Take the trails at twilight to find the glow in Week 2 of "15 Weeks of Friluftsliv"
Ideas to enjoy equal parts festive gatherings and moments of quiet in this week before winter solstice.
The December Glow
The second week in December is often the height of holiday anticipation and activity. It can be joyful or stressful depending on how you navigate the many events, gatherings, and to-do lists calling your name. The goal of “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv” is to help you set aside the time, through easy nature-infused activity inspiration, so that you can be present and intentional as you journey through whatever the season may bring. For this week’s activity, we figure you likely have almost too many activities to choose from with the holiday bustle, so this week, we’re aiming for a counterbalance to the hustle—some quiet and space for reflection.
"In daylight I belong to the world . . . in the night to sleep and eternity. But in the dusk I'm free from both and belong only to myself . . . and you."
— Lucy Maud Montgomery
A winter twilight can bring stark and beautiful clarity as you reflect on one day’s end and the possibility of the next. It’s an in-between and transition space where you can step outside and harness the glow.
Speaking of glow, read on for the recipe of the week which will brighten any party-goers faces, as well as bring smiles to the people who get to make it. It’s a play with your food moment.
1. Twilight on the trail - Week 2 Activity Guide
The bustle of city streets in mid-December can be like no other—people rushing to holiday concerts, parties, and more in their final dash before the holidays. This week’s activity is an invitation to intentionally pause, slow it down, and notice what’s happening in nature at this particular moment. The week leading up to the winter solstice is one of the darkest, but also one of the most beautiful. Witnessing twilight is a wonderful way to embrace the end of one day and transition to the next. Check out this week’s activity guide to find the glow as the sun sets and night arrives.
If you take in twilight on December 15th or the days surrounding it, you might also be treated to a moonrise along with a sunset. The December Cold Moon is the last full moon of 2024. Gather your loved ones or enjoy its glow on your own as you pause and appreciate this moment in the season.
Download this week’s activity guide and follow us on Friluftsliving Family Instagram to share even more ideas (tag #15weeksoffriluftsliv so we can celebrate each other’s outdoor experiences in all weather).
2. Recipe of the week (for the GastroGNOMEs)
This week’s recipe is all about making something fun and festive—both for the people who prepare it and for the people who enjoy it. It’s great for holiday gatherings yet also so easy and quick that you won’t be giving up any outdoor time to put it together. It’s a gnome board! It may not be Scandinavian in origin per se, but add it to any smörgåsbord and there you go.
If you google “gnome charcuterie board” you will see so many ideas for how to put these together that you’ll understand why it’s hard for us to cite the original source of this idea. Enjoy the version we put together or do some additional searching for more artistic gnome board ingredients. Let your creativity flow! We went with one savory and one sweet:
Sweet Gnome
Materials:
Wooden board or flat serving platter
Ingredients:
4 oz Marshmallow fluff
4 oz Cream cheese, brought to room temperature
Vanilla wafer cookies
1 pint blueberries, washed
1 pint blackberries, washed
2 pints strawberries, washed
Directions:
To make the fruit dip, mix cream cheese and marshmallow fluff until combined.
Use a spatula to create a triangle/ beard-shape with the fruit spread in the middle of the board.
Arrange the blueberries and blackberries on top of the triangle beard to create a hat shape.
Arrange the strawberries around the bottom third and tip of the beard to create shoulders under the gnome head.
Place one vanilla wafer on the beard to create the nose.
Surround the hat and top of the shoulders with the remaining vanilla wafers.
Salty Gnome
Materials:
Wooden board or flat serving platter
Ingredients:
2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
1 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 t sea salt
2 sliced red bell peppers
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
Baguette, sliced
Directions:
To make the veggie dip, mix ricotta cheese, olive oil, and lemon juice until combined. Option to use a food processor to make it a whipped ricotta dip.
Use a spatula to create a triangle/ beard-shape with the dip in the middle of the board.
Arrange the sliced bell peppers on top of the triangle beard to create a hat shape.
Arrange the tomatoes around the bottom third and tip of the beard to create shoulders under the gnome head.
Place the rounded end-slice of the baguette on the beard to create the nose.
Surround the hat and top of the shoulders with the remaining bread slices.
We’d love to see your gnome boards! Tag us on Friluftsliving Family Instagram
4. Ways to gather
Here are several ideas for ways to get outside “gnome matter the weather” this week with family and friends (even if your calendar feels packed):
Check out the full moon: The December full, “Cold Moon” is on Sunday, 12/15. Gather family and friends to take a simple walk under the light of the moon. Even just taking a moment to go outside and look up will be worth it to appreciate this last full moon of 2024.
Host a glogg gathering: After doing the Week 2 activity, warm up with some glogg and invite family, friends, or neighbors. Share your gnome board from this week’s recipe! True North Kitchen has a wonderful, traditional glogg recipe.
Mark your calendar:
Winter Solstice is coming soon on Saturday, 12/21. Consider hosting a simple celebration to create new traditions to mark this turning point in the year. Stay tuned for next week’s issue for solstice ideas.
Full Moon Hike, Campfire & Friluftsfest on 1/10. Join Friluftsliving Family and Raritan Headwaters Association after the holidays for a Hike & Howl to celebrate midwinter and the Wolf Full Moon. Not local to NJ? Everything we host and share is something you can modify to do wherever you live.
We can’t wait to hear how you welcome winter in Week 2 of “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv.” Let us know in the comments!
Here’s to sharing ideas and getting outside with a “free-air-life” ethos, gnome matter the weather.
Love this!!! Twilight hikes are so peaceful, especially under this growing moon. And the gnome smorgasbords are sooooo cute!!!! 😍