A new word keeps popping up in Swedish media lately: Novent, as in a mix of November + Advent. The definition is a bit vague though... I get the impression that the word was invented by people who love decorating lavishly for Christmas and want to bring it all on early; but at the same time, there seems to be others who prefer it to denote "the calm before the storm"... Like, a time to start certain crafts and decorations, and more lights and candles etc - but still a no-no to the colour red until proper Advent / December... So I guess Novent can really be whatever you want it to be! ;-)
Shops and supermarkets do of course get started on Christmas decorations as soon as Halloween is behind us nowadays - if they even wait that long...
For my own part, I've probably been moderately noventing long before I ever had a special word for it. November is a dark and dull pre-winter month here in Sweden, so it does feel rather natural to at least start bringing in some more candles and lights; but at the same time I'm among those who don't like starting full Christmas decorations too early. For my own part, I have very few presents to buy nowadays, so not all that much shopping involved for me; but I do tend to get started early with preparations for Christmas cards and letters (esp. those to be sent abroad).
Yesterday, we had a break in the rain that allowed me a walk into the city centre for a couple of errands.
The bookshop downtown has just reopened after having been closed ever since a fire on a the top floor of the building back in June, which caused smoke damage etc even to the shops down on the ground floor. They now have a Christmas tree up already at the entrance to signal that they're open for business again. I went inside to browse for a bit and get acquainted with changes in their layout. Besides getting some refill cartridges for my crossword pens (on my shopping list), I also ended up buying a Christmas present for myself. (As it's one I can't use until next year anyway, I've wrapped it and put it aside to be "half forgotten" until Christmas...)
In a flower shop, I also bought myself two new fake branches for my big brown vase in the living room. (One with needles and small cones, and the other with dark leaves and white berries - both rather discreet.) I have a number of such fake branches (flowers, leaves, berries, all different) that I use in different combinations for different seasons. So when I got back home, I made a new arrangement for Novent...
This in turn also inspired me to a slight change of colour scheme in the kitchen - where I also don't want to "go red" just yet... So for now, I just exchanged a green table runner for a dark purple one.
I don't remember if I showed this tray before - I bought it back in August when visiting my friend Lena's art exhibition on the west coast. (She's a water colour artists and she has some of her works printed on trays and coasters and things like that. I have couple of different ones since before.)
View from the window. The big trees are bare now but the lilac shrubs are still holding on to their leaves.
the tree is beautiful, and so is the purple. the new artificial branches are perfect for November, good for both holidays and festive. your home always looks great for each season and holiday. I usually put my tree out on thanksgiving day, but the last 2 years put it out at this time. my SIL told me i should put it out to help untie some of my knots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. Your 'nook' with the glass items is always beautiful too, and especially at Christmas time. So if it makes you happy to start early, why (k)not.
DeleteYou have a lot of pretty color there, understated and warm. I love your runner and matching placemat, and the arrangement is perfect for November.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ginny. I enjoy doing my decorations gradually... :)
DeleteI always use a pencil for my crosswords because if I get a word wrong I can erase it.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned buying something but I'm pretty sure you didn't show the tray - which I like very much.
Graham, the ink in my crossword pens is erasable - that's why I call them crossword pens :-) I prefer them to pencils for crosswords because the contrast is sharper. They can of course be used for other kinds of writing as well - just not for important documents meant to survive a long time...)
DeletePS. Graham, I also bought an original water colour painting from Lena, which was shown in my blog post from the visit to her exhibition in Smögen in August.
DeleteI remember you telling us about your artist friend, and showing some of her work. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWithout the colours of the leaves, November would indeed be a rather dreary month. Somehow this year I find myself enjoying it more than I think I would, loving my walks and finding it hard to resist taking pictures all the time.
Novent is a term I had not heard yet, but is understood immediately - I can imagine it won‘t take long before people use it here, too.
Meike, obviously my camera is still drawn to the bits of colour still left in nature, too. Less of that every day now, though...!
DeleteNovent, that is a new one to me! Love all the colors from your trees. Even leaf-less, there is beauty in your landscape.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Jim and Barb!
DeleteYes, I remember your visit to your artist friend and some of her beautiful work. The painting on the tray is so serene.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much colour you found on your walk, and on such a grey day too. There isn't as much colour in my garden as you found on your walk. Most of the bright flowers have dropped and turned brown.
Carol, there's probably quite a bit of clever planning behind what trees and bushes are planted in parks and cemeteries - taking seasonal variations into account.
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