Nowadays, the new media is helping us contacting our family and friends to wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year within seconds. But how impersonal is that! Sending a text to 50 people at the same time!

If you’re just like me a postcards lover, you’re always happy to receive something by the mail. Would you have the idea to print your email or text and hung it in your kitchen?

The Festive Season bring us once in a year, into the mood of making the others very happy, to wish them all the very best for the next new year and to remind them how much we love them. For me, the best way to do it, is definitely to write a few words on a beautiful postcard and give it or send it to our beloved ones.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you and hope you will enjoy those stunning postcards that remind us some happy childhood moments.

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Don’t hesitate to tell me which one do you prefer and leave a comment.

Do you want to have some more Vintage Christmas, have a look at my Pinterest board here!

Lovely Merry Christmas and Fantastic Happy New Year 2014!

The first tracks of Christmas markets go back to the XIVth century in Germany, under the name of « Saint Nicholas’ Market». The first document telling a Christmas market is dated from 1434 under Frédéric II de Saxe’s reign, evoking one « Striezelmarkt » (protestant reform), which took place at Dresde the Monday before Christmas. Later, the reformation immortalized the tradition by renaming it “Christkindlmarkt” (the Child Christ’ market) to fight against cult of the saints. The Christmas market of Strasbourg dates from 1570, and the one of Nuremberg from1628.

An important revival, considered as commercial, took place in the middle of 1990s. Numerous cities in Europe established their own Christmas market with chalets and sometimes attractions (short-lived ice rink, big wheel).

Treat the children to a genuine fairy-tale experience in one of Europe’s best-kept Christmas secrets. The unique old-world atmosphere of those Christmas Markets is perfect for the festive season. You always have special events such as concerts, storytelling, sometimes some giant letterbox to send your wish list to the North Pole, some ice-skating rink and spectacular light shows.

In every place, you have the local produce, arts and crafts, decorations and traditional wares.

They are all really amazing and are great to take you in the festive mood.

Stop and have a hot wine with cinnamon find some really unique Christmas presents and beautiful decorations. The Christmas spirit is infectious! Prepare your carol singing and off you go!

Here are the 15 best Christmas Markets in europe:

Amsterdam – NETHERLANDS

Colmar – Alsace – FRANCE

Cologne – GERMANY

Copenhagen – DENMARK

Franckfurt – GERMANY

Krakow – POLAND

La Defense – Paris – FRANCE

Manchester – ENGLAND

Munich – GERMANY

Nuremberg – GERMANY

Prague – CZECH REPUBLIC

Salzburg – AUSTRIA

Strasbourg – FRANCE

Stuttgart – GERMANY

Vienna – AUSTRIA

Tell me which one did you go and why did you like it or didn’t like it! Leave a comment.

And if you know a better Christmas Market or you have a review to make to one of those, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Thanks.

Next time, I will offer you lots of fantastic Vintage Christmas Cards!

According to the Gospel, based on the account of Saint Luc, Jesus was born in a cowshed, more exactly in a manger.  It exists two older representations of the Gospel which are known, date of the 4^th century. The first one consists of a mural painting with a death chamber of a Christian family lived, around 380, which was discovered in the Saint Sebastian catacombs, in Rome. The other representation makes reference to a scene painted on a sarcophagus of the Saint Maximin basilica, representing the worship of the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men.

From the 4^th Century, the Christmas Celebration is celebrated: In the Holy church Mary of the Incarnation of Jesus, today “Sainte Marie Majeure” in Rome. We know that a celebration of Christmas is commemorated during the night of December 25th since the 4^th century. Indeed, the date of December 25th was fixed as date of divine child’s birth in the 4th century. The debates, which brought this decision, allowed developing a religious practice around this event. From the 4^th Century, the former papers report that the celebration of the Christmas Eve took place in Sainte Marie of Rome around the nativity scene.

It is thus at that time that we can return the existence of a first Nativity Scene such as we know them with the Virgin Mary, Joseph, the donkey and the ox, made by statues nowadays.

For the vintage lovers, we can find some old Nativity Scenes and statues from the 60’s – 80’s, most of time it’s really hard to date them as they don’t have anymore boxes and nothing written on them. Anyway, it doesn’t matter as far as they remind us our childhood!

