Emerald

Helsinki, -12 degrees


And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

About a week ago I read some fashion related news that delighted me and therefore I wanted to share it with you my dear readers. Pantone, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, who has been the world's color authority for nearly 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity, revealed the color of year 2013: emerald! I was enraptured since I've been fascinated with the color for some time already, hence the green outfits you find in this blog post. You might remember my blog posts about emerald dresses, if not, you'll find them here and here.


According to Pantone, the 2013 Color of the Year, Emerald, is a vivid, verdant green color that enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony. Most often associated with brilliant and precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Therefore it's only natural that since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Emerald is also considered the color of growth, renewal and prosperity – no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For that reason many countries have for centuries chosen green to represent healing and unity.

“Green is the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. 

"As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors." continues Eiseman.

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In fashion Emerald has already been seen in different spring 2013 collections. For instance fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2013, including Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, Barbara Tfank, NAHM and Finnish Marimekko, are incorporating Emerald into their spring collections.

What do you think of the color? Do you already have something in it?

 Here follows today's story about Finnish Christmas:

Christmas Eve
Unlike in most Christian countries, the highlight of the Finnish Christmas celebration is Christmas Eve, December 24th, and not the Christmas Day itself.
In Finland's oldest city Turku, the former capital of Finland, a special ceremony is held to declare the beginning of "Christmas peace" period, starting at 12 o'clock noon on Christmas Eve and lasting for twenty days. The tradition of declaring Christmas peace is known to date back to 13th century. This tradition used to be common to all the Nordic countries, but only in Finland has it been maintained almost uninterruptedly up to our days. In the declaration, the citizens are traditionally wished a merry Christmas and prompted to spend the Christmas time peacefully, avoiding "noisy and rowdy behaviour". For many Finns, watching or listening to the declaration ceremony broadcasted live on television or radio signals the proper start of Christmas celebration. This is how it is at least in my family.

Although Finland is a rather secular country, the celebrating of Christmas here is still very emphasized when compared to most other Christian countries.

On Christmas Eve afternoon, the whole country seems to freeze down as the public transport seizes and all the stores are closed. It is still and quiet everywhere when people start preparing for the evening.

Some people attend the Christmas Eve church service and many visit cemeteries to light candles on the graves of their deceased relatives and loved ones. Towards the darkening evening, the cemeteries are glowing with a sea of twinkling lights.

Most Finns still have a tradition of going to sauna to bathe and relax before attending the celebrations of the evening. Warming up the sauna on Christmas is an ancient custom in Finland. Among the rural folk, it was believed that the spirits of dead ancestors came to bathe in sauna after sunset. The sauna was regarded as a holy place where many important acts of life were carried out — from giving birth to dying and treating and healing of sicknesses. Also today, the sauna continues to be a symbol for purity in Finland.

After the last preparations for the evening have been made, families from toddlers to great-grandparents gather together to have Christmas dinner. Especially for children, this is a magical time full of joyous anticipation, and many adults as well have their warmest childhood memories linked to Christmas celebrations of the years past.

After the Christmas dinner, some families may have a visit from joulupukki, the Finnish Santa Claus. He will bring Christmas presents, which are placed under the Christmas tree. In my family though since we don't have small children in it right now, we first divide all presents and then open them together: each of us opens one at a time and then passes the turn to the next one. In this way, we all get to see the reactions to the presents as they are opened.

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How does your Christmas Eve look like?

What's your opinion?

  1. I love both of your emerald touch outfits but the first one is simply superb. leather skirts are so fierce! I would wear one soon if the weather wouldn't be so freezing. and yes, I already have some emerald pieces in my wardrobe :)
    now, when it comes to Christmas Eve then you probably already know that this year I and my fiance host it at our house and in our fresh dining and living room. I will start preparing part of the dishes already tomorrow btw. I hope everything works out beautifully :)

    Maiken,
    Maikeni blogi - part of me

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    1. Thank you Maiken for your kind comment! Actually I've noticed that the leather skirt keeps me warm so it's suitable even when we're having serious minus degrees, today a stunning -17!

      xxx
      E

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  2. Great story, thank you for sharing :)I love your outfits, especially the first one- very pretty!

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    1. Happy you liked it Francesca! Thank you for your compliment!

      xxx
      E

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  3. so cute. I want a leather skirt!

    ♥Lisalockhart
    [fashionablyfly.blogspot.com]
    [stylishstarlets.blogspot.com]

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