NORTHERN LIGHTS

GOD JUL! A FAMILY HOME IN DENMARK EMBRACES ALL THE BEST SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Acrackling fire, twinkling candle light, the smell of cinnamon wafting in from the kitchen, not to mention busy hands making crafts to hang around the house, all mean that Christmas preparations are well and truly underway in Julie Lund Falkensted’s family home.

“We love Christmas and like to start preparations early,” says Julie, who lives with husband Jacob, their daughters, Filippa, 16, and Regitze, 14, plus Berta, their rough-haired dachshund. They live in the old part of the Danish town of Espergærde, North Zealand, which has the ideal setting of being both near to the forest and the beach.

“For us, Christmas is about being together and ideally in an even more devoted way than the rest of the year,” says Julie. “The Christmas holidays are filled with quiet cosiness, creative pursuits, long walks and, of course, Christmas baking – preferably all at the same time!”

DECK THE HALLS

When the Christmas mood starts to set in, in midNovember, the decorations gradually go up around the former bungalow, which is now a modern two-storey home. Julie prefers to decorate in a traditional Nordic style, where simple Christmas decorations emphasise the interior rather than overpower it. Natural materials, such as linen, wood, paper and ceramics, are put together with dried flowers and sparkle. Lots of candles are also the order of the day to create a festive feel. “I’m not so much for the heavy, solemn decorations in red or dark colours. I love a light decoration and an unpretentious Christmas table covered with things that mean something to us, such as homemade or inherited things,” explains Julie.

“This year, we have set the table a little ‘old school’ with rustic porcelain, homemade linen and braided paper stars. I usually buy a few new decorations every year, that way every thing has a story or a memory attached to it – it means a lot to us.” You’ll also find hand-turned wooden figures, »

“CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ARE FILLED WITH QUIET COSINESS, CREATIVE PURSUITS, LONG WALKS AND BAKING – PREFERABLY ALL AT THE SAME!”

Julie and her family’s festivities begin at home. Making and repurposing is a big part of events, even down to the dining table, which was built by Julie’s father

Many of Julie’s decorations are homemade or sourced, locally, including the spruce vine wrapped around the banister. It doubles as a pakkekalender, with 24 little gifts hung from it, used to count down the days until Christmas

Julie’s daughters, Regitze and Filippa, also enjoy making decorations and gifts at this time of year, some of which they sell online. The large open kitchen means that the whole family can be together, while doing their own thing