My last day of school prior to Christmas vacation was a lot of fun. We didn’t do any schoolwork because we were done with all of our final tests. All of us that are in the third grade, or final year, came to school as blue and red Santa’s (here Blue Santa’s are common). We had a Christmas assembly in the gym where students sang and performed. After the performances the whole school, of 500 students and staff, linked arms and danced around the Christmas tree to sing. After the assembly we all got free risgrøt and the school day was over at11. It was time for Christmas vacation.
Mathilde and I as Blue Santas
The class of Santas
The first night of vacation was the school ball for all the third year students. It was very formal. Everyone got dressed up, not just girls but all the guys too. When we got to the ball all the girls were to enter the dining hall first but before we could find a place to sit we had to put our right shoe into the bag. After we were all seated it was the guys turn to come into the dining hall but before they could sit they had to pick a shoe out of the bag and whosever shoe it was the guy was to sit by that girl. For dinner we had a three course meal with dessert following. After dinner we all entered the dance room with our partner and we all danced together for the opening song. The dance was a lot of fun because we had an actual band and the theme was swing dancing. I was surprised to see that everyone knew how to formally dance, and they all could do it well. It was a lot of fun and great way to begin the Christmas break
The guys entering the dining hall
Melissa and me
Mathilde, Steinar, and me
Crowning the queen and king, Siri and Johan
Christmas was a hectic time for everyone but it was also a lot of fun. The week before Christmas everyone spends a lot of time baking cakes and all sorts of desserts. These cakes are saved for the days to come following Christmas Eve. They are enjoyed with coffee when families invite friends or relatives over for Christmas visits. In Norway it is typical to put out your Christmas tree and decorate it on “LilleJulaften”, which translates to little Christmas Eve. “LilleJulaften” is the 23rd of December. This was unusual for me because I have been so use to all houses having a Christmas tree up by the first of December in the US. On the 23rd it is also very typical for families to eat Risgrøt, a delicious dessert described in one of my previous blogs. This Risgrøt is more special than usual on because within the whole batch there is only one almond and if you get the serving with the almond than you are considered lucky. The tradition in my host family is that if you get the almond then you receive a gift of candy or chocolate. Eating Risgrøt and decorating the Christmas tree on the 23rd creates a fun lead up to Christmas Eve, the following day.
All the baked goods to save for Christmas
On the 24th of December we had a nice big breakfast with everyone. At 4 O’clock we all got dressed up and went to Church. In the church sermon the priest talked a little about Josef and Mary and how Christ came to be but he more so focused on everyone’s enjoyment. The whole church participated in singing Christmas songs and there were a few little skits on the bible. It is a very common thing for families to go to a church service on the 24th and then go home to a big dinner. When we all got back to the house we had a big feast waiting for us. We ate lamb with cabbage and potatoes and cooked carrots. For dessert we ate caramel pudding with whip cream. After we were done eating and cleaning up, we all linked arms and gathered around the Christmas tree to dance and sing the Christmas tree songs. I really enjoyed this Christmas tradition. After we had danced around the tree we got ourselves ready for opening presents. Each present was opened one by one, so everyone could enjoy what was given and received. It was different for me to be away from family at Christmas, but I really experienced something special here in Norway, and I had a great family to enjoy it with.
The dinner table for christmas eve
Ask the christmas dog
Amanda, me, Sina, and Johanne before dinner
Sina and me
Mathilde and Amanda
Håvard showing off his christmas ski gear
Me with the little bird Håvard made for me for christmas- by far the best present
The days following Christmas are referred to as the first Christmas day (25th), the second Christmas day and so on up until New Years Eve. We spent Christmas day with my host dad’s parents. We all dressed up and had another traditional dinner. We ate Ribbe, or ribs, as the main meat dish. The days following Christmas we had a lot of visits where we enjoyed all the Christmas cakes we had baked earlier in the week. Here Christmas is more celebrated after Christmas Eve and it goes all the way into the new year, which I think makes it more special.
Doing the winter vacation we did a lot of cross-country skiing, group hikes, and group runs. My cross-country skiing is not the best but I’m working on it so hopeful by the end of the winter season I will be able to keep up with my host siblings.
For New Years Eve my friend Anniken had a dinner party at her house. On New Years Eve everyone eats Turkey. We had a fancy dinner with turkey, potatoes, and vegetables. When the clock got close to 12 we all drove to Gjøvik to see the New Years Eve fireworks. It was a really nice way to start the New Year.
