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Thanks for all your suggestions, I've taken them all down and will now compile a list... it will remain a surprise for everyone until we reveal each day throughout December!

I do have one very exciting thing to share before I go. We are gearing up to film the Watercolour Advent Calendar 2023 and we need your help!

Each year I ask my Patrons for their favourite images of Christmas to turn into the 24 festive tutorials to paint in the calendar throughout December. I would love to hear from you once again and I would particularly like to hear about international traditions as well as the more familiar (to me) UK/USA traditions.

Please comment below with suggestions of what you would like to see painted and then all will be revealed day by day from the 1st December.

As a thank you, the digital download of the Advent calendar is attached to this post, free for all of you!

We have quietly started selling the calendars and kits in my online shops but we're not doing an official launch until next week. If this all feels extremely early, you're right, it is! But we have to make sure that people receive their calendars and kits in time for the 1st December.

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Comments

Mariska

We ofcourse set up a tree, decorate the house and garden, have a wonderful dinner with the family. But the second day of Christmas is for just the two of us, cozy and cuddly in our pj’s 🥰

Julia

On the 6th of december, here in Alsace, France, saint Nicolas comes and he give us oranges and "Mannele" some sort of gingerbread but it's a brioche with chocolat chips. Too bad i can't share here a picture of it

Patricia Nesbitt

Every year I have my Christmas cactus, amaryllis and sometimes forced bulbs like crocus, mini daffodils or hyacinths. A memory that my Mum shared was about growing up in Ukraine. They didn’t have a lot, but on Christmas there would be one enormous orange from Father Christmas that would be shared. There would also be cookies and some chocolate and other small things, but to her Christmas smelled like oranges and it was magical.

Robyn Mills

I live in Australia and a Christmas hat or Christmas tree on the beach is very common . A dark red amaryllis in a pot which I used to grow each year when we lived in a Canada.

Ángela López

I'd like to see the typical Xmas sweets that we have in Andalucía, Spain : mantecados y polvorones. They are wrapped in silk paper and are delicious. It's one of the Arabic heritage that we still keep alive

Uta

When I was child we did iceskating on the frozen ponds. Ice skaters or ice skates would be fine. Or the sugarplum fairy from the nutcracker ballet, or Hansel and Gretel in front of a gingerbread house which is a popular Christmas decoration in Germany, or a stall of a Christmas market, or a red candle on a fir sprig, or …Ihave so many lovely Christmas memories.

Nancy

Hello. I’m excited because after a very sad year I decided to treat myself and order the kit. I love the special ideas I see in the comments. I would like to see traditional Christmas items also. Maybe a window from the outside looking in to a decorated room or lit tree. Thanks. I’m looking forward to this project.

CynthiaJQ

I would love to see a Nativity, the reason for the season!

Judy Carl

Growing up, one of first signs of the Christmas season was when my parents (German/Swedish descent) set out a dish of Christmas hard candies (the Ribbon candy was my favorite). Then came the wooden bowl filled with in-shell nuts. I loved using the metal nutcracker to crack open the walnuts, pecans, and almonds. The Brazil nuts were always tricky but worth the effort.

Leah

-A plate of cookies is a tradition in my family. We make chocolate chip, frosted sugar cutouts, peanut butter blossoms, spritz in the shape of green trees and wreaths, peppermint candy canes, etc. -A plate of cookies and a glass of milk left for Santa on Christmas eve -An old fashioned Christmas Carol piece of sheet music -A Christmas cactus in bloom -this may be niche but our elderly neighbor lady would make a chocolate and pistachio swirled bundt cake for my family on Christmas. She took the recipe to her grave so we have been trying to replicate it since she passed. My sister in law was visiting Germany and said the same cake was being served for breakfast! Not sure if any Germans know what cake I'm talking about and if it has any significance with Christmas 🎄

Sue Lea

Just ordered my sets. Would love to see a sleigh coming in over the Northern lights

Genevieve

I had a sad year too and trust me you will find comfort and happiness in this group 🥰

Genevieve

The Nutcracker and the window ( where you see the inside of a house with Christmas tree, presents, children) ❤

de Winton Paper co.

Nancy I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a sad year. It’s great that you’ve found some comfort in painting. We’re all here to keep your enjoyment going!

de Winton Paper co.

Also Gen, sorry you’re also having a tough time. Painting can be such a good escape

Charlotte Gyllenhammar

In Sweden we celebrate the saint Lucia, ” Sankta Lucia” in the early morning when it’s dark outside on the 13th. Lucia has candles in her hair, long white dress with a red ribbon and has a following of more girls and boys. They/we sing special songs and we eat ”Lussekatter” kind of saffronbuns shaped in a special way. The buns are eaten all through december together with ginger biscuits. Really hard to explain -it sounds really strange… 😂. But anyway maybe a Lucia on the 13 th or a Lussekatt anyday in december. See link below https://visitsweden.com/what-to-do/culture-history-and-art/swedish-traditions/christmas/lucia/

Lucie Butcher

The traditional Czech Christmas dinner is carp. (I know, I know... :-)

Sally

A Father Christmas, a snowman and a Robin! Very traditional and full of Christmasness!

