Carved wooden horses have been a part of Swedish culture since the 1600s. The distinct shape as we know it today was introduced in the 1700s, and the iconic paint pattern came along in the 1800s. Dala horses were even sometimes used as payment! But it wasn’t until 1939, when a Swedish architect created a huge Dala horse for the World’s Fair in New York, that the popularity of the dalahäst really took off.
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Oh, I know they aren’t a traditional Christmas decoration. But they’re traditionally Swedish, and just happen to be come in very Christmasy colors. So why not? There are no rules about how you can decorate for Christmas — make the season your own, and let the decor reflect your own personality, style and heritage.
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The Oaxacaborn Blog 
I love Dala horses! My mom has a small collection of them, and we always put them out at Christmas time. :)
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Oh that’s so neat! They just look Christmas-y to me :) I don’t have one, but my daughter has some Dala-print pants that I love!
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