Do you know those beautiful Santons?

The name comes from “Little Saint”. They are small pieces (from 2,5 cm to 15 cm and nowadays 26 cm!); hand painted nativity scene figurines made with terracotta (clay).

They are produced in the Provence region of South-eastern France. In a traditional Provencal Nativity Scene, you can find 55 individual figurines representing various characters from Provencal village such as the scissors grinder, the fishwife, the blind man and the chestnut seller. The first clay Santons were created by Marseille’s craftsman Jean-Louis Lagnel (1764-1822), during the French Revolution, when churches were forcibly closed and their large nativity scenes prohibited. Lagnel crafted small figurines in plaster moulds and let them dry before firing them.

A maker of Santons is a Santonnier, and the creation of Santons today is essentially a family craft, handed down from parents to children.

Santons are moulded in two halves, pressed together and fused. Hats, baskets and other accessories are applied with an adhesive. When the figure is completely dry, it is given a gelatine bath in order to harden the figure and to provide a surface for the application of pigments. Faces are painted first, then the hair, clothing and accessories are last. Until the end of the 19^th century, Santons were air-dried rather than fired in a kiln. As a consequence, such figures were fragile and easily broken.

They are two types of Santons: the clay figurines (Santons d’Argile) and the doll-like (Santons Habilles) clothed ornaments.

Since 1803, Santonniers have gathered in Marseille each December to display and sell their wares at the Santonniers Fair.

You can admire a great collection of Santons from the 18th and 19th century at the Santons Museum in Marseille.

You can find those stunning Nativity Scenes figurines in south of France and also online.

The most famous craftsman Santonnier family is Carbonel. You can create a hole village with those figurines and lots of other accessorizes like mill, bridge, stable and many more, it’s just fantastic! Have a look at those pictures to get any ideas of what you can do.

You can’t really find vintage ones, because most of time, when people buy them, they will keep them a lifetime (price are quite expensive as they are handmade in France) and probably their children will inherit from them.

Have a lovely Christmas Eve, and have fun decorating your Nativity Scene!

Don’t hesitate to have a look at our new website to discover our unique collection of vintage items: www.LaBoutiqueVintage.co.uk

My favorite Christmas outdoor decoration is the mail box!

But sport items, as ice skating are really awesome too!

If you have an old milk churn farm or some vintage galvanized items such as a bucket, a watering can or wooden crates, you can fill them with pinecones, Christmas tree branches or some pieces of wood. And for more magic when evening comes, add some Vintage Christmas lights on them.

These cheerful decorations will ensure that visitors will be flung into the festive spirit as soon as they arrive at your door.

And to have a Winter Wonderland Vintage garden, try to find some old wooden wheelbarrow or wooden trailer and fill them with Christmas tree branches and red berries or even a real Christmas tree.

You can find many more ideas with old sledges, bikes, watering cans, benches and milk bottles holder, so many possibilities to welcome your guests as soon as they arrive.

The wreath is a classic addition to any door. Let’s find one that suits you! Have a look at those examples, use them as inspiration and add your favorite festive elements.

Some of the best Outdoor Decoration I could find online:

Have a look at this fantastic collection of Christmas Cards or discover the 15 Best Christmas Markets in Europe.

Have a Merry Christmas full of Joy and Happiness!

Don’t hesitate to visit our new website and discover some unique vintage collection: www.LaBoutiqueVintage.co.uk 

We all love presents and for me, it is really important to offer something that look nice, whatever is inside, the gift itself has to be beautiful, what a great pleasure when your family and friends will say wouahhh this gift is stunning! It is so great to make people happy, so this is the time to make some effort and be creative again!

I love this old Vintage tin used as a gift box, with just a lovely ribbon and baubles, so simple, just beautiful!

If you know very well the person, maybe you can more personalized the present you’re going to offer her. Let’s take an example with someone who loves the mountains, why not trying to find a Vintage postcard or picture about mountains and just add it on the top of your present. What a fantastic unusual gift! You have a Comics lover, buy on ebay a Vintage Comics, copy it and wrap his present with it!