Nancy

God bless Gen, I hope you can have peace and healing.

Nancy

That's funny, Lucie. Not your tradition but your comment. :-)

Marie Faubion

We are coming up on the first anniversary of our 1 year old great grandson passing from Luekemia. This is such a happy post. I just have to say I LOVE all the memories shared. Thank you to everyone. I would love a nativity scene

Mark Hines

I am can't find any watercolor paper that will work in my HP 9025 Ink Jet Printer. Any suggestions??

ilona van der tang

Not Christmas, but on december 5th we have Sinterklaas. He brings presents and toys. And in the weeks before we sing at the 'schoorsteen' fireplace, 'zetten onze schoen' putting our shoe in front of the fireplace, putting a carrot, hay and a cup water for his horse next to it. (Because he rides his horse on the roofs....)The next day children will find a little present and some candy 'pepernoten of marsepein ' in and around the shoes

ilona van der tang

And on december 31 we bake oliebollen..... and were I live in tne Netherlands we bake 'kniepertjes ' a sort of cookie we roll and fill with cream (I will put pictures on discord)

ilona van der tang

Maybe at a printershop? I can put paper in de back of my printer, that works well with 300gr.

Jo navin

Thank you so much Harriet, for sharing this year's beautiful advent calendar. I love reading all the Christmas traditions! I particularly love the idea of Lucia and the window. Your advent calendar has lots of special memories for me. In 2021 my dear friend Nancy was having a difficult time with poor health, I recommended your calendar and she painted along, I know she found it very therapeutic. Last year I painted four (!) calanders one to keep and the other three for my close friends, including one for Nancy. I chose a mix of your 2021/2022 designs plus a fireplace and a Tomte (I'll see if I can work out how to share it on Discord). My darling Nancy passed away two weeks ago, we're all broken hearted. I'm so grateful to have been able to give her a special gift for her last Christmas, and for the comfort of watercolour painting which you've taught me. Sending kindest wishes to you and those of you that are going through sad times. Jo xxx

Jo navin

Ps. the fireplace was from Harriet's tutorial on YouTube x

Stew Hall

Growing up I always love the Aussie carole called ‘Six White Boomers’ which was about kangaroos instead of reindeer leading the sleigh. It was one of my earliest memories about an Australian Christmas (so maybe a kangaroo with a Santa’s hat on?).

Kelli Martin

I would love to see an old fashioned Victorian dollhouse on the calendar!

Alison Gammon

A starry night, baby Jesus in the crib, perhaps something to do with the three kings - a crown? Thank you so much for doing this, I'm really looking forward to the calendar again this year!

Jo navin

Oooo me too!

Terri Rosenstock

Pōhutukawa - the New Zealand Christmas tree

Laura Cook

Louisiana bonfires on the levee

Erica McPhee

It isn’t Christmas unless I have spent hours calligraphing our holiday cards! Would love to see a little envelope with a fountain pen and holiday stamp. :-)

Susann

Three suggestions from the Erzgebirge :-) : Miners are traditional for Christmas in the Erzgebirge - as a procession and as carved or turned light figures. And because the miners spend long periods in darkness, they yearned for the light - so candle arches (Schwibbögen) in the windows are typical for Christmas in the Erzgebirge. The light of the candle arch was supposed to show the miners the safe way home. And something delicious: traditionally, Stollen is eaten as a dessert. It symbolises the baby Jesus wrapped in white swaddling clothes. I will put three photos of it on Discord (light figure, candle arch, Stollen).

Uta

An alpine church with light shining through the windows, a lantern in the snow, skiers, an angel with a candle, a pheasant in the snow, this are some more memories of Christmas time in Germany.

jo sowerby

A nativity scene would be lovely and mince pies 🥧

Cheryl Gibbs

I have several: 1) A pickle ornament nestled in the Christmas tree branches. It says that Germans hang a pickle-shaped glass ornament on the Christmas tree hidden away so it's difficult to find. The first child to find it on Christmas morning gets a special treat or an extra present. 2) A small country church on a snowy night with the lights shining through the window. 3) Cookies and a glass of milk on Christmas Eve for Santa in front of a blazing fire. 4) A snowy rooftop and a chimney with the top half of Santa going down the chimney to deliver the gifts! 5) A Secret Santa scene--brightly wrapped Christmas gifts left on the front porch of a cottage decorated for Christmas (lights, wreath etc.).

