Today we feel it's time for the Great Christmas List 2019. For once, we will be celebrating Christmas at home in Sweden, so what could be better than a Christmas list? Feel free to join in too! Answer in a comment, or in your own blog post if you have a blog.
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Big Christmas list 2019
I (Helena) found a Christmas list on the blog Maria's Memoirs and got inspired. However, we developed the concept further, and here is the Great Christmas List 2019, according to us.
By the way: The top picture in the post is of course very old. It is from the time when we lived in apartment and not in a houseboat, but it's very Christmassy, isn't it?
Where do you prefer to celebrate Christmas?
We are not really good at "celebrating Christmas". Of course, we like to see family and friends, but we can get a bit stressed by all the demands around us, with planning and presents. We like it best if we get to travel during Christmas - but we can imagine different types of destinations.
Have you celebrated Christmas abroad - in which countries?
We have celebrated Christmas abroad quite a few times:
- 2005 - Gran Canaria
- 2006 - New Zealand
- 2007 - Going to Kenya
- 2009 - Ukraine
- 2010 - Morocco
- 2012 - Malaysia
- 2013 - Philippines
- 2015 - Spain
- 2018 - Going to Sri Lanka
How do you decorate for Christmas?
No, not at all. But we think it's great when other people put up candlesticks and Christmas lights! For a while, we actually had a straw pig, but then we started travelling abroad too often and the Christmas decorations fell by the wayside ...
What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
Things are calmer on the work front, and you have time to catch up on things you're behind on. Great! Of course, it's nice to spend time with family and friends too.
What do you like not with Christmas?
The shopping hysteria around Christmas is annoying. Christmas would be more cosy and relaxed if there was no pressure to buy presents.
Do you buy Christmas presents? For whom and why/why not?
We buy relatively few Christmas presentsand those we buy should be carefully selected. We can find the buying hysteria in the shops annoying, and we can also sometimes think that it is difficult to shop for others. Of course we buy something if we are invited, but there are no big loads of Christmas presents ...
What is most important on the Christmas table?
Herring and nubbe! None of us think that Christmas food is fantastic, but little it can still be good sometimes. In addition to herring and nubbe, we like to eat some Jansson's temptation. In addition, we are very weak for Brussels sproutsBut we eat it from time to time at other times of the year.
Do you have any odd Christmas traditions?
The oddest tradition for us is probably that we have no tradition. We often celebrate Christmas abroad, and if we are at home in Sweden, it is in different places.
Do you have any good reading or gaming tips for Christmas?
I have just read the book "Vera" by Anne Swärd. Fantastically nice book that you really suction into. I'd like to say "magical" even though that word is a bit dated.
Where will you spend Christmas this year?
This year we will be home in Sweden for Christmas, and our main plan is to work on the blog. There will probably also be visits to Peter's son Robin and my (Helena's) mum, among others.
It feels great to be home, especially since we were recently in Egypt. I would wish for some snow though, but I guess it's too much to hope for ...
You might also like:
Christmas rhymes - 25 tips for Christmas presents with rhymes
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Helena from Finland says:
We have celebrated Christmas in the United States and Morocco. Last Christmas we started towards Spain on Boxing Day (with a motorhome). Was in Spain on Epiphany when the 3 wise men came with their gifts?. This year it will be a home Christmas. A very Merry Christmas to you from us here in Jakobstad!
18 December 2019 - 6:37
Helena says:
Glad that you also celebrated Christmas in Spain with a motorhome! Maybe you had it better though ... just on Christmas Eve we ran out of gas and very cold ... 😉 Wish you a really nice Christmas!!!
18 December 2019 - 17:05
Liniz Travel says:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Hugs
18 December 2019 - 7:20
Helena says:
Thank you very much Lina! Merry Christmas!
18 December 2019 - 17:05
Maria's memoirs says:
How nice that you were inspired! ? I myself love Christmas and therefore I prefer to be at home so I can really soak up the Christmas cosiness? Feel no special requirements and enjoy planning Christmas gifts for those I celebrate with, does not have to be something complicated but sometimes it can be a little mixed goodies that are most appreciated. Often better than unnecessary gadgets.
18 December 2019 - 8:47
Helena says:
Thanks for the inspiration 🙂 Good way to think about the Christmas presents! I think it is so difficult to shop, so maybe that's why there is pressure ...
