Comments on: A Norwegian Christmas

By: Paul Pehrson

Paul Pehrson — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:37:26 +0000

My paternal grandmother’s family was from Norway. She was the only child born in North America. She passed down a tradition we still do today of dancing around the tree, singing Christmas carols, while holding hands. In fact, my father passed away six years ago, and every Christmas eve we take a small tree down to the cemetery and continue the tradition (despite strange looks from other cemetery visitors).

At the end we always sing a song that we’re told is a traditional Christmas song — at least in our family’s ancestry. For years I’ve been trying to find the music — or even anybody who knows what we’re talking about!

The song (at least after it has been sung by English speakers for two generations) sounds something like this: A yule mit en glidden a bons fig a loose. Mi youtsa mig gallen…. (or something like that).

Then we sing a part in English where we sing: “We clap our hands like this; we sing a little song; so glad are we, so glad are we. We do a little dance and we curtsy.” (We turn in a circle, then bow to each other.)

Have any of you ever heard of anything even close to this? Or do I sound like a crazy lunatic? If anybody can help me, I’d appreciate it.

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from L-Jay:

Dancing around the Christmas tree singing carols is usual in Norway – in the cemetery is a little out there. The song you are talking about is ‘O Yule med din glede‘.

By: Sarah Jensen

Sarah Jensen — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:21:18 +0000

It’s a little late now now but you forgot that we go around the Christmas tree while singing Christmas songs and of course watching Dinner for One or “Grevinnen Og Hovmestern” on Little Christmas Eve ‘Lille Juleaften’

Ellers håper jeg du hadde en riktig god jul og godt nyttår

MVH
Sarah

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from L-Jay:

I have never seen it in my life…lol – not in Norway, Australia or England. Moose tells me it is only on late at night (well, after the kids have gone to bed). I think it is really bizarre that part of Christmas tradition here is to sit and watch tv a lot of the time…lol.

By: Sjoen

Sjoen — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:53:22 +0000

all the Norwegian traditions are fond memories of my Mother telling me stories of her childhood in Arendal, Norway. I try still to keep some alive and passing it on to mychildren. I love to bake krumkake and berlinerkranser around the holidays.It just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the spice of cardamom on my tongue!LOL!

By: Dave Cooke

Dave Cooke — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:15:45 +0000

Merry Xmas from Qld, Australia

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from L-Jay:

God jul!

By: Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:41:12 +0000

My wife is Swedish and has always celebrated St. Lucia’s day. It was nice finding this blog and reading up on all the traditions.