Oslo might be a Christmas wonderland this year.

Here are some winter cards from Oslo, dressed up as a white wonderland. Most children wish for a white Christmas; might it happen this year? My memories from childhood were white Christmases, but in recent years we have experienced “green” Christmas, or rather gray.

Jólablót to Jul (Christmas)

In Scandinavia, we use the word Jul for Christmas. It comes from the Norse name jólablót, or jól. It was the celebration of a pagan sacrificial festival at midwinter. When Christianity was introduced to Norway in the 1000s, the roman tradition of celebrating the Birth of Jesus was established. Our country’s main Christmas dinner is on the evening of December 24th.

Advent

I do not know the traditions of advent celebrations in other countries. In general, three things are essential in Norway. One is to have a candlestick holder for four candles. Then lit a candle for each Sunday before Christmas, like one light four weeks before Christmas, then two lights three weeks before, and then, at last, all four on the last Sunday before Christmas. The tradition is that the candles should be purple, the advent color. Secondly, the big lit advent star in the windows of most homes symbolizes the coming of Jesus. Last but not least, the Advent calendar; parents who do not give their child a calendar could be taken for child abuse in Norway. A marketing company has taken the Calender to a new scale on their office building.

A city of lights

Most western cities lit their streets, windows, and parks for Christmas. So also in Oslo. It is the lights that give me a special Christmas feeling. I love seeing the small lights illuminate in this dark season. The Tunnel of lights is the most intense light decoration I could find in Oslo.

Oslo Christmas market

We did not have a Christmas market when I was a child. I do not know its origin, but it is huge in Germany and the central European countries. When I was in Postdam in November this year, I experienced the opening of the Christmas market there. Over the last 20 years, Oslo has also developed this large Jul i Vinterland.

Breaking traditions

By choosing to live a gay life, I have already broken some fundamental societal traditions, like getting married and having children. Since I do not believe in what Christmas symbolizes, having a small family and they have no children, I feel free to make my own Christmas choices. “My Christmas” is during December at work, with the Nutcracker, with Christmas lunch where I dress up as some” kind of father Christmas,” and all the lights everywhere give me joy.

Then, when Christmas arrives, I can escape; I travel to countries that do not necessarily celebrate Christmas. Therefore I am heading to Vietnam this year.

I still wish all of you that celebrate Christmas a good one. It is always nice to have an excuse to break from your everyday routine and be with the people you care for. Soon there is a new year and new opportunities.