor styles that I have a real fondness for: Rustic and Scandinavian. Scandinavian Christmas traditions have the element of coziness that would be expected in the frozen north.
For general Swedish Christmas traditions,
One ornament that combines a rustic feel and the Scandinavian aesthetic in a natural and beautiful way is a straw or wheat woven wreath. Hearts and other shapes, as well as the popular goat are part of a Swedish Christmas style.
An asset of the craft of wheat weaving is how it ranges from the very simplest to the most intricate of designs. And all of them are decorative and available.
Materials for Swedish Straw Ornaments
The materials were of the humblest sort: leftover stems of dried wheat from fall harvests.
And while some of us are enthusiastic about creating our own Christmas ornaments and gifts, most of us don’t have the time. The demands of a busy holiday season cram our days, so I searched for straw ornaments that are easily ordered from Amazon. Take a look at some examples.
If you are interested in reading more about Swedish Christmas and about Wheat Weaving:
Christmas in Sweden | Wheat Weaving
Tree Decorating Ideas
For a Swedish Culture look, try these tree decorating elements:
- gingerbread cookies
- paper stars
- straw ornaments
- simple lights
To Make Your Own Ornaments:
To make your own, you will need wheat straws. Growing wheat or buying from a craft store, hollow stems wheat straws are braided into shapes. For detailed instructions and varied projects, I would buy a hardcover book like the one shown.
If you just want to try this craft for just one project, a YouTube instructional video might be the best path to take.
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