The Danish Heart
In Denmark, Christmas begins with a hjerte.
The woven paper heart — flettet julehjerte — is one of the most beloved symbols of the Scandinavian season. Traditionally, two pieces of colored paper are carefully cut, bent, and interlaced to form a tiny basket. On Christmas Eve, Danish children fill them with sweets or nuts and hang them on the tree, their little paper handles catching the candlelight.
The earliest known julehjerte is said to have been made by Hans Christian Andersen himself, sometime in the 1860s. Over time, the heart became more than a decoration: it became a gesture of affection, of time spent, of craft and care.
Today, the motif is everywhere in Denmark during julen — glowing in window lights, printed on wrapping paper, hanging from market stalls, re-imagined in porcelain, glass, and fabric. The hjerte is a simple emblem of warmth, generosity, and hygge — that uniquely Nordic sense of comfort and belonging.
✂️ A Swedish Interpretation
Our Quilled Danish Hearts from the Swedish atelier A World of Craft reinterpret the tradition with exquisite detail. Each ornament is made by hand from fine red paper, coiled and shaped into delicate spirals that form the heart’s structure. The result is airy yet intricate — a modern heirloom that bridges Danish folklore and Swedish craftsmanship.
Sold two to a box, these handmade hearts capture the artistry of papirkunst (paper art) while celebrating the enduring Nordic love of handmade beauty. Hang them on your juletræ (Christmas tree), place one on a wrapped gift, or let them glimmer in a window — each heart brings a touch of Scandinavian poetry to your holiday décor.
🌟 The Meaning of the Heart
In the cold months of winter, the heart becomes more than a shape. It is a symbol of light in darkness, of love offered freely, and of the small handmade gestures that turn a season into a celebration.
Whether woven from paper in Copenhagen or quilled by hand in Sweden, the Danish Heart reminds us that the simplest things are often the most beautiful.
🛍️ Shop the Danish Heart Ornaments
Hand-quilled paper Danish Hearts from A World of Craft — set of 2.