How to Hang Art (Step-by-Step)

If you want just one takeaway that will make your art-hanging consistent, skip to the bottom and see the last tip!

We’ve all been home for a long time now, and I don’t think I’m the only one rearranging things around the house.

There’s always the option of hiring a professional who hangs art for a living, but it’s possible to do it and make it look good by yourself too!

If you’re intimidated by hanging artwork, I’m with you. We have lived in our house for almost 3 years and still have very few things on the wall — but my studio is overflowing with artwork.

Two thoughts that keep my walls blank and —> what I tell myself to commit to putting something up:

1. What if I change my mind and don’t like it later? —> You can change it when that day comes. It’s not permanent! You can even keep the frame and change just the inside.

2. What if I mess up the wall? —> The extra hole or two will likely be covered by the artwork. With these instructions, it’s less likely to happen! But, there’s always putty.

Supply List

Pictured above from top left to right:

• Screwdriver (if needed only to attach D-rings)

• D-rings

• Hanging wire

• Hammer

• Picture hanger (hook with nail)

• Measuring tape

• Level

• Scratch paper

• Pencil and good eraser

• Framed artwork/picture

Here are the steps I take to HANG ART

Select the location

I had two spots in our living/dining room area that I wanted to use.

Spot 1: Above the blue chair

Spot 2: Other side of the wall in the dining room, right where that leaning painting is just barely visible

Prepare the artwork

Image from West Elm. Oversized mat collection.

FRAMING: I like to add mats between the frame and artwork but it depends on the space available. A large space doesn’t mean you have to have large artwork. You can also use a smaller piece and add a large frame and mat. Those will bring further attention to highlight the artwork!

>> Cost-saving tip: If your artwork is an unusual size, use a standard frame and get a custom mat cut for your artwork at any frame shop.

HANGING & SAFETY: Once it’s framed, add D-rings and wire on the back of the frame.

Balancing the artwork on a nail rather than hooking it securely on the wall with wire can be dangerous in any shared living space. I don’t want any chance of a heavy frame falling onto anyone shorter than 58” (like our toddler and her friends).

Many frames include D-rings and wire, but if yours doesn’t, this picture hanging kit may be helpful.

If you have a heavy frame, you may want to use two or more nails. You can use two wall anchors with screws or a three-nail picture hanger. If using wall anchors and screws, I would twist the wire around a screw to make sure it’s extra secure.

My riceball painting has a heavy wooden frame with glass so I used two picture hangers — one on each side of the original nail hole I measured.

Images below: (1) D-rings and wire on a frame and (2) single picture hanger

MEASURE & MARK the wall

The center point of all hanging work should be consistent in your line of view.

What does that mean? If you have 3 frames up, all different sizes, the center of each frame should be at the same height. There are exceptions if there is furniture right below, but it’s a general rule. The standard height of the center point from the floor is between 57-60”.

The few frames up in the living/dining part of our house are at 58” at the center so I’ll use that as my reference point with measurement examples. This is the technical part that I think may be easiest to mix up.

First measurements to write down. Seriously, this has to be written.

• Width & height of the outer edges of frame (9x11” and 23x27” for my two).

• Width of the part of the wall you’re centering the art on.

Measuring the width with my assistant. The measuring tape was floppy so she really was helpful holding it in place.

Second measurements to write down below. Then I make 6 pencil marks on the wall, in this order:

• 1 - Center point of painting

  • choose height between 58-60” from floor

  • e.g. 58” for this example

• 2 - Top of frame

  • center point + half of frame height

  • e.g. 58” + (9”/2) = 58” + 4.5” = 62.5”

• 3 - Bottom of frame

  • center point - half of frame height

  • e.g. 58” - (11”/2) = 58” - 5.5” = 52.5”

• 4 - Far left edge

  • width of wall - frame width, divided by 2

  • e.g. (30” - 9”) / 2 = 21” / 2 = 10.5”

• 5 - Far right edge

  • Same as above, 10.5”

• 6 - Where to put the nail

  • top of frame - top point of the wire

  • 63.5” - 2” = 61.5”

The 6th pencil mark can be tricky. I circle only the 6th mark like a target because I have accidentally mixed up my top of frame mark and hole mark in the past.

