Dec 24
Dreaming of a White Christmas? In Norway it’s quite normal and lots of glorious white snow arrived last night just in time for Christmas in Oslo. When waking up this morning, the landscape was Christmas card perfect and I knew I had the inspiration for my annual Christmas post with greetings to all my friends in Blogsphere; My gift to you this year is a photo hunt in the neighbourhood with my Nikon compact cam – hope you’ll enjoy the trip:
Wooden house, gate and roundpole fence; typical Norwegian.
More wooden houses – some more Christmas decorated than the other.
Walking around, breathing the fresh air after new fallen snow the scenery got me into the Christmas or Yule spirit as we say it in Norway. I got the same good old, childish anticipation: The family gathering, the food and of course the gifts
and it’s going to happen tonight – You see in Norway, it all happens on Christmas Eve! So still in the childish mood, but also a bit adult; I was going through the menu for dinner: We’ll have Lute Fisk (made from dried cod prepared with lye) which we bake in the oven before serving. See my post about how we make it and eat it by clicking here!With that in mind, I shot some more White Christmas pics:
Snow Man; another wonderful and exciting memory from my childhood.
The reason why we have Lutefisk at Christmas Eve, is that we go to my parents house for Yule Brunch or Smorgasbord tomorrow and get all the rest of Norwegian Christmas food: Pork Ribs, meat cakes (or balls), ham, smoked salmon, herrings, roll of lamb, pressed pork and much more. You find it all in my post: Norwegian Christmas Day Smorgasbord.
With that in mind, I shot some more pics:
I met this man who lives at the local retirement home. He was out for a short trip feeding the birds with breadcrumbs and we had a talk. He did this every day we have snow as the birds then have difficulties finding food. I thought it was very sweet of him and asked if I could take a pic – yes of course, he said
Talking about food for the birds at Yuletide: At the entrance way to our house, you’ll see:
“Julenek”; Wheat offerings to the birds.
Julenek is another Old Norwegian Christmas tradition: It begins in late autumn at harvest time. This wheat was attached to poles, making perches for the birds. A large circle of snow is cleared away beneath each perch. This provides a place for the birds to dance, which allows them to work up their appetites between meals. Just before sunset on Christmas Eve, the head of the household checks on the wheat in the yard. If a lot of sparrows are seen dining, it is suppose to indicate a good year for growing crops.
So with this little trip including a bit of our Yule history and traditions, I hope I got you into Christmas mood too. From all of me to all of you;
Merry Christmas or God Jul, as we say it in Norway!
December 24th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed your Christmas post, dear Renny! Such beautiful photos of the snow and commentary on your Yule traditions.
God Yule, dear friend, and many blessings for the New Year.
Love and hugs,
Diane
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December 24th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Beautiful! God Jul to you and yours!
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December 25th, 2009 at 12:44 am
[...] However there are many reasons which I do love my job, and am grateful for the life I have here and now. My day started with the promise of a White Christmas. Although I left for work at 9 am this morning the sun was not yet up, and the soft colors of dusk filled the air and filled my heart with Christmas spirit. I ringed Renny and told him that he just had to go out and take some photos today, the results of which you may see here! [...]
December 25th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Oh now these photos are so beautiful. Really enjoyed your post as well. And isn’t that what Christmas is about… Helping out, especially those little birds!
I think you met a very sweet man on your walk/chat.
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December 25th, 2009 at 4:00 am
It’s so beautiful there. Wishing you and your family love and joy this Christmas. May the spirit of Christmas bring warmth to your hearts. God bless.
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December 25th, 2009 at 4:33 am
What beautiful pictures! I love your traditions and the beautiful houses and snow. And what a really nice man to go out and feed the birds!
God Jul to you and Diane and family.
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December 25th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Merry Christmas Renny. It has been a nice year blogging with you.
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December 25th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Merry Christmas to you and your wife!
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December 25th, 2009 at 5:13 am
I hope you have an awesome day with your family. So happy to have your acquaintance, dear RennyBA!
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December 25th, 2009 at 5:29 am
What a nice post, Renny! You have indeed a white Christmas. I wish to see one again…. maybe next year.
I wish you merry Christmas days! God Jul!
Susanne
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December 25th, 2009 at 6:23 am
You have a lot more snow than us … we have none.
Happy Christmas!
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December 25th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Merry Christmas
and a Happy & Healthy 2010
for you and your whole family
Enjoy your Holidays…
Kareltje =^.^=
Anya
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December 25th, 2009 at 6:38 am
merry christmas to yo uand diane and your family, renny. the julenek is a sweet tradition and the new thing i learned this time around. how lovely.
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December 25th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Merry Christmas to you too! now that’s a lot of snow around, i’ve never seen any snow in my life before from growing up in Malaysia
Happy holidays, and have a great year ahead!
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December 25th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, you did get some heavy snow and I do love your pictures.
