Lögberg-Heimskringla - 11.12.1992, Side 21

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 11. desember 1992 • 21
Fáskrúósjör&ur
Chrístmas in an east coast village
Continued froni page 20
too late to get away from the first sun-
beams, peeping over the mountain
peaks after the long period of darkness.
Everybody could see the outline of it
and the giant face. Would it be Grýla or
her husband Leppaluði?
The home smelled so pleasantly of
wax-polish, lavender and greeneries,
even the sweet, tempting fragrance of
the apples had arrived. Then a foreign
fruit, the apple was a part of the Christ-
mas atmosphere. Inside the Christmas
cactus had bloomed, which was a good
sign for the coming celebration. When
the Christmas tree hád been decorated
and all was shining, the man of the
house often walked around the house
with a big cigar, the smell was consid-
ered so dignified!
In Advent the most respectable
women of the community gathered to-
gether. Busy as bees, they were baking
all sorts of Christmas cakes, such as
vinarterta and kleinur. These proper
housewives were the popular Christmas
tree festival committee preparing for the
get-together of the year in this village of
about 250 inhabitants.
At the Christmas tree festival every
person in the village would be present.
All dressed up. All taking in their good
share of the cakes, absorbing hot choco-
late with a lot of whipped crcam.
Showing off a little. Seeing others and
joining in the religious dance around
the Christmas tree. Yes, there were
always three of them, one big tree in the
middle, two smaller ones side by side.
Two of the tallest village men standing
inside the dancing circle, taking care of
the buming candles.
It started so solemnly. The fishermen
and farmers were not used to seeing
each other so elegantly dressed and
seemed a little bit shy in the beginning.
After they joined in the Christmas carols
and later when the young ones had gone
to bed, the real festival began. The the
whole village danced into the night
under the music of one harmonium.
The little girl recalls one particular
festival because of the overwhelming
pain that followed, when she took off
her shoes. Because alas! The shining
black lacquer shoes with the golden
sponge were at least a size too small!
They were her Christmas present from
the outside world. Rubber or sporting
boots were all the footwear available in
the village shop. No wonder that the
poor girl had danced in the “Thousand
and One Night” shoes through the night.
In these villager days of childhood,
book were the most desirable Christmas
gifts. They still are. Around 450 titles are
published shortly before Christmas,
approximately 1/3 are first published
Icelandic books. In December, all news-
papers are packed with book reviews
and literary criticism. The same situation
prevails in television and radio. The
restaurants struggle to get the most pop-
ular authors to read aloud for the guests,
in order to perform cultural happenings.
Of course the struggle is also on the
opposite side. Not all the authors are
happy. Some have to fight to introduce
their newest work. The hard contest of
the publishers is still another point of
view. The biggest demand for books is in
the last week before Christmas. So now
or never! Almost every Icelander,
whether a child or a grown-up, wishes
for a book as a Christmas gift and book
advertisements tend to be overwhelming.
What kind of Icelandic books are
there? A lot of poetry, Icelanders are
generally poetically minded, and some
good novels are published. Specifically
Icelandic oriented are all the memoirs
and life stories, even from young or mid-
dle aged people, and how open most of
them are. Some of the writers certainly
know what gossip is most likely to sell.
There is a certain trend recently in an
Icelander to know all about the fellow
countryman, even down to the tiniest
detail of his private life.
At fomily meetings during Christmas,
people debate over the new books.
Nobody is highly counted if one hasn’t
read at least 5 of the most debatable
ones. So we are busy reading during the
holidays and busy eating too much! No
good housewife can admit baking less
than six sorts of cookies. Hangikjöt and
laufobrauð are a vital part of the Christ-
mas dinner, but gradually we are moving
towards the traditional Christmas table
of the Nordic countries, which include
varieties of herring, salmon, patés, all
sort of cheeses, vegetables and so on.
The Christmas food is becoming healthi-
er.
More Christmas trees are now culti-
vated in Iceland. A while ago all Christ-
mas trces were imported, but now 1/3 of
them are grown in Icelandic wood coun-
try, which is very promising for Icelandic
forestry; for the price of every single one,
2000 new ones are planted. Small fore-
stries are widespread. Last year a play
school in the Reykjavík area could walk
with the childrcn into the wood country
and allow them to select their own
favourite tree. A living Christmas tree is
traditional in Icelandic homes.
Icelandic culture life is very Iively
during Advent. The Icelandic Symphony
orchestra, solo singers, chamber music
players and various choirs are giving Ad-
vent concerts. The first Sunday of Ad-
vent most of the churches get some poli-
tical or literary person to give the lead-
ing speech of the coming Christmas tide.
The churches are generally crowded
during Advent and through the big festi-
val.
Walking along the streets one can see
symbolic Advent lights in almost every
window, colourful light decorations in
the old centre of Reykjavík, but most of
the Christmas shoppers head for the big
shopping mall “Kringlan” which is
located in a new centre. Daily happen-
ings are inside during Advent.
Yes, Icelanders are beginning to
enjoy themselves under a glassy roof
and reflect themselves in electric light.
Here is crowded and often hectic Christ-
mas stress. To buy more. To sell more.
Many a man spends too much. A long
way from the one and only village shop
to this booming shopping mall. A cer-
tain desire for the peaceful Christmas of
childhood awakens in the Reykjavík
woman.
Here it is difficult to distinguish stone
bound trolls in mountain rifts and to see
Jólasveinar creep down the hills. All
these electric decorations shade the
Christmas star, the dancing northern
lights. The individual isn’t as highly
counted here as there.
In the middle of the hectic prepara-
tion for Christmas, Grýla, Leppaluði
and Jólasveinar are visiting play schools
and the younger classes. Performances
of a small theatre group are immensely
popular. Hopefully we take good care of
our children, so they won’t forget their
heritage.