Nancy

I just got my calendar kit!! Michigan, USA. SO excited!! It is so nicely packaged. I don't want to wish the fall season away but I can't wait to get started! "See" you all then!

Mary Moury

I loved the nativity scene last year, doing another would be fantastic. It was also fun to to a silhouette. Anything with greens is also amazing

Amanda Fraser

Just got my calendar in the post I can’t wait to start it. Such a lovely idea not sure if anyone has suggested a gingerbread house they can be so colourful or a reindeer/sleigh scene🦌 actually can’t wait for Christmas now 😂

Anne

• Star-shaped lantern (Philippine tradition) • A tin of Royal Dansk butter cookies

Anne

• A christmas market stall • Trdelnik (popular Czech Christmas dessert)

de Winton Paper co.

Oh Jo I'm so sorry about Nancy. You are such a good friend and it sounds like this calendar brought a lot of comfort. One of the most important things to me when we do this is the community it creates

Jo navin

Thank you so much for your kind wishes and lovely comment Harriet. Although I haven't posted on Discord before, I look at others art there and read comments, plus here on Patreon- it really is a warm respectful community x

Ángela López

In Spain, most of us are of the 3 kings Team. The Christian tradition of the 3 kings coming from far east with presents to baby Jesus. I also would love to paint a cosy cottage snowed with smoke in the chimney and a little snowman⛄️ outside.

Sally

Some traditional Christmas flowers from around the world! There must be lots we don’t see here in the UK.

Kuljit Jandoo

I was born in England and have never been to India but I was intrigued as to how Christmas is celebrated out there. Sorry it’s a long post but I found this online. Christmas Kheer Christmas Traditions in India Though the majority of Indians are Hindu, millions of people still celebrate Christmas in India (called Bada Din, meaning “big day”). Church on Christmas A special tradition is attending Midnight Mass with family and friends. Churches in India are decorated with poinsettia flowers and candles, especially for this important service. Afterward, there is a feast of different delicacies (often biryanis, a dish made with rice and meat), and gifts are exchanged. Some families display small clay oil-burning lamps and decorate their homes with banana or mango leaves. Mango leaves are an important tradition because the mango tree is considered sacred, and its leaves are used to decorate for every special occasion. Traditional Foods: Kheer Many people start preparing for Christmas in India as early as a month ahead by cleaning their homes in preparation for guests. They also make a traditional cake, or a sweet rice pudding called kheer, to be shared not just with family, but with neighbors as well! Kheer is a traditional Indian dessert. It can be made with rice, vermicelli or cracked wheat. The rice-based kheer, however, is the most popular. It is believed that kheer inspired the popular Western dessert rice pudding. Kheer has raisins and different kinds of nuts in it and is not as thick as rice pudding. Try making kheer with your family this Christmas! Ingredients to Make Kheer * 2 cups whole milk * 2 cups coconut milk * 3 tbsp white sugar * 1 cup Basmati rice * 1⁄2 tsp ground cardamom * 1⁄4 cup raisins * Optional: 1⁄2 tsp rose water, 1⁄4 cup sliced almonds and 1⁄4 cup pistachios, chopped. It’s from this site https://www.littlepassports.com/blog/world-holidays/christmas-traditions-in-india/ Which has a lovely picture if the dish sprinkled with lovely red pomegranate

Sophie

Some more angels 🙏 please

Melissa Siroky

I'd love to paint a Swedish Dala Horse or a German candle pyramid.

Nancy Gross

Stringing popcorn and cranberries, clove studded oranges, steaming cocoa. Oh! And a decorated gingerbread house :)

Sharon Rowe

Thank you for the complimentary calendar download Harriet! I was thinking of a Bûche De Noël (Yule Log), haven't seen that mentioned yet.

LadyC

Sugar plum candies, Turkish Delight, Clara from the Nutcracker, Philippine star lantern (parol), Buccellato (Sicilian Christmas ring-shaped cake with figs and nuts), Malva Pudding (South African Christmas pudding)

Debbie V

I’d love to paint a cardinal and a pickle ornament. And thank you so much for sending the calendar PDF!

Emelie Karnevi

Det finns lussekatter 13 dec i förra årets kalender. 😊 (Ifall Lucia inte är med i år). Och bra förklarat förresten! 😄

Emelie Karnevi

We get to enjoy Dala horses year round in Sweden, maybe even more during summer as the area of origin is popular to visit 🇸🇪 I think she has featured it in one of the previous two calendars if I remember correctly. Might still be on youtube 😄

Dee R

How about mistletoe with a gold ribbon

Debbie

Hi Harriet ! Off topic - are you selling your lovely calendars for 2024?

de Winton Paper co.

I'm not this year, the 12 days of christmas cards took up all my creative energy but would love to for the following year.

Debbie

Awww, I should have purchased last year. It was lovely.