Advent

There is big excitement in Norway when Advent starts.  I spent my whole life without knowing what “Advent” meant, so the tradition was new for me. 

Advent is huge in Norway as it begins the countdown to Christmas.  The candles that get lit on the four Sundays before Christmas “light the way” in anticipation of the birth of Jesus.  It’s all very symbolic and special. I’m glad we got to go through it in Norway where the whole country celebrates it, even if they aren’t professing Christians.

Norway is a Christian nation in word only.  They all believe in the Bible and that Jesus is God’s son and he died on the cross and rose again, but they brush it off with, “We just don’t take it personal.”   Advent is not so much about religion as it is tradition.  There’s not a house in the land that doesn’t have some kind of light in their window for Advent – either a lighted star, or an electric set of candles that sit on an upside down V.  Many houses have lights shining in every window and they all get turned on the first day of Advent. 

It’s so funny how much conformity there is in Norway – no one would dare turn on their lights BEFORE the first Sunday in Advent because, “You just don’t do that.”  (That’s a phrase I often heard about many things.)  There’s a lot of pride in everyone doing things properly, and no one “over does it” with Christmas lights like some American’s do.  Everyone uses only white lights, too.  I guess colored ones are a bit too gaudy by Norwegian standards.

The calendar fills up during Advent as it’s by far the busiest season.  The State Church and schools send out flyers with all the different events going on in December.  Kaleb’s school held a special kick-off party the first day of Advent with the lighting of the school’s Christmas tree at five o’clock on a Sunday.  The school band played a few Christmas songs, the drill team performed a little march to one of the tunes, and after a quick speech, the lights came on the tree and everyone cheered.  They handed out gingersnap cookies, tangerines and hot Glogg (a very tasty Scandinavian Christmas drink).  All of this took place outside on the school playground in below freezing temperatures. 

I’m so impressed by the hardiness the Norwegians have against the elements of nature, and I’m sure had it been raining or snowing, the show would have still gone on to a packed house.  It’s funny, they seem to have God in a box, but they sure don’t want to be.

(PS the photo is of a Norwegian "minimalist" nativity scene. Very funny, ha ha.)