Thunder Snow at Christmas Time

 Our lovely Autumn turned to Winter on December first with the coming of the first snow. You may have heard about how the Eskimo tribe has dozens of words for snow. In Norway there is just snø. 

We started with just a light snowfall.

During the day it became "Thunder Snow" which comes down fast and heavy. By bedtime we had a frozen Winter wonderland outside the front door.



By the next morning at sunrise - about 9:30 - it was beautiful and slick with temps in the 20's.

We are struggling to keep our walking regime up but even with our cleats - "thank you Costco!" we couldn't keep from sliding and slipping. We were forced to use the DVD and exercise cords.

A word on the sunshine; sunrise is a little before 9:30 and sunset is a little after 3:30. We are pretty far south in Norway. Still the sun is so low on the horizon that we only see it peek over the hill behind our leilighet for about one hour each day. On lots with good southern exposure they get two or three hours. We still have ten days until winter solstice. I wonder if we will get any direct light at that point.

BERGEN BRANCH JULEKONSERT

This branch has a great group of singers. There are several with professional quality voices. Some hold degrees in voice performance, some sing professionally. Many others have really good voices. Our choir - 36 strong - gave a wonderful performance. It was moving to hear them sing.

Besides the choir there were vocal solos and duets, a violin solo and a violin duet, piano solos and short readings. When the program ended we all went into the hall for a "Julebord." The Christmas Table or meal.

 

 We had a group of around 150 for dinner.

The young full-time missionaries were our servers.

Everyone waited patiently...

The menu included pinnekjøtt (lambchops), ribbe (boneless pork ribs), mashed kålrabi (the yellowish stuff) and of course boiled potatoes.  Julebrus is the red drink. It is a special soda sold only during the Christmas season.

The lamb has been cured by salting it so it has to be soaked in water for a day before cooking. The water has to be changed to get rid of the salt. Still it is salty but the way it is cooked makes it delicious. The pork is oven roasted and D-licious. The kålrabi stappe and poteter complement the meats very well.

As dinner was being cleared we sang Christmas songs; some carols but mostly Norwegian songs about Christmas traditions such as the Julenissen song - a song about the Christmas Elf.

As dessert was served the music and dancing began. The desserts were various puddings served with vanilla sauce or berry sauce. My favorite is riskrem, a rice pudding cooked up with loads of thick cream and sugar. Good thing that Christmas season only lasts for four weeks!

For the next couple of hours the dessert, dancing and entertainment continued. Kerry joins our Branch President and others for a rendition of "Hotel California."

Kjetil,(blue shirt)and I hung in there with the dishes and a rotating crew until almost midnight to get the kitchen cleaned up and all of the dishes washed and put away.

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Norwegians don't go in for loads of decorations - especially outdoors. The lights are "understated" almost no colored lights at all; mostly single strands of white lights wound around trees here and there or across railings. Most homes have electric advent candles in the window(s). Same thing at the malls and shopping areas downtown - white lights or lighted snowflakes here and there. Today the Christmas tree lots opened. This is the third week of advent and the week to get your tree.

What they do here is celebrate with feasts and concerts. We had the Julekoncert at church last night. Today the young women presented a long program for everyone. Next Sunday the Primary children will present an hour long Christmas program. On the 23rd people get together for "Little Christmas Eve dinners in their homes to celebrate with family and/or friends. On Christmas Eve afternoon there will be a program at church at 2pm with the reading of the Christmas story and singing of carols. The big day here is the 24th - that evening gifts are opened after dinner. On Christmas day we will meet in church for Sacrament Meeting and one more Christmas program after which people will gather in groups for Christmas Brunch. In case you missed getting together with everyone on your list there is also The Second Day of Christmas on December 26th. I have attended Christmas parties in Norway as late as the 2nd of January! Hey, it is a long, cold, dark winter here so you need to lift your spirits.