It’s hard to believe the year is already coming to a close. As 2014 ends, it’s time to celebrate the holiday season with our WordPress.com tradition of teaming up with talented artists to create a cheerful WordPress illustration. This year, Mads Berg has dreamed up a scene of togetherness to capture the spirit of the season.
Holiday theme
As in previous years, we’ve created a new seasonal theme for you based on the beautiful artwork. Automattic’s David Kennedy has adapted Mads’ illustration into a theme called Together. It is now available on WordPress.com, and will continue to be available even after the holidays.
The theme showcases the beautiful illustration in the header. Elements from the artwork are pulled in throughout the theme, like the sparkles glittering on sticky posts.
Together is the perfect theme if you want to spread a little holiday cheer. Gather with your friends and family this season, and share the moments on your blog or website.
You can read more about Together on the theme showcase, or preview it on your blog by going to Appearance → Themes.
Wallpapers
We’ve also created some radiant digital wallpapers for your computer, tablets, and smartphones. They’re available in multiple sizes to best fit your device of choice:
- iPhone 4/4s
- iPhone 5/5c/5s
- iPad, Android devices
- Desktop – Small (1280 × 720)
- Desktop – Medium (2560 × 1440)
- Desktop – Retina Displays (2880 × 1800)
- Desktop – Retina 5k Displays (5120 × 2887)
Need help changing your wallpaper? Here are instructions for iOS, Android, OS X, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
A tip: Choose an image larger than your screen size, and set the position to “center” or “fill screen” (not “stretch”).
If you missed them last time around, be sure to check out our illustrations from 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.
Let it snow!
Finally, no matter what theme you’re using, don’t miss out on a seasonal favorite: falling snow! You can enjoy snow flakes gently floating around your WordPress.com site until January 4, 2015. Just go to Settings → General in your dashboard, and check the box next to “Show falling snow on my blog” (you can uncheck it whenever you want, of course).
Happy holidays!
WordPress.com News 
I like it, I might have to give it a try 🙂
The snowflakes are brilliant. I tried them and then switched them off as I am not sure that I will want then on for nearly a whole month until 4 January !
Do you have anything for our southern hemisphere bloggers for this time of year? As for them of course, this time of year is summer 😉
The Science Geek
I’m afraid we don’t have a Southern Hemisphere equivalent. I suspect most of us in this part of the planet would like to forget that all of you down under are currently on a sunny beach. 😉
It’s nice. Thank you.
Thanks for the tip. I already set both of my WordPress Blogs to display falling snow.
Am I correct, that this theme features a custom header with featured photo-post slider?
It features a custom header, but not a slider for posts.
Beautiful – but I prefer themes with permanently visible main nav menu and sidebar.
Let’s get Christmassy!
I love ‘Together’
Awesome, love the snow falling idea and have put it on my blog. However the only issue I have is, it doesn’t seem to work on mobile/tablet view. How can this be solved?
The snow is currently visible on computers only — I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying it.
Okay no probelm!
I’m waiting for a stinking hot day to turn on the snow and give me a laugh. (Not all of us have a wintry Christmas.)
Can we have the snow a bit longer please? Here in Scotland we get it in June sometimes even and the blog version seems to make people smile even if the real thing doesn’t.
If it snowed Mogan Davids, Menorahs I’d be more interested.
As a beginner blogger I wondered how people were getting it to snow! I love it, and have just set it all up thanks to your tutorial.
Falling snow it is! :p
I have done the click on snow falling two different times, but no snow is falling
Hi Terry,
I just visited your site and saw the snow falling — so it seems like you successfully turned on the snow. Happy holidays!
Thank you so much Ben for checking!!!
I like it and I am glad it’s not a stereotypical festive design.
I tried the snow. For some reason I find it doesn’t fit with what my blog is all about. It somehow reminds me of something sweet like fairy tale (though when it really comes down to it fairy tales are seldom sweet) And the softly falling flakes distract me from reading what I wrote in my own page. My eyes automatically follow them around. They shift direction every so often. Tastes do differ.
since we’ve no place to go
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 🙂
Interesting, might give it a go.
Snow goes perfectly with my winter header.
I love the snow idea, however it doesn’t really work for my blog, as I have a beach background. Maybe I will turn it on for Xmas to New Years only, we will see.
Love it! Thank you so much for the snow, it’s great!
Great image-love it!
I like it, I might have to give it a try 🙂
Wow!
I can’t believe how beautiful this wallpaper and theme is! It makes me feel hopful and warm inside.
I will have to use this theme
What to choose, they are all great
how to download theme?.
You don’t have to download anything to use this theme — you can use it by clicking “Activate” on the theme’s page, here.