Attached D-rings and wire on the back side, about 1/3 of the height from the top.

How to measure your nail mark:

Pull the wire up to where it would be when hanging, and measure that distance from the top of the frame.

For example, if it’s 2 inches from the top, then your nail hole will be 2 inches from the top of the frame mark (mark #2).

Important note: If using a picture hanger, make sure the hook is aligned to the hole mark, not the nail itself. See below. Art will hang on the hook, not the top nail.

For my bigger painting, I ended up using 2 picture hangers, 1 on each side of the nail hole mark (mark #6), because the frame was heavy.

If using a hook like this, make sure the hanging part aligns with where you want your wire to hang. This was 1 of 2 picture hangers I put on each side of the original nail mark.

Time to hammer and hang the artwork!

Check your work

Place a level on top of the frame to make sure it’s straight.

The benefit of wire hanging is that you can wiggle the frame around some to get it right instead of being stuck on one nail hole. You can also tighten or loosen the wire itself to move the frame up or down on the wall if needed.

Key takeaway

If nothing else, remember this tip! Make sure your center line is the same across your line of view.

For example in the photo below, I’m standing in the living room looking towards the dining room, and all 3 frames are centered at 58” so my eye doesn’t bounce around.

This makes a streamlined view across the room. It takes extra time to measure, but saves you time from never redoing the previously hung work when you add something else later. That empty spot in the far corner is calling my name!

View from the living room where you can see all 3 frames along the same center line

View from the dining room

What if I’m doing a gallery wall?

Set it up on the floor first! Consider the entire gallery as one artwork, and your center point is in the center of the entire gallery.

If your frames are a variety of sizes: Using paper cut to the approximate sizes of each frame and placed on your gallery wall would make it easy to know if it’s exactly what you want.

What if there’s furniture?

For placement and size of artwork, check out this great guide by Emily Henderson: How to Hang Art Correctly with many helpful photos of artwork above furniture and in a variety of contexts.

Questions?

I’m no professional art handler, but I’d love to chat if you have any questions! Comment here, DM on Instagram or Facebook, or email through the Contact page.

The Birth of a Painting

In case you missed it from my last post, we're expecting baby girl in 8(ish) weeks. With pregnancy and delivery on my mind, I've noticed the many similarities with stages of when I make a painting. Neither are spontaneously produced on a whim!

Preparation takes longer than the final step.

Learning is a long step that never ends.

And there are disappointing days in between when everything goes wrong and it feels like "dark night of the soul" (see graph at the end of this post).

Experiencing the steps of either (art/pregnancy) can be challenging. I finally have a much higher base level of admiration for ALL moms.

The stages of how my paintings are born, by trimester:

Beginning

• Think of an idea or theme, often related to a recent experience or ongoing interest.

1st

• Sketch something and hope that it will make it through the next stages.

2nd

• Research for contextual reference materials: writing, history, photographs of locations, etc. If you haven't already, definitely watch the movie Silence by Martin Scorsese. 
• Research for stylistic reference materials: other artists' work to see drapery on clothes, landscape paintings, etc. (a few pages from a book on Kawanabe Kyosai below)
• Practice necessary sections many times - people, drapery, brushstrokes. 

3rd

• Prepare materials: paper and ink.
• Paint with ink and washes.
• Prepare more materials: colors.
• Add color.

A small part of my gathered mess waiting to be cleaned

End

• Let it sit for a day. If needed, revisit #6-9.
• Add my name as a sign of approval (though often with a disappointed sigh).
• Clean up the mess.
• Photograph.
• Edit photograph to make sure colors match the original.
• Post it online. 

If it's signed, that means I've accepted that it's the best I could do now.

There it is - a glimpse into my mind and process of the life of a painting from conception to birth. Then what do I do? I repeat it all over again and again because there's much more to be said.

