Little Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Eve and the day after the darkest day of the year.  It is a day of decoration, specifically of the Christmas tree.  Up until this day Norwegians have been preparing for Little Christmas Eve with decorations, often home-made, and tree selection.

Our day started with a hunt in our forrest for the perfect Christmas tree.  Spruce trees are most often used as they are thicker and have that Christmas tree shape (however, there is a debate in Norway whether a pine tree is better as it doesn’t shed as much).  We were on the lookout for a gran, a Norwegian spruce.  These trees do not naturally grow in Finnmark, the ones we have have been planted by Farfar a long time ago.

On the way we got to check out the frozen pond in the back forest to see if it was skate-worthy.  It was even perfect for snow angels!

We found the right tree and Moose got out the bow saw.

The sheep had to be occupied with a treat as they were a little too interested in all this tree-business.

All our trees are too big for inside so we had to downsize our selection by cutting off the top, though it is still an impressive 220cm.  It was a well rounded tree with lovely cones still attached.

With our bare tree in the living room it was time for another family workshop.  Christmas workshops are a tradition in Norway to make decorations and prepare for Christmas.  We have had several workshops making breads, pepperkaker and wreaths.  This time we made traditional heart baskets, painted pine cones, pepperkaker hangs and paper-chains as well as something from Australian tradition – bonbons.

The kids had fun decorating the tree and are proud to show off their crafts.  Now the tree is all set for julaften, Christmas Eve, where we will dance around the Christmas tree and lay presents for family and friends.

On the 22nd of December is Winter Solstice.  It can also be on the 21st of December depending on the turning of the sun, however, the day of the 22nd is considered the shortest of the year.  The 13th of December used to be considered the shortest day when the Julian calendar was in use.  It wasn’t until around 1700, when Norway adopted the Gregorian calendar, that the shortest day moved to the 22nd of December.  The farmer’s primstav mark for this day was a sun wheel.

This day had many rules and customs but the superstitions of this day have primarily stayed with Lucia Night due to the calendar displacement.  In Norse time it was customary to have a bonfire at each solstice to celebrate the sun and invite protection from evil.  According to tradition all kinds of evil powers would arise at the turning of the sun.  The most important rule was that one should not do work with objects that turned such as spinning wheels, driving a horse and carriage and grinding. It was thought that at the moment the sun turned, water could turn into wine then vinegar and then return to water again, but this happened so fast that no one could see the change.  Brewing beer at solstice wasn’t wise because if the evil spirits got into the beer it would run out before Christmas.  Animals that had got their horns stuck could break loose at the moment of the turning sun but they needed to be quick otherwise they would remain stuck.  The women would stay up all night baking for Christmas and the servents recieved one cake each.

From this day it was mandatory to observe Christmas holiday, or peace, which lasted for three weeks – the 20 days of Christmas.

Oslo may not have snow this year for Christmas but it is still dressed to impress.  Lights are important in Norway during the dark season.  Light makes you feel energized and happy and it makes things very pretty.  Oslo certainly has no shame in burning up a few watts.

I usually travel to Oslo at this time of year to pick up Christmas gifts.  Here are some city street pictures to brighten your day.

The Hoved Theatre.  Norwegians love a ‘revue’ and Christmas pantomimes are popular with families.

A flower boutique with wicker wares and ornaments.

Karl Johans gate – the walking street in the centre of the city.

This year the Oslo Christmas market was on Karl Johans gate (it has moved from the City Hall).  Here you can buy Sami gifts such as reindeer skins and drums, have a moose burger or find trinkets.  (This year I bought a primstav for myself.)  The Sami lavuu has an open fire where you can rest your shoppers-feet.

The parliament, National Theatre and Palace all stand in a row along Karl Johans gate and each building displays Christmas trees on their balconies.

The Christiana side of Oslo centre has a slightly different feel.  Most of Oslo was burned down around 1620 in a big fire and so the king of Denmark (and Norway) rebuilt the city closer to the fortress and it was called Kristiana in his honour.  It was only in 1925 that the city reclaimed its old name Oslo.

The dock near the Town Hall.  This area is filled with restaurants and cafes.  Albertines has a good reputation but you can also find T.G Fridays, Peppes Pizza and MacDonalds.  And there also is some (expensive) shopping there too.

The Riktige Leker is a wonderful toy store.  It has many handmade wooden and classical toys.  This is my favourite toy store in Norway and I always visit it every time I go to Oslo.

The palace roof is under renovation but it still looks lovely in the cityscape.

On the 21st of December is Thomas’ Mass.  Other names for this day are Thomas Brewer, Thomas with the Bucket and Thomas Full-barrel.  The farmer’s primstav marks were a cross, a barrel or a hand reaching up.

On this day the Christmas beer was transferred into barrels.  It was a time for taste testing and often the neighbours would come to have a little beer party.

The tar store was checked.  If it was low then more tar needed to be made as it provided protection from evil spirits.  The men would use the tar to paint crosses on houses and barns, on all the windows and doors, to ward off the evil spirits.  They would also place wooden crosses in the fields, on tables, in the barn next to the beer and at the well.

This was also the day to make lefse for Christmas.  The farmers waited for Saint Thomas to ‘bring the brewers water’ – mild weather for Christmas.

It was important to have all the Christmas preparations finished by this day because the next day ‘Christmas peace’ was announced.