USVI-On-Line

Thanks Linne and Theresa! It's a good room on a snowy day like today to cuddle up and watch a movie.

Xislandgirl, that little guy reminds me of the elf who wanted to be the dentis on that old classic Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer special.

We put a pretty white dove at the top of our tree.

Peace to all.

linne,This drawing is by Swedish artist Johan Aronson. It depects an angry tomte punishing the American Santa Claus for commercializing the Christmas spirit and the spirit the of jultomte, or nisser. The tomte was more of a gnome like creature that used the front door, than a fat man coming down the chimney. Rural folks left a bowl of porridge, with butter on top, out the front door for him.

JT wrote:linne,This drawing is by Swedish artist Johan Aronson. It depects an angry tomte punishing the American Santa Claus for commercializing the Christmas spirit

Hooray for the tomte!

Xislandgirl and JT. Yes, both drawings are showing a nisse. The one from JT is more, as a nisse was seen in the old days. Such a nisse is living on the loft, and it's correct that you have to give him rice porridge with butter. If you don't he will tease you.

The Danes celebrate Christmas 24. December. After dinner we go around the tree holding hands and singing Christmas songs. For the children’s sake we often sing a song about a nisse too. I have tried to translate it on Google, and it’s something like this:

On the ceiling sits nissen with his Christmas porridge, his Christmas porridge, so good and sweet, he is nodding, and he eats, and he is so happy for the Christmas porridge is his best food. But all around are all the little rats, and they look and they look "We would like to ha 'little Christmas sweets," and they are dancing, dancing around in circles. But nissefar he threatens with his big spoon: "You have to go away, I want my Christmas porridge in peace, and no, no, I will not share with you. " But the rats they jump and dance, and they dance, they are looking after the porridge, and they stops and they form a ring round the nisse. But nissefar he has a hot temper and with his body he makes a jump: "I call the cat, if you do not stop" So all the rats are being afraid, oh, so afraid, oh, so afraid, they turn and dance a few times, and one, two, three, they are gone!

I think everyone in DK know this song. Don't you know it in USA?

Linne

About the nisse song.
I have later tried to Google the names of the people who has written the song. The names could be Danish names- not typically- but perhaps it's a Danish song. But I can tell that it's fun to sing the song. First we sing the carols, and then we take this song and at that time often run around the tree instead of walking and do a little hop, when it’s time for that in the text .

If someone like to hear the music I have found it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLY5kxfW1w0
Normally we sing it faster.

Sometimes we also sing this song as the last one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6JAfG0p6os
and run around in the house in a long row holding hands - and we are not drunk at all!!

Do you have a similar tradition?

CA girl wrote:
That's a new one for me, Linne! I think it's really cute, and I can just picture everyone dancing around the tree singing. I wish we had a similar custom in the U.S.

Margo you have to find some Danish relatives, so you can try to celebrate a Danish Christmas.
I think you will enjoy it.

Linne

Here is a pic a friend took in front of the downtown Charlotte Amalie post office, complete with chickens! LOL

BTW - thanks for all the christmas pics. I'm having a tuff time getting in the christmas spirit here in the islands (first one away from home). So the pics really helped. I put up a small tree but it's not the same as the large one I used to put up. I have an awesome collection of hand made ornaments from Jay's mom (she's an artist). I should have brought them but just wasn't thinking. Maybe if we make a trip home this next summer I'll drag them out and ship them here so I'll have them next year.

Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Deb, I'll bet it is a little weird getting into the Christmas spirit in that climate. I'll trade you places .

I love the picture of the tree with the chickens. Your tree is pretty darn cute too.

Pia wrote:I'm going to try to take a pic tonight of our tree and have a special friend (you know who you are MB ) post it for me

Pia

haha! I'll be here!

Here's a few pics of our living room:

Tree:


Tropical section of the tree:


Christmas village with dueling flying Santa's:


Mantel:


Christmas morning - Before


and After


Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays!

Janet, that is so cool. It looks beautiful. I love the before and after pictures

/Karin