Here are some few examples you can make:

You can see that you can use everything you want to personalized your present, from an old peg to an old brooch, with old buttons, old rope, ribbons, fake flowers, or dry flowers, even old toys figurines…

You can also use some Vintage comics, magazines or newspapers to do the perfect Vintage look. You have old fabrics in a cupboard, you don’t know what to do with them, take them out and make some bags to fill them, add a tag and you have your present!

If like me you love those very old keys but you can’t find how to use them, wrap your gift and add one on each, they will look fantastic! If you want to know other way to use them, come back later, I will have a post about it!

If you love the shabby chic style here are some examples to do your presents for the perfect Vintage Shabby Chic look:

Here are the 20 best Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper I could find:

And if you want some more examples, have a look at my Pinterest Christmas board, you will find more than 700 pins about a Magical Vintage Christmas!

Come back soon for the Vintage outdoor and porch decorations!

They are beautiful on their own, but for the Christmas Season they can be really stunning!

Why not adding some Christmas lights garlands in them like those one:

And if you have some wooden sticks, with berries, or berries garland etc… You can make some wonderful display. For a winter look, add some fake snow in them, they will look fabulous!

Of course, you can use the Christmas ornaments like this one: perfect!

And if you like candelabra, why not trying to use it as a candle holder like this one:

Don’t hesitate to have a look at our new website to see our unique collection: www.LaBoutiqueVintage.co.uk

You like Vintage Christmas ideas? Don’t hesitate to have a look at our Pinterest Board here, you will find lots of ideas to have a perfect Vintage Christmas!

Hiding in a cupboard, you probably have lots of vintage crockery, it’s time to take them out and use them as display with branches, cone pines, red berries branches or holly and poinsettia garlands. Of course you can use lots of other different vintage items, such as kitchenalia items: have a look at those vintage moulds and see what you can do with them!

For the perfect vintage look, what would be best than a vintage table like this one!

And if you like those Vintage Glass Jars and Bell Domes, here are some great examples of how to use them as centerpieces for your Christmas table, or on a console !

Here you can find the 11 best Vintage Christmas Table Decoration I could find:

And if you want to find some more examples, don’t hesitate to go to see my Pinterest Vintage Christmas board here, with more the 1000 pins for a wonderful Vintage Christmas.

Don’t hesitate to visit our new website to discover some unique vintage items: www.LaBoutiqueVintage.co.uk

It is from 1880 that we start to see the first electric bulbs in the United States.

One of the most famous brand for Christmas Lights since that time was probably Noma’s company.

Noma was originally created in 1926 and came to the UK in 1939. It’s the oldest Worldwide brand in Christmas lights. The company, a family owned business, has been supplying some of the most famous names in retailing with Christmas Lights for over 40 years. And if you want the all story about Noma, here is a great link to learn all about Noma: The Noma Story.

You also had the english company PIFCO: for Provincial Incandescent Fittings Co. The company is established in Manchester since 1900! One of the oldest in England. They have been expert in electrical for over 100 years. Here are some examples of their Vintage Christmas Lights:

The lanterns

Cinderella Lights for little and big princesses!

The Merry Lights

You also could find lots of other brands such as Mazda, G.E., Dina-Lite, Royalites, Clemco, Elcolite, Osram etc… All were really fantastic lights!

What a wonderful Christmas Tree when the dark comes and we have to switch on the lights and enjoy this wonderful atmosphere!

You can still find a lot of those vintage ones (some in working order, some not). Be aware that some vintage ones are heating a little when they are working, so don’t hesitate to ask before buying, or don’t switch them on…

Where to look to find those?

• For sure, you will be able to find a lot on ebay, within the Uk or abroad, especially in the USA, where they are quite expensive…
• You can also find some on Etsy.com. They will offer you a wide range of items from all over the world, most from the United States of America.
• And if you want to find some new ones but with the Vintage Style, try on ChristmasTimeUk.com or  Amazon.
• The online sites Preloved (The Joy of Second hand) or Gumtree can also be good spots to find any treasures!
• Otherwise, try all junk shops close to your area, they might have some.

Of course if you are hunting for them in December, you will pay the price, but if you try to find some in june or july you may find some great bargains!

Here are the 15 best Vintage lights I could find:

And for the gourmet: here are some chocolate ones. According to my enquiry, they were from Coblentz Chocolate Company in the US but I went to their online site, and don’t seem to exist anymore. I think they were pretty cool!