In broader terms, this cycle is summarized perfectly in Austin Kleon's book Steal Like an Artist:

Lastly, for more on the artist Kawanabe Kyosai whose work is pictured in the book above, this is a nice summary of his work from the site Spoon & Tamago. I subscribe to their (not-too-frequent) newsletter that covers "Japanese design from fine art and architecture to product and graphic design" in a very clear and succinct way. I highly recommend the newsletter - or just browse the site for your viewing pleasure!

Next up on my journal: the story behind this painting.

Eat, Pray, Paint

As long as I've known, art has been "shizen"—best translated as second nature—as natural as breathing. The tool, be it a paintbrush, pencil, or charcoal stick, feels like an extension of my hand.  Much like my hand, I can't necessarily make it do everything I want it to do. I'll never hold a basketball from the side or the top because my hand is too small. I can never open large jars because I can barely grip the lid with my fingertips. That's where community comes in (Page, who grips basketballs one-handed and opens all jars). There are certain limitations I have to struggle through in art life, and community is crucial to work through them. 

I just made it through my funk, the deep valley period of the middle of a painting. It's that point after the unlimited potential at the start, and before the completed work is visible...when every part seems incomplete and mediocre. Tears are shed, ice cream is eaten, and I keep painting. Now that I see the light at the end of the tunnel, I've emerged and am once again excited to see the paintings and write about it. 

The community, mainly close friends and family, were helpful to keep at it during the frequent ice cream break phase. Some who know how shizen (natural) it is for me to paint ask about it. Their enthusiasm encourages me far more than I ever tell them. Pride can get in the way of sharing about what I love. "Once I make masterpieces, then I'll tell them...then I can justify it." To be honest, that will probably always be a struggle. For a type A person that likes to efficiently complete tasks, how can it be that what I love to do most is exceptionally inefficient?? The other day I spent two hours on a few shades of dark shadow lines...just lines... in two of the paintings. It's almost comical how different the two sides within me can be, yet it makes perfect sense when teaching art. Methodical + inefficient = a surprisingly successful pair.

Like looking forward to a good meal, I'm looking ahead at which evenings this week I might be able to paint. Well, more like looking forward to breakfast in 8 hours (yes, really, every day), I'm counting down to my next opportunity to paint as I continue this shizen cycle of eat, pray, paint. 

Speaking of eating, I can't help but include the incredible Japanese feast by my mom to celebrate my brother's new stage of life (MBA at Wharton) and an early Children's Day (we'll never grow out of it) on Sunday. My tiny contribution was a veggie dish and salad...I suppose we all start somewhere. I'm still daydreaming about the meal.  This doesn't even include the dessert spread! 

Plate #1 of 2  

{Making Monday} Messiness is a Good Sign

I'm on the "adding detail" step of painting now. I like the broad thick strokes of paint that suggest a brick or stone slab, and the detailed tile portion in contrast. I can start to see how the completed paintings may turn out...and they look far too green and the light is unclear, which means I need to step back and get the big picture perspective more frequently when I'm painting. 

Though oil paint is messy and more labor intensive than watercolor, I like how little pressure there is (my own pressure for perfection) because it can always be painted over. 

I have paint in my hair, stained into my nails and hands, on my old PJs (AKA painting clothes), which means my mind was in the right place, focused on what's in front of me.

These sessions of painting with a Japanese TV show on the side making me laugh out loud by myself have been the perfect mental escape. Painting just to paint isn't nearly as satisfying as painting with a specific place (Page's office) in mind. At first I was hesitant because it sounded like a lot of time/ work/ energy outside of work and other activities, but I'm now really glad and grateful for this project. God's timing is perfect, all the time.

