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The Umgås Holiday Gift Guide
In Sweden, the yuletide season kicks off with the first day of Advent in November and ends in mid-January with a celebration of St. Knut’s Day. With nearly two months of celebrations, including St. Lucia’s Day and Jul (Christmas), there are plenty of opportunities for glögg drinking, julbakelser eating and gift-giving. This holiday season let your fellow Swedes embrace their Scandinavian roots with one of these thoughtful gifts. We have something for the food lovers, adventure-seekers and even for the naughty kids.
For the foodie
Homemade Swedish Baked Goods in IKEA tins
Whip up a batch of julbakelser (Christmas baked goods) to give to family and friends in celebration of Christmastime. Stored in IKEA’s cute cookie tins, semlor (cream buns), pepparkakor (gingersnaps) and syltgrottor (jam thumbprint cookies) make for a tasty yuletide gift.
Fika Starter Kit
Introduce a friend or colleague to fika with a Swedish coffee break starter kit complete with beans from Stockholm’s Drop Coffee roastery and sleek stoneware coffee pot and matching mugs from Muuto. Or, take them out for a coffee date to show them how a true Swede fikas.
For the barn
“Hej” Onesie
For a pregnant friend or new baby, this cheeky “Hej” onesie is an appropriate gift for both Swedish and Danish children. Made from organic cotton, the outfit ranges in size from newborn to 24 months.
Tomte
The elusive tomte, a Swedish house troll, is known for the mischief it makes around the home. These handmade wool toys are great stocking stuffers for kids and adults alike.
Lotta Jansdotter Collection
For the kiddos, consider purchasing the beautiful designs of Åland’s Lotta Jansdotter. Blankets, playhouses and plush building blocks in an array of fun and colorful patterns will brighten a child’s nursery or playroom.
For the Adventurer
Flight to and from Stockholm
If money and mileage are of no object this year, consider giving your Swedish companion a trip to Sweden. Just this summer, WOWAir opened a flight route to Stockholm from airports across the United States starting at $170 each way.
For the decorator
Brass Candle Holder Circle
Bring in the light with this sleek candelabra from Scandinavian design company Ferm Living. A nod to St. Lucia’s Day with its crown-like base and tapers, this brass candle holder can be used as a table centerpiece or hung from the ceiling as a chandelier with removable leather strings.
Svenskt Tenn Christmas Stocking
This Stockholm design house is a Swedish institution with its sophisticated furnishings, fabrics and housewares. This year, the department store is selling Christmas stockings tailored from beautiful botanical and fun elephant patterns that were created by designer Josef Frank in the 1930s and ’40s for Svenskt Tenn’s founder Estrid Ericson.
For the hostess
Bjørn Wiinblad Christmas ornaments
Scandinavian artist Bjørn Wiinblad’s porcelain Christmas ornaments with whimsical illustrations inspired from fairy tales make thoughtful gifts for friends and party hosts. The new Christmas line includes an array of beautiful porcelain dishes, vases and votives.
Fir Tree Hand Towel
Made in Sweden by Happy Stockholm Design, these cutesy cotton hand towels have a simplistic silhouette fit for the classic or contemporary abode. The lifestyle boutique, tucked in Stockholm’s Gamla Stan, sells natured-inspired housewares and accessories created by Scandinavian designers.