I just want to add some really nice vintage bulbs from Japan, so beautiful!

For more Vintage Christmas Ideas have a look here

And come and visit our new website to find some Original Vintage treasures: www.LaBoutiqueVintage.co.uk

-       The star on the top which reminds for the Christians The star of Bethlehem which guided the Three Kings towards the place of birth of the child Jesus, that we celebrate the 25^th of December, the star is sometimes replace by a point or an angel tree topper… The tradition says that it’s the youngest child of the family who install the star on the top of the tree (last thing to put to your tree).

-        The garlands: simple or with lights, white or colorful, you have to put them first on your Christmas tree. You can also find variable material such as ribbons, garland of pearls or diverse objects.

-       The baubles: sparkling with different colors, some clear of glass, of plastic, all baubles make a wonderful look to your Christmas, and why not trying to find those Vintage ones so beautiful.

-       All hanging decoration with Christmas theme: Cherubs, Santa Claus, and miniature of wooden objects, multicolored serpentines and lit candles. And if you would like a candy theme, add some candy canes, sweets and everything about the candy theme, let’s be creative!

-       Ice cubes: glass, plastic, just to feign the ice presents on the tree during the winter.

-       The Christmas tree stand: it can be the one you buy in any shop, or it can be a wooden log, or some vintage buckets with sand, stones, mud or pebbles in it. You can also find on ebay some great Vintage ones!

Have a look at this great video:

Now you have to choose your Christmas Tree! How to choose it?

You have the choice between the natural ones and the artificial ones.

Of course, the natural ones are more ecologic than the artificial, which come from China. I’m going to talk about the natural ones.

The Spruce

It is the most traditional Christmas tree. Its good smell of resin characterizes it as well as its fine needles. Strong and full, balanced well from the base to the top, it lends itself to all decorating ideas. Thanks to its fast growing, it takes 8 years to reach the size of 2 meters; the Spruce takes advantage of an excellent value for money.

The fir tree Nordmann

It became, since a few years, the favourite for lot of people, taking advantage of a good preservation in the housing environment. Its needles are flexible and soft and its branches are regular. Because it grows slowly (10 in 12 years are necessary for him to reach 2 meters), its silhouette stages with harmony.

The fir tree Noble

It distinguishes itself by its bluish and soft needles. Nice-smelling, it spreads an afforested perfume in the house. Once cut, it keeps its needles for a long time.

There are lots of other different varieties like the Fraser etc… If you want to know all about them, have a look at this site which is really great: UK Christmas Tree Varieties / Types

If you want to have some examples, here are the 15 best Vintage Christmas Tree I could find:

You would like more Vintage Christmas Ideas? Have a look at my Pinterest Vintage Christmas here, you will find more than 600 Vintage Christmas ideas!

Then you will have to find some Christmas lights, come back in a few days to get the information!

The end of the year is coming with the Festive Season. One of my favourite!

I would like to talk about Christmas. How to create a Vintage Christmas this year in and outside your home.

At first, we can start by the story of the Christmas tree, how to choose your Christmas tree and how to decorate it, with the 15 best Vintage Christmas tree!

Then, its lights, remember about all those vintage ones. just as a “souvenir” I will show you the 10 most amazing vintage lights.

Don’t forget your Christmas table decoration, with lovely centerpieces. I will tell you everything you need to have an authentic Vintage look. You will find the 10 best Vintage table decoration.

What would be Christmas without presents? Let’s wrap them with a complete Vintage look. You will be amazed by what we can use to make them Vintage…

It’s getting cold, but don’t forget to add a Vintage Christmas look even outside to welcome your family and friends.

I will also talk about the Nativity Scene and its own story without forgetting the “Santons”, famous French nativity characters. And because I’m French, I can’t avoid talking about the French Christmas Market in Alsace, called “Marches de Noel” which are now worldwide known.

As a card lover, I will show you dozens of Vintage cards and Christmas commercials that will remember you some “souvenirs” I’m pretty sure!

So stay with me until Christmas, you won’t be disappointed!

Have a fantastic Magic Vintage Christmas!

Let’s start with the Story of the Christmas Tree:

The Celts considered December 24th as the day of the revival of the Sun. They used to associate a tree with every lunar month; they had dedicated the spruce, which was “The Tree” of the childbirth, to this day.