{Making Monday} Painting Party of One

This current stage is my favorite part of painting. To be specific, this early stage in color is the most exciting. There's structure from the planned steps (tedious work is done), but tons of potential (excitement of the unknown). That's probably a reflection of my personality. I like to plan, but I like flexibility and creativity within certain boundaries. Steps needed to get to this point:

1. Idea : What am I going to paint?
2. Image : Who/what/where am I going to paint from?
3. Materials : What will I use to paint? Paper? Canvas? Paint medium?
4. Prepare Surface : Several coats of gesso (white paint)
5. Composition : How will this be laid out? How will I crop the image?
6. Drawing : Careful attention to detail
7. Outline : Painting over the drawing

This step: COLOR!

The paintings were outlined one by one up on my painting easel, but now I need to paint them all together to have consistent colors throughout since they are all part of one building. The scale of the paintings is a little more clear having them side by side by other objects. This order is how they will be laid out on the office wall. I'm starting with my darkest color first.

*A side-note to painters: Please, please never use black if you want any life in your shadows. These two dark colors are made of: 3 dark blues (ultramarine, phthalo, cerulean), 1 red (cadmium red light), 1 yellow (cadmium yellow).

My painting professor's voice is echoing in my ear as I paint.

• Use more paint!
• Use a bigger brush!
• Warmer! (I tend to paint with cool colors so things look dead)

These steps needed to paint are really the steps needed to plan any activity. 

1. [Idea] : What am I going to do?
2. [Image] : Who/ what/ where?
3. [Materials] : What things are needed for this? 
4. [Prepare Surface] : What do I need to do ahead of time?
5. [Composition] : Cropping; start/end time, budget
6. [Drawing] : The tedious but necessary details
7. [Outline] : Start activity

The step I'm on now: follow-through. The party. Party of one, in this case. As an introvert, I enjoy parties of one. Now that the paintings are set up and ready with my palette ready to go, I'm looking forward to many solo painting parties this week.

A cup of herbal tea in one hand and a paintbrush in the other...and I wonder why people call me grandma.

{Making Monday} The Uninspired Painter

We get an extra day in February! But still, I'm far from my goal of completing these paintings this month. Since I set that goal in early January, the two months to follow were extra busy helping with a good friend's wedding. The wedding was this past weekend— it was a beautiful day! Since I was involved with many plans along the way, seeing it all come together was especially exciting.

I'm still catching up from the busy wedding week so the only thing that got me painting last night was knowing that I had this specific green color mixed last week and though it dries slowly (since it's oil paint), it would be unusable within a few more days. Call it lazy for not wanting to mix the same color again or resourceful for not wasting, either way, it got me to paint. Well, plus the boost of two bowls of popcorn, chocolate, yogurt, two "Relaxing" cups of herbal tea...

Writing about painting has helped me get out of my head and add commitment and discipline when needed. I've learned that inspiration may be a starting point, but a complete painting is never the result of 100% inspiration. This principle, learned from the discipline of completing paintings, applies to all areas of life and has been really beneficial. 

Last week I outlined parts 1 and 2, plus parts of the most detailed part 3. Now, it's all outlined except the bottom tile detail corner. I hope to finish the corner tonight and move on with the painting the rest of this week. Here's a quick shot from my iPad before heading to work this morning!

When I don't feel like completing things, this is a great reminder: 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:22-25)

This self-controlled spirit isn't ruled by feelings, so whether it's painting or not, I'll keep chugging along!  

{Making Monday} From Pencil to Brush: Seville Wall Painting Progress

Finally some color! I recently taught someone how to paint with oil paints so I soaked my oil paint tubes in hot water to open them. I suppose 5 years was enough time to seal them shut. When setting up my palette, I was reminded why I hadn't gotten back into oil painting. The set-up alone took at least 30 minutes! Normally my painting sessions with ink and watercolor are about 1 hour total. BUT this is a special project for Page's office and is therefore a good reason to get back into oil painting. His office is currently white, grey, and black. The only pop of color in the room = bright stripes on his socks (that go with his dress shirt, of course).

The pencil drawing was completed many weeks ago. The next part for this project was the color outline. In the end, this green will be mostly covered up and won't be very noticeable but the pops of bright color coming through the rest of the wall painting will keep it looking fresh...which is exactly what a monotone office needs!

