Christmas round the tree!

Hi everyone, sorry not to have posted anything for a week or so, but have been busy at work and had friends to stay at the weekend and time just .... well you know!

So Christmas is just around the corner, and different Christmas traditions abound the world over. Here it is rare for a family to get their Christmas tree much before the last weekend before Christmas, and it will often only be decorated on the 23rd (Christmas Eve is the main celebratory day for Christmas here)

In Norway, the Parliament closed for the winter break yesterday with Ministers and staff dancing around the Christmas tree in the hall of the Parliament building. We recognise some of the traditional songs from our time in Denmark/ Not all of them have a religious base. Must admit it was strange seeing people of a certain age hopping and jumping like 6 year olds! Cute!

The shops are full of pork rib, lutefisk (cod soused in lye), rakkfisk (cod left to 'mature' i.e. rot), sausage meat. dried lamb ribs and gingerbread (pepparkaker). Maybe we will try them next year! This year we are back to Blighty for the usual turkey roast with the family!

Central Bergen with its Christmas tree

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!