Heidi The calendar says November, but the spirit says Christmas! Combine November and Advent, and you get Novent, a delightful new Swedish trend we think should conquer the rest of the world. Novent is all about gradually easing a cosy Christmas atmosphere into your home starting in November. Think extra candles, twinkling fairy lights, and perhaps a few subtle Christmas decorations to build the excitement.
Banish the November Blues with Early Christmas Cheer
November often feels like the year’s gloomiest month. The days are rapidly shrinking, the vibrant autumnal colours have faded, and we’re left waiting for the streets to light up with official festive decorations. But who says we can’t start enjoying the most wonderful time of the year right now?
The Swedes have a wonderful phrase: smygstarta julen (or sometimes att tjuvstarta julen), which literally translates to “secretly starting Christmas.” Anticipation is often half the experience! Once the clocks go back, it’s the perfect time to make our homes extra cosy—what some might call embracing November hygge. We’re definitely counting down the days until Christmas, not just for the festive fun, but also because the days finally start getting longer again afterwards!
What Does Novent Look Like?
Embracing Novent makes the darkest, greyest month of the year a little bit more bearable. For many, Novent simply means:
- Lighting candles more frequently.
- Taking the time to bake—a house smelling of gingerbread (pepparkakor) is Christmas heaven!
- Digging out your favourite Christmas mugs.
- Putting on a subtle Christmas playlist (think jazz or classical carols).
- Maybe watching a classic Christmas film or getting stuck into some festive crafting.
- Sipping on Julmust (the popular Swedish Christmas soft drink).
It’s about bringing in cosy Christmas cheer without going ‘full tinsel’ just yet.
One of the best things about this early Christmas preparation is the lack of pressure. The actual holiday season is often packed with obligatory family visits and Christmas dinners. As lovely as these are, the days fly by and many people suffer from ‘Christmas stress’. Novent has no rules, no obligations—it’s just pure, relaxed enjoyment. Perhaps that’s why this Swedish tradition is becoming so popular.
The Perfect Novent: Dose and Don’t Dazzle
The key to a successful Novent is dosage. Keep it subtle. Introduce the festive touches little by little. Don’t go ‘jingle bells all the way’ just yet, or even the biggest Christmas fan will be sick of it by Christmas Eve!
For many, Novent is also the perfect, stress-free time to:
- Plan the Christmas menu and perhaps trial a new recipe.
- Start thinking about Christmas gifts.
- Buy and write out Christmas cards.
During Novent, you do things because you want to, not because you have to.
The Origin of the Novent Concept
The word Novent was coined by the Swedish Olsson family back in 2014. They calculated that there were often three extra Sundays before the official start of Advent. Week four of Novent then coincides with the first Sunday of Advent, allowing them to enjoy Christmas longer. It was such a great idea that Novent has since been officially recognised as a new Swedish word!
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