Mixing paint is best with one of these tools: a palette knife. Otherwise the paint gets stuck in the bristles of the brush and ends up riding up the brush handle, so it will waste time and paint.

This green has cadmium red light in it (that's the bright red, third from the end). Mixing opposite colors on the color wheel helps tone down your color, but adding too much makes brown so it's best to add a dab at time.

Growing glob of green...

It's always an exciting and sad step to start painting because that means my drawing that I spent hours on will be covered up. It sounds dramatic but there is some kind of attachment especially when the drawing turns out well. Those detailed lines below that describe the old stone wall will covered by thick strokes of paint. But they serve their purpose, because without the detailed drawing there would be no variation of line in the painted thick outline.

Aaaand here are the paintings below. These 3 will line up side by side. They're quite large though it's hard to tell. They currently take up the length of our kitchen... a very small kitchen, but the entire kitchen nonetheless! It seemed like the safest place to put them while they dry for the next 2 days or so since our meals are ready and I won't be cooking. 

I'm stuck on this one below because I wanted to photograph the paintings before it got dark, but knew I wouldn't have time to complete it since it has the most detail. I may switch brushes to a smaller one to get more detail in for the outline.

The main part I'm stuck on:

I love the casual dress code at work, but it's hard to beat slippers and spandex...and the green streak of paint in my hair. There was a time when I wanted to bleach and color my hair bright purple, but it seems like I get to experiment with all sorts of hair colors (in streaks and highlighted ends) through painting. When washing my hands in the bathroom, I saw  my reflection with a dark red mustache. I didn't even use dark red paint today. Green hair, red mustache, stretchy pants and slippers... It's probably a good thing this oil painting business is only on weekends.

{Making Monday} Creativity Without a Brush

After a few years of painting here and there, I started painting again most regularly in 2015. I had lofty plans to complete several paintings by this time in 2016, but this year has felt extra busy...and they still are in pencil-only form without a single splotch of paint on them. My creativity has been channeled in other ways out of necessity, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. For example, my most recent project was a bridal shower and bachelorette. These are part of the decorations I made for the shower.

It was a Pinterest idea on the bride's wedding board (for seating chart placecards ). Though I give credit to Pinterest, it was NOT a "best chicken in 15 minutes" (which is never the best), nor "easiest chocolate cake ever" (that takes 2 hours + cleanup). It actually was REALLY simple. I can't take credit for the idea but it was fun to do something with paint that didn't involve careful detail. It's also great for when you have colors for an event/party that may be hard to find...unless you want to drop $200 at Paper Source for the right hue of chartreuse green. 

The process was delightfully simple.

Here are the steps: 

1. Cut the paper to desired size.
2. Mix the color and water in a plate. (I mixed a few watercolors to get the right shade)
3. Dip edge of paper in different angles to get a jagged colored edge. Let it dry.
4. Repeat 2 more times, each time dipping a little less of the paper in so you get that 3-tiered effect. 
5. Write with a calligraphy pen. (I typed it on Microsoft word first to look at and then loosely followed that font.)

two ways to avoid the handwritten part:

1. Make it a shared project: do steps 1-4 and pass off step 5 to a friend with good penmanship. 
2. It's the 21st century and printers work wonders. Find a cute font, type it and print it on card stock, and then do steps 1-4.

It was a tea party theme (I'm sure that's obvious by now) so the favors were lavender earl grey cookies & tea. I added some lemon extract in the batter to freshen up the heavier flavor of lavender and earl grey. The center sign was on the door to welcome guests. The pen on the right is my favorite for cheater calligraphy style writing!

{Making Monday} Big picture goals from a weekly routine

One of the conversations that sticks out most to me was with my brother about goals for the new year, several years ago. When talking about things I would like to do in the coming year, my brother asked me, "what does your week look like?" I responded, "I guess I work, I exercise sometimes, I cook, I hang out with friends..." and he said, "Well multiply that by 52 and that will be what you do this year." 

That was a shocking reality check! I thought taking it a week at a time was fine, but when I realized that how each week is organized has a larger impact on the entire year, it made me rethink how I prioritize activities each week.

