Whether it is the scent of fresh-baked cookies, the sight of a beautifully lit Christmas Tree or the laughter of little children as they unwrap a gift, traditions are what make the holidays special year after year. Traditions help us get caught up in the moment of celebrating and reflecting with family and friends, and make memories we will love for our lifetime.
Here are a few Christmas traditions I look forward to each year:
1. First, there is decorating the tree. Brightly lit, it’s covered with antique Victorian ornaments, a few shiny brites from the 1950′s and 1960′s, and special ornaments our girls made. {think styrofoam with glitter all over, a few toothpicks stuck in for good measure.}
Draped with antique mercury glass garland, a few big Chartreuse Bows added for some extra style this year. I love doting over it for a few hours, until it’s “just right”, then sitting quietly in the dark each evening looking at the tree lights. Each year we say “this is the most beautiful tree we’ve ever had!”
{The tree isn’t really done until our daughter who lives in another state flies home with her family, and puts “her” own treasured ornaments in the tree. We save a few just for her, to add to our tree.}
Hanging Garland. I love garland! This year, I made a fresh Juniper Garland for over the fireplace mantel {you can see it here.} It smells wonderful, and is so simply to wire together just using lengths of Juniper from the bushes in our front garden, paddle wire and about twenty minutes of work.
2. There is silk garland up above our cooking area in the kitchen with twinkling lights, and little picks of faux tarts and chocolates. This year I’ve swagged the silver bullion garland over the guest bathroom mirror. Garland, both fresh and “faux” is an easy, easy decoration that makes every room look festive. I drape it on armoires, and over pictures, too, in the old European manner.
3. Bringing a festive touch to each room. Each room should have it’s own tree, don’t you agree? One daughter’s room has a Pink Feather tree this year that she filled with Pink and Silver balls. Our guest room has a small Green Feather Tree, which I may, or may not, still decorate with balls. These little trees in their shabby urns look great by themselves. I put one on my vanity table, near the mirror too, so that it’s reflected in the mirror. A small Holiday touch, but sweet.
4. Lighting Candles. Lots. of. them. At the front door, I displayed one of our Tabletop Greenhouses this year. Perfect with a few white pillar candles, this is a great welcome~to~our~home display. Here they are by the FrenchGardenHouse, above, by the front door they are on an antique bench.
For scents, I prefer clean burning fruit scents, such as our Cassis Rouge Soy Candles. The scent of the tart bright red Grosseille Berries that grow abundantly all over France never gets too sweet. Green Apples, a hint of Blood Orange, and a touch of fresh Greens make this non~floral scent one men especially love. I generally only need to burn one scented candle to scent our living areas.
Finally, I fill lots of votives with tealights. Unscented ones, they are inexpensive, and nothing is as romantic and gorgeous as a home filled with candlelight. I often use our French glasses as votives too, but only with the tealights since they are encased in their own little metal cup. On the mantel, the buffet, and lined up & down the center of the table. One in the guest bathroom. One on my vanity. {Be sure never to leave them unattended, although these do go out themselves once the wax is all gone.}
5. Setting out the Nativity my parents made in Europe when I was born is a highlight. This year the wax figures are under an antique French Dome, with just a few sheep along for company. Other years, it is set up on a seperate table in the hallway. I like to change our Christmas decorations each year, although generally I use the same pieces, just in different ways and places. A few other French Saints and antique Santos are set by the fireplace, reflecting the true reason for Christmas.
6. Setting a beautiful Holiday Table. I thoughtfully plan my tablesettings for Christmas. Starting with Christmas breakfast, which is a fun, colorful affair using dishes my girls made when they were young, to a formal Christmas dinner. {I’m racking my brain right now on how to make the breakfast table magical, cute, fun and safe for a two year old.}
This year, our actual family Christmas Dinner will be the next day, on the 26th, so I can spend some time making it as fancy as I want. Some years the tablesettings are more casual, using antique French plates like the ones above, this year I might just go for the gold and use my old gold~rimmed china. Best part about the carefully orchestrated Christmas dinner? Sharing stories and laughter of all those I love around the table.
7. Our special Christmas Dinner Tradition. I want to encourage you to start some kind of tradition like this in your family. This is such a wonderful way to make Christmas special for your family, while giving a life changing gift to families around the world. One of the best things I have heard one of my children say before a Christmas Dinner was “oh, I hope this year I get a Goat!” (she did!)
8. After everyone has gone, sitting in the livingroom with Mr. FgH, the fire blazing, watching the tree lights reflecting in the crystals of the antique chandelier. We usually talk about the day, our family, and count the blessings we have received. A little sentimental, but it’s actually one of my favorite times of the season. Tired, but grateful.
What are some of your family’s favorite traditions? I’d love to know, it’s fun that we all share some, and have totally different ones too.
I know many of you have seen this before, but I’ve had lots of emails asking for it again, so here it is:
3. Place the second sheet of puff pastry dough on top of the first, repeat rolling. I usually put the 2nd on like a “cross” ( + ) so they are not right on top of each other. Roll out so that you think you will be able to wrap this around and over the brie.
1 round of Brie (any size, but you will want big!)
2 cups Brown Sugar
1~1/2 ~ 2 cups chopped Walnuts or Pecans
1. Defrost the puff pastry sheets acc. to directions. Gently unfold these. Place 1 sheet on your counter or rolling board. (I put waxed paper down first) and top with a sheet of waxed paper.
2. (On top of the paper) roll this out a bit to make it big. (You will be placing the brie on it later and covering the whole brie.)
4. Place the Brie on top of the puff pastry, in the middle.
5. Combine the Brown Sugar and Nuts in a bowl, then mound on top of the Brie.
6. Gently gather the sides of the dough up and over the Brie, like a package, make some sort of knot at the very top. The pastry stretches a bit, but be careful, it is delicate. If you need to, you can fix any holes with a little piece, just like using clay.
7. Bake on a baking sheet (I use my round pizza stone ON TOP of a baking sheet ~it can be a little messy) at 300 degrees for about 45 min. Check for burning. It should be slightly brown, not still pale. Let cool slightly (10min. or so)
I serve the Brie right on the pizza stone placed on a large silver tray, with crackers and little slices of French Bread, this is heavenly! And so easy. Once you have made it once, it will be a snap, and you will be famous for this appetizer, too.
It is always a favorite. Sometimes I can’t use all the nuts. Sometimes there is so much dough I have some extra and make roses and leaves on the top, sometimes I am lucky to just be able to twist the whole thing closed. Sometimes I brush the top with some egg to give it a “browned look” most times I don’t bother.
These are the best days, I hope you are enjoying them.
Merry Christmas !
If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.
