Mushrooms at Christmas: A Story of Folklore, Color, and Tradition
The Extraordinary Mushroom Collection at BON TON goods.
Every Christmas season, certain motifs return like old friends: evergreen boughs, sparkling stars, winter berries, and—perhaps most charming of all—the red and white Christmas mushroom. These whimsical toadstools, known across Scandinavia as svamp or flugsvamp (Swedish) and svamp or fluesvamp (Danish), have become a timeless symbol of good fortune, beauty, and Yuletide joy.
But why mushrooms? And why, especially, the iconic red-and-white fly agaric—the very same species that fills European forests, storybooks, and Christmas markets from Bavaria to Bornholm?
At BON TON goods, mushrooms have become one of our most treasured holiday themes. This year, we are delighted to offer an unmatched selection: 23 handmade German mushroom styles, along with hand-blown glass mushrooms, felted creations, spun cotton treasures, beaded ornaments, glittered baubles, papier-mâché classics, and a curated edit of true vintage and antique mushrooms.
Welcome to the magical world of Christmas mushrooms.
Why Mushrooms Belong to Christmas
Folklore, Color Symbolism, and Northern Tradition
The connection between mushrooms and the holiday season runs deep in Central and Northern Europe. The Amanita muscaria—the “fly agaric” mushroom—is found in forests across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and the Alps. Its bright red cap dotted with white spots looks as if it has already been decorated for Christmas.
A Symbol of Good Luck (Lycka, Lykke)
In both Sweden and Denmark, flugsvamp / fluesvamp has long symbolized luck, prosperity, and protection. They were traditionally given as small tokens during New Year’s celebrations, tucked into wreaths, placed on tables, or hung on Christmas trees.
A Perfect Winter Palette
The bright scarlet red and crisp snowy white echo the strongest colors of European Christmas:
– red berries,
– red velvet ribbons,
– Father Christmas’ suit,
– and white frost, candlelight, and winter snow.
These colors naturally harmonize, making the mushroom a seamless addition to Nordic holiday décor.
A Forest Companion to the Christmas Tree
Many Swedish and Danish holiday traditions are deeply tied to the forest: gran, skog, fyr, the winter woods. Mushrooms—especially Amanita—grow at the roots of fir trees, so they became a symbolic companion to the Christmas tree itself.
Folktales and Magic
Fly agaric mushrooms appear in countless Scandinavian fairy tales, often associated with elves, gnomes, woodland creatures, and the unseen magic of winter. Christmas—being the season of wonder—embraced them wholeheartedly.
The Secret Folklore of the Christmas Mushroom
Long before Christmas lights shimmered on winter streets, the red-and-white flugsvamp / fluesvamp held a place in the quiet mysteries of the North. Deep in the forests of Scandinavia and Siberia, winter shamans gathered these vivid mushrooms and carried them into midwinter rituals—seeking clarity, healing, and visions of the unseen.
What followed became legend.
Some say the mushrooms opened a doorway between worlds, where reindeer leapt higher than snowdrifts, moving with a strange, floating grace. Others whisper that the mushroom’s glowing colors—the red cap, the white spots like falling snow—became the earliest palette of Yuletide.
There are stories, too, of shamans traveling through winter storms, entering homes through roof openings or chimneys to leave small gifts of dried mushrooms by the fire. Their journeys, half real and half dreamt, shimmered with imagery that feels uncannily familiar.
Flying creatures. Crimson and white garments. Evergreen trees standing sentinel over something magical growing at their roots.
Whether these echoes inspired the Christmas traditions we know today or simply run parallel to them, the fly agaric remains a symbol of winter enchantment, a reminder that the season has always held a touch of the otherworldly—quiet, glowing, and full of wonder.
From Folklore to Ornament:
The Rise of Christmas Mushroom Decorations
By the late 1800s, German artisans began making handcrafted glass mushrooms in Lauscha, Bavaria—the birthplace of European Christmas ornaments. Soon after came papier-mâché, cotton batting, felt, and wood-carved mushrooms, many of which have become collectors’ items.
At BON TON goods, we carry pieces made with the same old-world traditions, using historic molds, natural materials, and hand-painting techniques that preserve the charm of yesteryear.
The BON TON Mushroom Collection
A Forest of Craftsmanship and Color**
This season, we are thrilled to present one of Scandinavia’s most extraordinary mushroom assortments. From tiny miniature mushrooms to impressive sculptural sizes, our collection celebrates every form, material, and era of this beloved Christmas icon.
1. Hand-Blown Glass Mushrooms
Delicate, luminous, and heirloom-worthy.
Made using traditional methods from the same regions that produced the first European ornaments, these glass mushrooms glow beautifully on the tree.
2. Felted Mushrooms (Filtade svampar / Filt-svampe)
Soft, whimsical, and charming—perfect for Nordic “jul” décor.
Hand-felted in wool with embroidered or beaded details.
3. Papier-Mâché Mushrooms
Old-fashioned and full of character, shaped and painted by hand.
These pieces echo the earliest German and Czech Christmas mushrooms.
4. Spun Cotton Mushrooms
Whimsical mushrooms and fairytale figurines to surprise and delight this holiday season.
5. Beaded & Glittered Mushrooms
Sparkling creations that catch candlelight and twinkle on a tree.
Ideal for those who love a slightly theatrical, festive style.
6. Vintage & Antique Mushroom Treasures
A curated collection of European finds:
– early 20th-century spun-cotton mushrooms
– mid-century glass mushrooms
– vintage flocked and wired mushrooms
These treasures offer patina, rarity, and the romance of true holiday history.
A Special Focus:
Our Handmade German Christmas Mushrooms
23 Styles, From Petite to Collectible Editions
We are especially proud of our largest and most sought-after group:
23 styles of handmade German mushrooms, crafted in small workshops using traditional techniques.
Most are the beloved traditional red-and-white fly agaric, or Amanita muscaria, the true “Christmas mushroom.”
These mushrooms are not mass-produced, not widely available, and not easily found outside of Germany and Austria. They are crafted the old way: built by hand, painted by hand, and finished with quiet precision.
And yes—while a Danish competitor has recently begun carrying three of these styles, BON TON goods proudly offers all twenty-three.
In both selection and authenticity, our forest is larger.
Why Collect Christmas Mushrooms?
They bring lycka and lykke (good luck).
They work with every holiday palette: natural, traditional, vintage, romantic, or Scandinavian modern.
They bring a sense of forest enchantment to wreaths, tablescapes, and Christmas trees.
They are perfect for collectors, stylists, and ornament lovers.
They blend beautifully with greenery, berries, silver, and candlelight.
They create depth and storytelling in décor.
They look magical in groups—clusters of sizes, colors, and materials.
Visit BON TON goods in Malmö or Shop Online
Whether you are decorating a Christmas tree, creating a winter tablescape, or building a personal collection of vintage-inspired treasures, our assortment of mushrooms offers endless joy and inspiration.
Explore the full selection in-store at BON TON goods in Malmö or online.
For questions or special requests, we’re always happy to help.