It's important to start in the big picture: What are your long-term goals? In other words: 

What are God-given gifts and desires that you want to use for His service over a lifetime?

That could be a 50-year plan, obviously impossible to know what it will look like, but we can figure out what kind of skills need to be polished to work in that direction. I was motivated even more after our retreat this weekend, being encouraged to work fervently, purposefully, and diligently in all things. We can only work hard with a specific goal in mind, so what am I working for? 

An ongoing tug on my heart since at least 10 years ago: the population is less than 1% Christian in Japan, so I want to share the joy and hope of knowing God. At the very least, so people will know God's love and can then decide what to do about it.  So, considering the family life I was brought up in and the skills I have now, that desire plays out like this long-term:

Two examples:

1. Paint the history of Christianity in Japan 

2. Teach kids Japanese language and culture

1. Paint the history of Christianity in Japan

What needs to be done?

• Know the history
• Improve painting skills
• Know western art history to reference

For me, this means:

• Study the history (--> I went to grad school)
• Keep painting (--> I'm blogging and painting)
• Know western art history to reference (keep looking at art books and going to museums)

Weekly (now):

• Keep painting with different media so that I can incorporate western techniques into my Japanese painting... which is where this comes in: working on large oil paintings.

Now, breaking down the second example:

2: Teach kids Japanese language and culture

What needs to be done? 

• Practice Japanese conversation so it'll flow better all the time at home
• Read more Japanese to be able to teach
• Keep up with Japanese culture
• Know and practice Japanese customs

For me, this means:

• Keep up relationships with Japanese friends
• Read Japanese books
• Watch Japanese shows, read news, look at magazines/websites
• Celebrate holidays (& cook the holiday food!) and learn the background

Weekly (now):

• Read the Bible in Japanese
• Continue working as a translator and give it 100% effort

Basically it comes down to: *a notebook is crucial--write it down!*

1. Big picture: long-term goal (not just a dream). Something clear based on the skills and desires God has given you.
2. Talk it through: Pray first. Then, sharing and getting feedback is critical! People close to you can help identify your gifts and walk the journey with you.
3. Break it down: Identify skills/components needed to see #1 (above) become a reality.
4. Work on skills: Break down #3 into baby steps.
5. Schedule it:  Subtract things in your weekly schedule that don't fit with the big picture goal, and add in things necessary to reach that goal.

Consider what is realistic for yourself now, but if the goal really is important then diligently work on at least one component!

Since those paintings are on my mind, I was thrilled to see the color palette I wanted to use on trees in Yosemite this weekend. The pops of bright green moss against the red bark with highlights of light mustard yellow was eye-catching. Bark is not brown! (Yes, I will die on that "nothing is brown" hill.) The outline of my paintings (photos above) will be bright green moss-colored, and the brick includes all these colors in the bark: 

It's no surprise that the Creator and Master Painter of the universe would have such a delightful color palette on a tree trunk. "The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 19:1

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth...

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 

Colossians 3:1-2, 23-24

Let's work!!

Stollen Bread? {12 Days of Christmas Traditions Explained Quickly}

Why do we eat Stollen at Christmas? All I can say is tradition...because my mom makes it every year...? There must be some background.

First, what is Stollen? Stollen, or Christstollen, is a German formed bread-like fruit cake. It's filled with dried fruits, nuts, and spices covered in powdered sugar. 

Now time travel six centuries ago to Europe! Stollen started (or was recorded) as far back as 14th century Germany. The shape of Stollen-- this fold-over dough with a white top layer-- is symbolic of baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths.  It started as a fasting cake made during Advent when people couldn't use butter, milk, or fruits (due to fasting rules) so it started as a very plain bread. After special appeal to the papacy in the 15th century, butter and milk were added, and the cake started looking more like it does today. Winter merriment started in Germany around the Winter Solstice before Christianity spread there, and the ingredients like rare spices and fruits were a treat for these special festivities, naturally also used in Christstollen.

"A must for breakfast."

