Euro-Santas
While visiting the European Christmas markets last winter, I was intrigued by all the different looks of Santa. (Some of the best markets are in Belgium and France. More on that in the next issue.) I loved learning about all the different traditions.
In Holland, for example, in early November, Sinter Klaas hops on his white horse named Schimmel and summons his assistant, Zwarte Piet, and together they depart Spain on a steamboat heading off to the Netherlands. When they arrive on the 5 th of December, the Christmas season officially begins.
And in France, Père Noël travels with his stern companion, Père Fouettard, whose task is to identify naughty children and whip them! I’m glad I didn’t grow up in France.
We may grow up with different Christmas traditions, but one thing is the same around the globe – kids love presents!
When I returned from my trip, I chose my six favorite Euro-santas and transformed them into a quilted wall hanging. Click here to download the appliqué pattern for Russia’s Grandfather Frost.
For the other five patterns, full instructions to make the quilt in ten easy steps, and a short history of the Christmas traditions of France, Russia, Ireland, Holland, England, and the US, a 30+ page pdf e-book is available on this site.
Bonne Noel!
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Contents
Letters from London
Love Chocolate?
Want to Earn Money Doing Something You Love?
London Crafting
Euro-Santas