18 December 2019 - 17:33
Role o Carina says:
We usually celebrate Christmas at home in peace and quiet without Christmas hysteria! 🙂
But I would love to celebrate it at Canaris 🙂 .
Take care.....
18 December 2019 - 9:11
Helena says:
Peace and quiet sounds nice! Have fun!
18 December 2019 - 17:34
Ann says:
Merry Christmas 🙂
18 December 2019 - 9:18
Ann says:
Merry Christmas! 🙂
18 December 2019 - 9:18
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Merry Christmas!
18 December 2019 - 17:34
4000mil says:
It must be a bit unusual to ignore Christmas, or maybe more people than you think do?
Personally, I feel pretty locked in to all the trappings of Christmas.
Although this year for the first time we actually ignored the Christmas tree, because we celebrate at my sister's and the children are now so big that they do not require a tree at home anyway. 🙂
18 December 2019 - 9:43
Helena says:
Yes, maybe? It probably feels like most people you talk to celebrate in some way ... I'm glad you could at least slow down when it comes to the Christmas tree 😉.
18 December 2019 - 17:35
Ditte says:
Nice to read about your thoughts.
We prefer to be away and have celebrated Christmas abroad many times over the years. Often in the sun and warmth. We are not "Christmas people" and are not really fond of Swedish Christmas food. It's pretty much what you eat all year round. Except for dip in the pot and lutefisk, but I don't eat that anyway. As for our "loved ones", we often see them anyway, so it doesn't have to be during Christmas. This year we are going to do a trip during Christmas. A new variant for us and it will be fun.
18 December 2019 - 9:52
Helena says:
Oh now I'm curious about where you're travelling? But I will find out soon I guess 😉 When it comes to Christmas food, I have to say that I eat herring very rarely otherwise, so that's why I appreciate it. Iofs you could eat it at any time, but we usually do not ...
18 December 2019 - 17:37
Marita says:
We prefer to celebrate with the whole family together.
Starting with candlesticks for Advent and the last week before Christmas, gnomes and other festive items appear.
I go to my cousin's house and cut down a tree, which is then decorated as close to Christmas Eve as possible, preferably the night before.
The best part is that it's so cosy with everything lighting up the darkness.
We buy Christmas presents for the grandchildren because it's so much fun to be part of their joy when the packages are opened. Preferably if Santa is involved.
My sister, mum and I make our own sausage, which is a must and has become a tradition every year. There are usually between 15-20 metres. Homemade meatballs, Jansson, pickled herring and of course the Christmas ham.
This year we are celebrating by travelling to our three children and their families. Unfortunately, it's not always possible to get everyone together at once.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas????
18 December 2019 - 10:20
Helena says:
What nice traditions you have! 🙂 And really agree that it will be nice with all the candles and all the lighting, it may be needed this year!
18 December 2019 - 17:38
Ama de casa says:
What a wonderfully Christmassy list and of course you look very Christmassy there in the header ðŸ™'
I have celebrated Christmas in a few different places, Israel, Bahamas, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Switzerland (woohoo! Managed the spelling right away!), Sri Lanka, Chile... Yes, those were the ones I could think of now. Also in Sweden and Spain, of course 🙂.
Since I don't like the stress of buying at Christmas time, the best thing about Christmas is that we do NOT buy (or get) any presents. That and all the nice Christmas lights (preferably the hysterically blinking ones 😉 ) 🙂 .
For the last 16 years we have almost always celebrated Christmas here in Spain. It is usually very nice, I think we have only had to eat Christmas lunch indoors once because it was raining. Pepper, pepper *knocks me in the head* because the plan is to be here at home again this year with some friends 🙂.
18 December 2019 - 11:00
Birgitta in Umeå says:
We have celebrated Christmas 9 times in Paleochora, a fishing village in southern Crete. This is the 10th time for me alone as my husband died during the year. I have eaten some Swedish Christmas food before I left. So I do not miss the Swedish Christmas food, as Greece has so much good food. I have decorated my studio with Advent candlesticks and amaryllis. I will be here for six weeks.
18 December 2019 - 16:34
bmlarstravellingblog says:
We think Christmas becomes more undemanding every year. My girls are coming this Saturday and apart from a really nice Santa from the neighbouring house for the grandchildren, the most Christmas-like porridge and a ham sandwich in the evening. On Christmas Eve we go to Lars's daughter but for our part we would like to go away.