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December 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am
It looks so very Beautiful there Renny…Very Very Christmasy, with all the gorgeous white snow pushing the limbs of trees down with the weight of it….LOVE that Snowman and the sweet man that feeds the Birds and your “wheat” Goody for the Birds, too.
I hope your Christmas is a lovely one…It sounds like it is filled with great food, sweet family and friends and fantastic presents too!
Merry Merry Christmas to you and tours, my dear Renny and Diane.
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December 25th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Renny Bakke Amundsen, FastFood Bob. FastFood Bob said: Happy White Christmas from Oslo Norway http://bit.ly/4ucp2M [...]
December 25th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
God jul to you and Diane, et al, Renny! It is such a joy to share Christmas greetings with you.
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December 25th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Hi Renny! Thanks for the photos, it’s exciting to open your blog and see a bit of Norway. My dear Norway. For me my blog is a window that allows me to be close to your wonderful country.
I hope you have Merry Christmas.
Hugs
Maria
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December 25th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Sounds very similar to a Swedish Christmas which I experienced yesterday (24th) albeit in Lubeck Germany. Lots of great food for sure, it’s a fun tradition
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December 25th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
[...] 2009 at 2:16 am. Oh now these photos are so beautiful. … Go here to see the original: Happy White Christmas from Oslo Norway Share [...]
December 25th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Beautiful! And yes, even though I’m used to snow, I still find it pretty (when it’s not a 30 cm dump from the sky!).
Merry Christmas to you and Diane! I was reading about her achievements at the women shelter. True Xmas spirit!
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December 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Niiiice christmassy photos. We have a lot of snow here too and even if it were melting a bit last night, it’s cold again and snowing.
♥ God Jul ♥ or rather: good continuing of the xmas holidays
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December 26th, 2009 at 2:59 am
What lovely White Christmas photos, Renny. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
It’s hot, humid and wet here….quite a contrast.
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December 26th, 2009 at 3:30 am
Merry Christmas to Renny, Diane and all your readers!
It’s awesome to wake up to such beautiful scenes on Christmas Day.
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December 26th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
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December 26th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
What beautiful pictures Renny! Snow scenes are so perfect. I love hearing about your traditions – this year I’m learning some new ones in our gradually extending family.
I hope you have been having a really wonderful time – I’m sure you have.
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December 26th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I hope you, Diane and the family had a merry Christmas celebration! The snow made our Christmases extra magical this year, didn’t it?
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December 26th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!! Now you make me envious.
It’s so beautiful there… So, so magical and all! 
Merry Christmas to you and family!
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December 27th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Oh the pictures are just beautiful. I love the traditions you have in your country and the food is just amazing. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas or Yule and many more.
Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby
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December 27th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Renny,
it’s so beautiful around here
white christmas
Like the dream from our childhood of a
real christmas.
Remember, new skies and skates as C-Mas presents and
on X-Mas day going out with all our friens in the neighbourhood, playng in the Snow…..
Hope you have a great time in Mariestad.
btw. We have snow here, and hope you will find (LOL) your entrence door when you arrive back early next year.
We might take a Harry on Tuesday. Family late Lunch on Wednesday here. Cats turning our Home up down. Haha. They are great.
hugs
T and A
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December 27th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I’m so glad you got snow for Christmas! It just doesn’t feel like it without snow. I loved your pictures and the idea of the wheat to feed birds. Wonder if I could make one here? The old man is sweet and it gives him something meaningful to do each day. We are having a 2nd Christmas turkey dinner today at our place, but just for 10 people. I love the smell of turkey a lot better than fish!!!!
Enjoy your holiday with family and friends.
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December 27th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Great photos, Renny, thanks! We were hoping for a white Christmas as we had last year, but no such luck–they are a rarity here.
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December 28th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Beatiful post Renny … and dinner sounds GREAT! I will even try the Lute Fisk
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December 28th, 2009 at 1:55 am
“beautiful” … I can never leave a comment without a typo!
ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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December 28th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Nice to see that you are coping well with the snow.. Very nice advertising for Norway.
PS I really liked that motorized wheelchair!
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December 28th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
What a beautiful white Christmas, snowy white wonderful snow…the perfect picture for Christmas, thanks for sharing your amazing photographs, and thanks for dropping by, happy New Year !!!
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December 28th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I was really happy you took that trip and got some good pictures to show how lovely our little town is covered in snow. Glad Kyle got to go along for the trip too. I am looking forward to more craziness when you get your new camera!! hint hint!
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December 29th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Such a lot of snow! We had a tiny amount (by comparison) last week, but it’d all melted by Christmas morning.
Great photos, thanks for sharing with us! Hope you’re enjoying the holiday season
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December 29th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
A belated Merry Christmas as I have now returned to the warmth and my lap top
I hope you had a lovely day!
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January 10th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
does the man really ride the scooter
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RennyBA Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Yes he does
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January 14th, 2010 at 6:27 am
too late but happy new year
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