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A December measured in kindness.

Trade the wish list
for kindness.

A magical Scandinavian Christmas tradition for families. On December 1st, the little door appears along your wall. All month long your family leaves notes of kindness outside it, and the Julenissen reads every one.

Handmade in North CarolinaFamily OwnedFree ShippingInspired by Norwegian Folklore
Start Your Family Tradition · $59How It Works

Free shipping · Hand-painted in North Carolina

The hand-painted red Julenissen door beside a kindness note, candle lantern, and bowl of rice porridge
“I wanted a tradition that taught my children that the best part of Christmas isn’t what is under the tree, but what’s in our hearts.”

BETHANY C. WEBB · AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Each kit includes

A hand-painted Julenissen door

A watercolor storybook with a tradition guide

A welcome letter

December 1 through Christmas Eve

How the tradition unfolds

An old-fashioned December built on family, togetherness, and kindness instead of wish lists and wrapping paper.

  1. Place the door

    On December 1st, set the little hand-painted door along a wall, a baseboard, or tucked into a bookshelf, wherever the Julenissen might slip in.

  2. Read the story together

    Gather as a family and read the watercolor storybook aloud to learn who the Julenissen is and why his door has arrived.

  3. Leave kindness notes

    Each night, write down the kind things you did that day and leave the notes outside his door for him to read while you sleep.

  4. See what unfolds

    Sometimes he does something kind in return. Sometimes he causes a little mischief. He visits every night until his last on Christmas Eve.

A watercolor page from the storybook showing the red Julenissen door tucked into a bookshelf
Painted page by page

Every illustration painted by hand in watercolor.

I wrote and illustrated the book myself: original watercolor paintings of the Julenissen, his little door, and the quiet magic of the season.

Bethany C. Webb’s artwork has been recognized three times in the New York Times Wirecutter gift guides

Bethany C. Webb, author and illustrator of The Julenissen Door, in her art studioA Julenissen door being hand-painted on the workbench of a North Carolina art studio
My Story

It started in my own living room.

I’m Beth. I created this tradition when my kids were little, as a way to encourage kindness through a season that seemed to get louder and more crowded every year.

We wanted December to feel the way it did when we were young, nostalgic, slow, full of family and togetherness, instead of a countdown of things to buy. So a little door appeared on our wall, and the notes started piling up outside it.

It worked. It became the part of Christmas my children asked about first. So I wrote and illustrated a book to share our tradition with other families, and I paint every door by hand in my studio in North Carolina.

Close-up of a finished hand-painted maple Julenissen door with brass hinges
The Julenissen Door kit styled with a kindness note, lantern, and holiday greenery
The Complete Tradition Kit

Everything to begin.

  • A hand-painted maple door

    Solid maple, painted by hand in my North Carolina studio. Made to lean against a baseboard or tuck into a bookshelf, and made to be an heirloom passed down to the next generation.

  • The illustrated watercolor storybook

    The story of the Julenissen and his door, written and painted in original watercolor by Bethany C. Webb.

  • A guide to starting your tradition

    In the back of the book: everything you need to begin on December 1st, plus a family recipe to make together.

  • A welcome letter

    A letter to open first, welcoming your family to the tradition and sharing the heart of why it matters.

The Complete Kit

$59

Free shipping

All pre-orders ship in November · Arrives in time for December 1

Limited inventory. Pre-orders close November 10 or when we sell out.

A little note about the magic.

Every door is a solid piece of wood that I paint by hand to look like a doorway. It never opens or closes, and that is part of the story: the Julenissen is the only one who can work the magic of his door. Once your family sets it in its place on December 1st, there is no need to touch it or move it again. Simply leave it be, and let him come and go as he pleases.

The Julenissen Door is a hand-painted keepsake for the home, an heirloom to be passed down, and it is a decor piece rather than a toy.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Julenissen?

Traditionally, the Julenissen is a small spirit from Norwegian folklore who lives out in the barn and is known for causing a bit of mischief. In our tradition, he comes through the little red door all through December, kind and helpful, with just enough mischief to keep everyone guessing. His warmth comes from reading the kind things your family does for others. There are a few other little customs woven into our version of the tradition, too, but those are best discovered in the pages of the book.

How does the tradition work?

Place his door on December 1st, read the storybook together as a family, and each night leave notes outside the door telling him the kind things you did. In return he sometimes does something kind for your family, and sometimes he causes a little mischief. His last visit is Christmas Eve night.

Does the Julenissen move?

The Julenissen is never seen. His presence is felt through the magic of the tradition, the kind notes left outside the door, and the little surprises that appear while your family sleeps.

Is this like other holiday traditions currently on the market?

No, this is a tradition I created due to the gap in the market for a tradition that focuses on kindness and togetherness rather than toys and elaborate set ups each night.

Does the little door open?

Only for him. Each door is one solid piece of hand-painted wood, so it does not open or close for anyone in the house. The Julenissen is the only one who can work its magic, so once the door is set in place there is no need to touch or move it. It is a hand-painted decor keepsake rather than a toy.

What age is it for?

Best loved by children ages 3 to 10, though the story holds meaning at every age. Grown-ups have been known to leave notes too.

Is it a religious tradition?

No. It draws from Scandinavian folk stories about kindness, gratitude, and quiet service, values that belong in any home.

When will my pre-order ship?

All pre-orders ship out in November so your kit arrives in time for the tradition to begin on December 1. Pre-orders are open now through November 10, or until our limited inventory sells out.

What is your return policy?

Returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery, provided the items are unopened. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer.

How much is shipping?

Shipping is free. We currently ship only to the lower 48 states. The kit is $59, delivered.

Give them a December they will always remember.

One tiny door. One watercolor storybook. A month of kindnesses that will outlast every toy under the tree.

Begin the Tradition · $59

Free shipping · Pre-orders limited