It used to be that when you saw this kind of orange paper Christmas star (
jõulutäht) in the window of a Toronto home, you could be pretty certain Estonian was spoken inside. Birches (
kased), a mountain ash (
pihlakas) or juniper bushes (
kadakad) growing in the front yard were other hints.
The star itself is a Swedish tradition and in most cases, was brought to Canada by families who had fled to Sweden in 1944. Old world candle-shaped Christmas tree lights often came along for the trans-Atlantic ride as well, not to mention the dented metal decilitre measure with which my Memm and I made holiday yummies.
It was only a matter of time before the stars began to succumb to fatigue in their new homeland and so I was very happy to find a new one at the Swedish Women’s Association’s Christmas Fair at Harbourfront some years back. It’s now hanging in my window in Tallinn, where it seems to be one of a kind.
Electric advent candles and golden metallic, as well as locally made wooden stars glow in people’s windows here. Elegant, plain white paper versions and colourful robust stars with cut-out designs (giving them an exotic, almost Middle-Eastern feel) have become all the rage in Sweden. But the old orange is a classic, a commemoration of sorts, now that so many Estonians of my grandparents’ generation, along with their unique, slowly fading stars and juniper bushes are gone.
Armsat meenutamisaega! Joyful reminiscing!
Viimased kommentaarid
Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
riinuk21 Dec 2006 00:10
Otsingumootorisse pistes märksõna “Swedish Christmas star” sattusin nende kohtade peale:
Ostetud Urban Outfitters’ist 5 dollari eest… Lihtne valge
http://www.thisnext.com/item/8... American Swedish Insitute $23, punane ja valge
http://www.shopswedish.com/chr... Evi20 Dec 2006 13:26
I too have had to replace my shabby, ripped Swedish star with a white paper star in my window, although I found my mother a yellow one, but not an authentic Swedish one such as the one in the photo, which I too grew up with. Merry Christmas, cuz. I remember many Christmases with you!!
Evi20 Dec 2006 13:26
I too have had to replace my shabby, ripped Swedish star with a white paper star in my window, although I found my mother a yellow one, but not an authentic Swedish one such as the one in the photo, which I too grew up with. Merry Christmas, cuz. I remember many Christmases with you!!
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