However, my Norwegian teacher told me that those present usually are small presents for kids. For example some eraser, pencil, ruler or most common is chocolate. Some major chocolate manufacturer will have the Christmas calendar which contain 24 different types of chocolate. Everyday, the kid can open and take one chocolate from the calendar until Christmas.
This is a Christmas Calendar from Kinder Chocolate. But, this calendar doesn't belong to any kids. Somehow, many process engineers in our company bought the calendar too. =)
As you all can see, the calendar already has 5 empty spaces which means 5 days gone and it is getting nearer to Christmas! However, instead of taking one chocolate per day, those engineer sometimes took 2 chocolates a day! I took the picture on 2 or 3 of December. They are not following the rules!
This is a photo taken from my office's reception which is a simple candle stand. Some are really nice.
Another tradition is the 4 candle for 4 Sunday on December. On the first Sunday of December, the family will light one candle after breakfast. They will only light one candle each Sunday. The second Sunday, they will light the 2nd candle. And it goes until the 4th Sunday which is the end of Christmas month. So those candles are different height with one is shorter than the other one.
When they are lighting the candle, they will read a tradition poem together. The meaning of the poem is something like the first candle will bring happiness and the last candle will bring peace to everyone who shine under the candle light. I couldn't remember the meaning of second and third candles. I have the poem but it is in the car and I am lazy to take it since it is cold outside. =P
Besides, Norwegian eat pork, pork sausage, some red cabbage and fish during Christmas dinner. Usually they will not eat beef on the festival. And, they also have their own version of Santa Claus - Fjøsnisse. They believe in a small version of Santa Claus who will take care of their animal. He is the secret keeper in the barn. So most of the family will leave one bowl of porridge with a spoon for him on Christmas Eve night. If he eat the porridge and the bowl is empty on the next morning, it means those sheep, goat and cow in the barn will be save for the following year. If not, it might have some sickness to the animals. I don't have the picture of the little Santa Claus. But, it looks exactly same like Santa Claus except it is much smaller in size. All kids are looking forward for white Christmas, they will not be happy if the snow is too little during the Christmas. As I heard from all the Norwegian, the snow at Norway is getting less year by year due to the global warming.
Wish the snow will always cover this peaceful land - Norway on each Christmas. And wish everyone to have a great Christmas.
6 comments:
it's really white christmas there for you. It's pretty cool how you get to know all these norwegian cultural stuff too. who are you learning norwegian from? Can you speak the language yet?
ps: your office uses english right?
the candle.. they use the real candle light? not using those electric one? if not.. how would they make the candle lights for whole month? *confusing* hehe..
nice nice nice!!! when r u coming back? i can make it on the 20th Dec dee!! muahahaha
kam,
i am going back to KL for xmas. ho hoho...not white xmas.
I am learning norwegian language level 1 from an international school/centre. company paid for it. =P er...i can speak like 3 yrs old kid?
so my norwegian teacher taught me some of those cultural stuff, and some I knew when I went for Xmas dinner or chit chat with all the lady in the office. Like about the xmas food, most of the restaurants here are having the xmas menu and all of them offer the same dish.
ya office use english + a lot a lot a lot of norwegian language.
Kitt Yin,
ar har! good question, i asked the same things too. hehe...they use real candle, it is not going to light for the whole month, just 意思意思light for a while, just for the ceremony.
CY,
i will email everyone again regarding the dinner. I reach KLIA on 17 Dec.
well it's good to learn bout the culture of others. x'mas is not meant only for christians but for everyone to share n give. x'mas is bout caring n love. about santa-jolly st. nicholas was da only child born of devout n wealthy parents.born in da third century, he became bishop of myra,in asia minor(modern demre,turkey) which is considered nicholas birth place. a legendary generosity n compassion for da poor.nicholas died on dec,6 around a.d.345. nicholas became da much loved protector of so many different groups-children,sailors,prisoners,travelers n da poor. let's together do our part to be santa's of today's world. merry x'mas to all.
really do dream of having a white christmas... and i bet the world would appear a little bit more innocent covered in snow... =)
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