Ancestral Holiday | Connecting Through the Past with Seasonal Decor

Ancestral Holiday | Connecting Through the Past with Seasonal Decor

  • Kathy Sexton
  • 12/13/24

Ancestral Holiday | Connecting Through the Past with Seasonal Decor\

Your Home & Lifestyle Magazine

The holiday season is often marked by joyful gatherings with family and friends; a time to celebrate all that’s passed before diving into New Year’s resolutions. It’s easily claimed as a favorite time of year by many, including Julia Harpe Warren, creator behind One Gal Explorer. For approximately six weeks every year, Harpe Warren transforms her home into a quaint winter wonderland, inspired by the Christmases celebrated by her European ancestors from Scandinavia, Germany, and Great Britain.

“I’ve always been really curious about ancestry, and I really love the feel and decor of different countries in Europe,” says Harpe Warren, who lives in Southern California. She’s particularly drawn to the simplicity of a Scandinavian Christmas, the warmth of a German holiday, and the classic markets that crop up in the UK. After learning more about her ancestry in those areas, it felt natural to “start collecting decor pieces for Christmas that lean into those different parts of Europe where my family is from and my ancestors are from.”

Her first challenge was determining how people really decorate their homes for Christmas in these locations. Superficial research led her toward country flags and gnomes, pushing her to seek inspiration from fellow bloggers living in the mountains or the country. That’s where she found softer details like woodland creatures on cross-country skis, intricate wood-carved advent calendars, and tidy Christmas crackers, all of which easily fit alongside her existing English countryside–inspired home.

Once the winter season hits, Harpe Warren takes a trip to her local nursery to buy pine and holly, using the greenery to accent her existing picture frames. “Something I really notice in the homes of people who live in Norway, England, and Germany is they decorate with actual pine boughs,” she says.

Harpe Warren adds to her decor collection year round, scouring Etsy, frequenting antique stores, and picking out ornaments everywhere she travels. “Each piece is unique and different, and it kind of tells a story,” she says. Among her collection is a plaid Highland cow from Scotland, a glass snowflake from Sweden, and framed photos of her German ancestors. Every year, she delicately tops her tree with a simple jingle bell.

“It makes me feel like maybe my home looks how my ancestors might have decorated their homes at Christmastime, like there’s a little bit of an historic aspect to my decor,” says Harpe Warren. “It makes me feel connected to it all.”

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hygge defined.

Hygge, pronounced hyoo-guh, is a Scandinavian concept that embodies a sense of comfort and welcomeness. “It’s a whole feeling,” says Harpe Warren. Although the English language lacks a direct equivalent, she creates a sense of hygge with dim lighting, sheepskin accents, and familial details. “It’s all about staying inside, cozy and warm, gathering with your friends, and the warm light, some candles and fires being lit to keep you cozy,” she says.

literary styling.

Serving as both decor and a source of inspiration, Scandinavian Christmas by Trine Hahnemann (available on Amazon) has earned a seasonal spot thanks to its thematic cover art and the classic recipes inside. “[Scandinavians] make Christmas Eve their big food day and they usually have tons of food out,” says Harpe Warren. “And I thought that would be something, when I host Christmas in the future, to do; make a big meal like they do.”

YHL/ Written by Alissa Schulman

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