#TRAVEL My Weekly Powerup | #club5050 | Merry Christmas from Kristiansand (Norway) | #steemexclusive / 9 photos

For most of us, Christmas has a special meaning and we associate it with something special. It is one of the very strongest traditions we have here in Norway. To varying degrees, we prepare by decorating our homes for the holiday season. Since December is the darkest month of year, it's a great time to lighten up the day. All over the world this Christioan holiday is celebrated to remind us that God send his son Jesus. All the photos were taken at a exhibition in Kristiansand.

But where do all the traditions come from? The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree comes from Germany. It is known that this tradition can be traced back to the end of the 16th century. The trees were put up outside the craftsmen's guild halls. Eventually they were decorated with something good such as nuts, apples, cakes etc. The children were eventually allowed to eat it. It was actually not until 1820s that the custom of decorated the tree spread here in Norway. It was the more wealthy families who started. First around year 1900 it became a general custom among the whole population.

We decorate our homes for Christmas. I haven't been able to find out when we started this tradition. Most people start around 1 December. Except the shops and shopping streets. They do have both decorations and lights in place long before December. The custom of giving gifts to each other at Christmas can possibly be explained from the story of the 3 wise men who brought gifts to the newborn Jesus. It is also believed that this was a tradition that started sometime in the 16th century. Back then it was - at least in cold Norway - a custom for the children to get new winter clothes and shoes.

The Christmas season is also associated with carols. Christmas carols are known to have been sung in England as early as the 15th century. This tradition has spread around the world. Christmas food probably has long traditions that can possibly also be traced far back. We are also traditional here. Most families have the same menu every Christmas. Bake the same traditional cakes. There is something predictable about bringing out the same decorations year after year. Baking the same cakes and having the same dinner every year.

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U.J

Kristiansand, Norway

All the photoes are mine, Ulla Jensen (flickr, Instagram and facebook)

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