In the XIth century, the believers were in the habit of presenting scenes called Mysteries. A fir tree stocked with red apples often symbolized the Paradise tree. It is in 1521 when the fir tree or the Christmas tree or Christ tree was mentioned for the first time in Alsace (France). There are also documents giving some evidence of a holiday of December 24^th.

In the XIIth century the tradition of the fir tree appears in Europe, in Alsace. We speak then of decorating houses with branches cut 3 days before Christmas.

It was spread in Alsace and in the region of Basel. It represented originally the Tree of Eden in the mysteries played the day before Christmas on the edges of the Rhine.

To decorate it, we attached apples to its branches.

There are also documents giving some evidence of a holiday of December 24th 1510 in Riga, in Latvia, where traders danced around a tree decorated with artificial roses before burning it.

In 1546, we speak seriously about Christmas trees when the city of Sélestat in Alsace (France) authorizes to cut green trees for Christmas, during the night of Saint Thomas, on December 21^st. Symbol of the virgin, roses were a member of the outfit of decoration to adorn fir trees in Alsace in the XVIth century, as well as apples, candy and small cakes which looked like hosts. Apples also had a symbolic value, because on the old Saints calendar, December 24th was reserved for Eve and Adam, canonized by the oriental Churches. At that time, the church considered the Christmas tree as a heathen and freemason practice. And it is the case until the middle of the XXth century.

In fact, before the Christmas celebration exists, there was already a heathen rite during Winter Solstice Festivals: we decorated a tree, a symbol of life, with fruits, flowers and wheat.

Later, we hung on a star at the top of the tree, the symbol of the star of Bethlehem, which guided the Three Kings. From then on, it conquered little by little the Protestant municipalities of North Germany and the big cities and occupied a place of choice in the churches of both religions.

An engraving of 1806 represents a fir tree decorated with small characters, animals, birds and cut cakes.

In 1560, at the time of the reformation, the Protestants refuse to represent the Nativity scene as Catholics. They prefer to develop the tradition of the Christmas tree, the tree, which symbolizes the paradise of Adam and Eve and the knowledge of the good, and the evil.

The tradition of the Christmas tree spreads in the Europe Protestant’s countries, in Germany and in Scandinavia.

In the XVIIth and XVIIIth century we begin to see first illuminated fir trees.

As the wax was expensive, we placed cockleshells filled with oil on the surface of which a small drill floated or flexible candles which were tied around branches.

It is in the XIXth century that the Christmas tree takes its development.

The Christmas tree arrived in Great Britain in the 1840s. Young Queen Victoria and her husband King Albert made it appreciate in all the country. The spouses put the German Christmas tree with its brilliant lights in the centre of the family’s Christmas party in Windsor Castle.

It made then its appearance in the United States to the White House. In France, Marie Leszcynska, wife of Louis XV in 1738, introduce the Christmas tree in Versailles. In 1837 Hélène of Mecklenburg, duchess of Orléans and German origin made decorate a fir tree in the Tuileries. This tradition became widespread after the war of 1870 in all the country. The immigrants of Alsace-Lorraine widely make the tradition of the fir tree known to the French “Where there is an Alsatian family there is a Christmas tree”. At the end of the XIXth century all the country had adopted it.

It is from 1880 that we start to see the first electric bulbs in the United States. They were very rare as the cost was really expensive at that time.

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Until 1950s it is Germany and Eastern European countries that remain the heart of production of the ornaments of art.

Craftsmen worked numerous materials as the blown glass, spun, moulded, the metal, the wax and the wood. We also made small cotton characters, metallic angel-hair pasta (from Lyon-France). The Christmas baubles that decorate fir trees was born in Meisenthal  (Moselle).

Traditionally, we hung on it apples but in 1858, the winter was so rigorous, there was no more apples. A craftsman glassworker had the idea to give all the same a little of enjoyment to the party to create balls representing an apple and other fruits.

The Christmas bauble was born

And if you want more Vintage Christmas ideas, don’t hesitate to have a look at my Pinterest Board here, you will find more than 600 Vintage Christmas ideas!

And here you will find all my post about Vintage Christmas!