And those adorable bearded gnomes you’ve seen popping up in recent years? They’ve got their roots deep in Scandinavian legends. Known as Nisse in Norwegian and Danish and Tomte in Swedish, these festive friends bring gifts and joy on Christmas Eve right to your doorstep! Envision decorating the tree, feasting by candlelight, and then (the best part) unwrapping gifts. And those decorations? They ooze Scandinavian charm. Think hearts, straw ornaments, heaps of candles, and of course, those flag garlands. Because let’s be honest, what’s a Scandinavian tree without its national flags dancing around? Speaking of which, ever experienced a Norwegian Christmas? Thanks to my amazing mother-in-law, I’ve had the pleasure. Across Scandinavia, the main bash is on Christmas Eve.

Every festive season, I sprinkle my blog with fresh Scandinavian Christmas crafts. While my heart loves the Nordic vibe in decor, we lean into the classic English tradition when it comes to celebrating. That means feasting and gift-unwrapping on Christmas day. Get inspired by the serene beauty of the North with our DIY Scandinavian Christmas decor guide. Craft decorations that are both elegant and cosy.Now, here’s a holiday trivia tidbit for your next Christmas party: ‘Christmas’ is “ Jul” in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, “ Jól” in Iceland, and “ Joulu” in Finland. And if you want to impress someone with a Norwegian festive greeting, it’s “ God Jul“.

This video also includes a very simple, stylish Christmas tree motif in a semi abstract style using a waterproof pen, gold paint and sap green watercolor. This design would be easy to adapt to other birds and to do in more detail or more colorfully. It would also make a good project for a child, as there is a sketch available so you can avoid having to draw the outline. You could substitute holly for the pine sprig, with some nice red berries for example A Dala horse (or Dalecarlian horse) is a carved and painted wooden horse ornament or statue that originally comes from the Dalarna province in Sweden. Traditionally it was made to be a toy for children, carved by the men working in the forests. This DIY Dala horse card is the perfect example of how effective a simple design can be. It'll give an impressive paper cutting effect recipients are bound to love. How to make a Dala horse Christmas cardGet ready to meet some iconic figures of Scandinavian Yuletide – the playful gnomes and the legendary Christmas goats! And we’ve added a sprinkle of Finnish magic, too – because while it’s not technically Scandinavian, it’s 100% Nordic, and we’re all about that festive flair. Confused? Don’t fret! While all Scandinavian nations are nestled under the broader Nordic umbrella, not all Nordic countries are Scandinavian. I’m not trying to play Santa with your geographical knowledge, but I know the difference matters to some. (Like my fiercely proud Norwegian mother-in-law!)