Árdís - 01.01.1951, Page 62

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ÁRDÍS
A Letter from Miss Lilja Guttormson,
Oslo, Norway.
Oslo, Norway,
Dear Friends: May 23rd, 1951.
It is about a year since I last wrote you, a year full of interesting
experiences, experiences that shine through the dullness and the
dampness which have characterized the climate here during the
past year. According to Norwegians, last summer was the wettest
in a hundred years and the winter brought more snow than people
remember. However, “It isn’t raining rain to me, it’s raining violets,”
and the snow gladened the heart of many a skier, whether amateur
or champion.
During the week of May 14th a year ago, Oslo celebrated its
900th anniversary. Frantic preparations took place all spring so
that by May 14th, the city was in holiday dress with newly paved
streets, flower-bedecked corner lots, centre squares, cliff sides and
light post baskets; novelty fountains, a ferris wheel with flowers
for passengers, in its revolving baskets. The new city hall
or “radhus”, which had been under construction for twenty years,
was receiving finishing touches up to the last moment, when,
minus a few details, it was ready for official opening. It stands as
a sentinel overlooking the beautiful Oslo harbor. Modern in its
rather severe architecture it is made interesting through symbolic
and legendary statues and relief work on the outside, as well as
by beautiful flower gardens. On the inside every room has historical
and symbolic paintings on walls and ceilings, rich tapestries, cur-
tains and furniture. Another building ready for opening on this
occasion was the “Domkirke”, Oslo’s cathedral, consecrated in 1697,
but which had just been redecorated. Artistically painted Bible
pictures, based upon the church’s belief in the Trinity, adorn the
domed ceiling in beautifully vivid and harmonizing colors. Other
i'edecoration was done which contrasts greatly with the ancient
pulpit and altar in old fashioned carving and painting, dating back
to the year 1699.
During the celebration week the city was bedecked with flags,
the national flag and foreign flags waving on embassy and legislative
buildings. Torches blazed on either side of the long avenue leading
up to the city hall and in front of the National Theatre.