When Styles Collide

[akirlu]

Well, the tree is decorated, and the fireplace still works. How's that for cosy? I'm having a bit of trouble reconciling the Very Modern wall clock with the Swedish Traditional tree, but what is life and art but the deafening collision of conflicting influences? Hope you're safe and warm and well fed wherever you are this Solstice night.

Comments

[jophan.livejournal.com]

And both flags and real candles. Very traditional! I have forgot to ask, have you noticed these yet? Lovely, high-quality production.

God jul!

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

God jul!

Yes, I do a Veddy Swedish Tree -- though finding the various traditional ornaments has been the work of years. All those cheap bits and bobs get expensive and rare once you transit the Atlantic. But it Must Be Done, you know. It's one of those things you usually get in emigrants, one way or another. Some aspect of nostalgia gets sealed in amber as homage to the homeland. My mother makes dopp i gryta and a jillion different cookies every Christmas, for instance, despite an avowed indifference to all things Swedish.

Yes, I have all the Moomin re-issues that are out so far. I've been very pleased with the production quality, not to mention being able to show them to my anglophone friends.

[jophan.livejournal.com]

Christmas is one of the areas where nostalgia rules, ethnic or not. I assume your mother does the traditional Swedish Christmas things not because she nostalgic about Sweden, but because they simply belong to her ingrained Christmas traditions. Hmm, dopp i grytan. I wonder whether jlms will get that this year or not. I didn't grow up with it, but to her it's important.