All I knew of Stollen was that it was from Germany and my mom made a healthier version for my dad every year. She's an amazing baker, making more breads than I knew existed. She makes Japanese breads, Chinese special starter breads, naturally fermented starters for rustic breads, brick oven-baked bread... I could fill a book describing them all.  When I attempt yeasted breads I anxiously stare at my yeast dissolving, hoping it will activate and bubble instead of get scorched-- meanwhile my master baker mom makes her starter from scratch without any granulated shortcuts. There's no comparison to the flavor and texture of her bread- no matter what I bake it's mediocre because I've gotten used to hers. 

The etegami Christmas series wouldn't be complete without Christmas bread because our Christmas day wouldn't be the same without the sweet feast. 

This year I attempted baking 3 of the 10+ breads: 2 yeasted: Polish Poppyseed Walnut Bread, Swedish Marzipan Filled Coffee Bread, & 1 quick bread: Cranberry Orange Bread. I still have a long way to go but I hope to carry on the tradition. 

Christmas Cookies? {12 Days of Christmas Traditions Explained Quickly}

Christmas cookies tradition started from holiday biscuits in Medieval Europe. They included spices and dried nuts, like many of our Christmas cookies today. Apparently there were strict baking laws (presumably for safety reasons) but the holidays were an exception.

Some say that giving cookies to Santa started around the Great Depression to teach kids generosity. I know someone who was taught all along that Santa actually doesn't like cookies, he likes pizza and beer, so he grew up leaving pizza and beer out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Clever!

We haven't decided about Santa and kids but I wonder what the Santa who comes to our home would prefer... maybe brownies. Edge pieces only-- extra special gifts for corner pieces. 

When did St. Nick move to the North Pole? {12 Days of Christmas}

The background of St. Nick is somewhat known- the monk St. Nicholas born in 280AD was known for giving away his inherited wealth and helping many people. St. Nicholas day was celebrated December 6th, when people feasted and gave gifts. Stories about St. Nicholas giving gifts continued on for centuries.

The name? A quick overview:

• Saint Nicholas
• Sint Nikolaas (Dutch)
• Sinter Klaas (shortened, Dutch)
• Santa Claus

Now the main question: when did he move to the North Pole?

In 1890, political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew what is now our image of Santa Claus in the North Pole. He was positioned there most likely because the arctic was seen as a mysterious fantasy land that no one had been to (yet), plus Christmas was associated with snow. So this mysterious, jolly, kind gift giver came from the land of the arctic, the North Pole. 

It says: "Oh look, there's Santa."

[another bubble burster: apparently there are no penguins in the North Pole...]

Poinsettia? {12 Days of Christmas Traditions Explained Quickly : Day 5}

First of all, the pronunciation: poinsett-ee-a? poinsett-a?

I wish they were around more than at Christmas since they're one of the few flowers I can keep alive! And to find out they are barely flowers... (the flowers are the tiny little yellow buds). I'm bursting my own bubble of festivity. 

DAY 5: POINSETTIA.

We're back to the Aztecs in modern-day Mexico where the plants originated (see post here about hot chocolate from Mexico). They grew in the wild in the winter and were used in important ceremonies. Fast forward to 16th century Mexico, when a little girl wanted to celebrate Jesus' birthday by taking him a gift but had nothing. An angel told her to take weeds which then turned into beautiful poinsettias at the church altar. The church continued to use poinsettias at Christmas, and they are now associated with the holiday because of the season they grow and because of this legend.

The name Poinsettia is from the American ambassador, Poinsett, who brought them back from Mexico to his greenhouse in South Carolina in the 1800s. 

Now back to pronunciation...

Poin-set-ya. 

But that's a little hard to pronounce so some regions developed into poinsett-ee-uh, and some to poin-set-uh. I can't ignore the i so I'm going to stick with poinsett-ee-uh.