The best thing about Christmas is the time leading up to it, with lots of lights, mulled wine and cuddles. The worst part is undoubtedly the buying hysteria, even if we don't buy more than a few presents for the grandchildren.
18 December 2019 - 18:57
BP says:
Yes, that list was really modified à la Freedomtravel, but Maria's list was also really good.
As I am far too lazy to "develop" your list, I took it straight off;-)
You and to some extent Ditte are probably the only ones who are as "un-Christmassy" as we are;-)
18 December 2019 - 19:31
Ruth in Virginia says:
I know that Christmas will come but with the years, without cheer.
When the kids were at home, we celebrated Swedish Christmas with Swedish
Christmas carols, dances such as "We are musicians", "Come Julia we go" and slow dances to "Nurejuligen ....". through the house. Christmas presents were
not important. Usually had friends invited, and we sang a lot!
A special Christmas was our first in Bandung. We felt a bit blue. Com
the idea of inviting all the neighbours, who had probably never been inside the walls of our farm. Our teenage friend got the message, and it spread. We had said 11am, but the first ones were there at 9am. Served soup, bananas and brownies. The best thing about parties in
Indonesia was, that there's always someone who's sort of the base, and when he's
gives a sign that it's time to go home, they line up.
and say "Terima kasih" (thank you) to the host and hostess. It's something I like, because we've all had guests who say thank you and goodnight, and then they stop at the door and start talking ....
OK - Christmas it was. My son's teenagers arrived from Seattle this evening. A grandson and his girlfriend arrive on Christmas Day. Let's see what happens.
Forgot - our second Christmas in Indon. "celebrated" on a tour of North Sumatra
(Lake Toba)
The winter photo of your home is lovely. Hugs!
19 December 2019 - 4:15
The menopausal witch says:
Hanging on! Merry Christmas!
18 December 2019 - 19:56
Titti/Umeå/Huay Yang. says:
Not as Christmassy as when the children were small.
Some decorations, Christmas presents for the grandchildren.
Sparingly with Christmas food.
All buying and excessive gluttony is not favoured.
Getting "stressed" in the shops.
Since 2011 we are travelling away, mostly Thailand or on our way to Thailand.
This year, however, Gothenburg, for the oldest child.
Christmas Eve at the hotel we are staying at.
Because apart from Thailand, I have been to Mallorca and India at Christmas time.
18 December 2019 - 23:40
Titti/Umeå/Huay Yang. says:
Forgot London, 2012!
19 December 2019 - 10:11
Hanle's book paradise on Hisingen says:
just wants to celebrate at home:
http://hannelesbibliotek.blogspot.com/2019/12/lilla-jullistan-2019.html
19 December 2019 - 23:33
Anna, New York - My Bite of the Big Apple says:
What a fun idea with a Christmas list! Haha, I realise that we are quite different here on several points except that I don't like the shopping either. Also see that you have made significantly more Christmas trips than me ... Just decorating with a straw pig, that would be something. Quickly fixed! 😉 Love that we humans are so different.
I made a separate blog post on this theme. Thank you so much for the inspiration! http://www.newyorkmybite.com/stora-jullistan-2019-sa-har-tanker-jag-om-julen/
20 December 2019 - 12:36
Hasse says:
Best is the dip in the pot (lunch) in the middle of Christmas Eve, unbeatable and ham and cabbage the day before. Of course also the family. But this year it will be quiet here.
The worst is probably the buying hysteria.
21 December 2019 - 8:05
Across the board says:
For the second year we are in Spain and it feels very nice. We have a small Santa Claus and that is enough for us. The town is decorated enough. And among the camping neighbours.
Hope you have a great few days.
Hugs
22 December 2019 - 10:49
Lena - good for the soul says:
We write wish lists, preferably with links to webshops. Then it won't be as difficult. I dislike buying for someone who doesn't want anything. Then I feel the pressure (from myself) to find something good. But at the same time I think that if the person can't come up with something themselves, how can I come up with something! And buying something for the sake of buying feels insanely stupid for both the wallet and the environment.
It's best to buy something that you feel like you can afford and that feels right for the recipient.
Hug Lena
26 December 2019 - 8:32