Whether you spell it advent calendar or adventskalender — or even julkalender — we’re just two weeks away from December 1. Time to get this Scandinavian Christmas series underway!
The first advent calendar example comes from Elisabeth Heier in Norway. She made this kalender tree from painted white boards — and then attached the paper bags to the tree using nails and wire. It’s really striking — and the black and white design keeps it from looking too cluttered.
Advent Calendar Tree / Kalender tre via Elisabeth Heier
This next advent calendar, from The Merry Thought blog, cleverly strings up an evergreen bough and then decorates with tiny plywood-covered matchboxes. The full tutorial can be found here.
Hanging Christmas Tree Branch Advent Calendar via The Merry Thought
Starting with a plain tree, and adding one decoration per day until the tree is filled at Christmas — what a good idea! This filigrantrae is Danish-inspired and comes from Nalle’s House blog. Bonus: her post has a full tutorial if you want to make your own dowel tree, although this ideas would work with any small tree.
Danish Wooden Dowel Tree via Nalle’s House
Most of the advent candles I’ve seen in my life are a group of four candles, one for each advent Sundag leading up to Christmas. But I love the idea of a single large candle measuring the days, turning the candle into a daily tradition rather than weekly one. In fact, Tina over at Copenhagen’s Traveling Mama, has observed that’s the norm in Denmark!
Advent Candle Numbered for Days via Traveling Mama
If you have an accessible staircase bannister, you could make that the focal point for your advent gifts, like Swedish blog Fröken Knopp did with newsprint and twine. (P.S. How cute is that painted floor?)
Staircase, Newsprint and Twine Advent Calendar via Fröken Knopp
I can hardly get over Vibeke Design’s stunning advent calendar shop display. Paper cones, edged in lace, hung from a lichen-covered hardwood branch. Oh, so pretty!
Advent Calendar Display via Vibeke Design Christmas Shop in Sweden
How are you planning to celebrate and decorate for advent this year? I’d love to hear! And if you need more ideas, here are more advent calendar ideas and even more advent calendar ideas!
The Oaxacaborn Blog 
What do you put in the pockets
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