Nutcracker? {12 Days of Christmas Traditions Explained Quickly : Day 4}

As strange as it sounds and for no good reason, those funny little nutcrackers are my favorite Christmas decorations. Yet I have no idea where they came from or why they are around only at Christmas. If it's trendy to have a gold rhino on your stack of books as a paper weight, why can't it be a nutcracker?

"I wonder if it really cracks?"

Day 4: NUTCRACKER.

How did nut-cracking pliers become a home decoration? The history goes back (at least) 300 years to a woodworking town in Germany. Dolls were given for good luck, and the same woodworkers made soldier dolls as well as nut-cracking tools, so the two were combined into one as a practical gift for good luck. The connection with Christmas may come from eating around this time since nuts are harvested in the fall and keep well.

Especially after Tchaikovsky's ballet, The Nutcracker Suite, premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892 the little figurines grew in popularity. They became common in America only since the 1950s after soldiers in WWII brought them back from Christmas fairs in Germany (which I would LOVE to go to someday).

My favorite random fact that I've gathered from reading about nutcrackers is "Nutcrack Night" also known as Halloween. In Scottish and Northern English tradition, October 31 was the night to sit around a fire and crack freshly harvested hazelnuts and chestnuts. Maybe our nutcrackers should come out on Nutcrack Night and stay through Christmas!

Wreaths? {12 Days of Christmas Traditions Explained Quickly : Day 3}

Why have I been making wreaths from Christmas tree branches the past two Christmas seasons? Why did we hang one on our door growing up? Tradition, I suppose...

DAY 3: WREATHS.

Christmas wreaths can be traced back to Ancient Greeks and Persians, who wore them as a symbol of status or victory. They may have been hung in the home or on the door as souvenirs. Wreaths were also hung on doors as symbols of the home to distinguish one home from another.

The specific use of evergreens most likely stems from celebrating Winter Solstice. Evergreens were chosen since they stay green year-round; a symbol of life overcoming- again, a victory. 

In the Christian tradition the circular shape represents eternal life- perhaps using evergreens as a symbol of victory over death.

Which reminded me of:

"Death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting?...but thanks be to God who gave us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Cor. 15:55-57)

Wreaths are a much more powerful symbol than I had expected... it gives me more motivation to form those branches sitting on the balcony into a symbol to remember Christ's victory over death.

Mexican Hot Chocolate? {12 Days of Christmas Traditions Explained Quickly : Day 2}

Mexican Hot Chocolate? No, it's not a twist on hot chocolate. It's the other way around! The modern sugary-chocolatey-milky indulgence is a distant adaption of the original.

DAY 2: MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE.

Let's time travel back 2500 years to the Maya. They made a bitter chocolate drink made of ground cocoa seeds, water, chiles, and other spices. When the Spaniards came in the 16th century, it was still this bitter and spicy cocoa drink taken for its health benefits. 

After it was introduced in Europe, sugar was eventually added in the 17th century. It was an expensive drink since all ingredients were imported. Later in the same century, a British gentleman added milk. Of course.

It wasn't until the 19th century that the Dutch processed the beans into cocoa powder (and eventually to bar chocolate, hallelujah). I always buy "dutch process" cocoa powder because of the wonderful, smooth flavor but never thought about the name. The Dutch were the first to separate cocoa butter and cacao seeds, and the name stuck.

Fast forward a couple centuries:

Have you tried hot chocolate in Italy or Spain? I was shocked the first time I tried "hot chocolate" in Italy, after growing up with American instant powdered hot chocolate. The best way to describe it is an espresso cup of rich chocolate pudding. In Spain it's also a rich chocolate pudding (plus churros for dunking).

My cooking, traveling, and painting worlds collide- my favorite moments!

心もあたたまる："Also warms your heart"

I suppose my Christmas drink, my "Mexican hot chocolate" (a concoction of almond milk + dutch process cocoa powder + cinnamon stick) has little to do with the original form, but I'll keep stirring my cinnamon stick now as an ode to times long ago. 

Now with this wealth of hot cocoa knowledge, continue on with this merry December and enjoy the health benefits of good cocoa.

I meant my "hallelujah" very literally: 

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it IS the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:13)