Do you know that in Norway the day before Christmas Eve is a holiday? It’s called Lille Julaften – Little Christmas Eve. We, the lovely Bookfayries Siri & Selma, asked our dear Dina to explain this funny holiday and her response was simple, “It’s the day we celebrate the start of celebrations!” This sounded like a brilliant excuse to our Master and us for a BIG party. And so it was decided: big celebration tonight! We are almost ready now – we’ve cleaned the house, we brought in and decorated our fairy Christmas tree. In the kitchen the risgrøt , the rice porridge is simmering. Dina will serve it out with melted butter, cinnamon and sugar, but not before we had our traditional Christmas clean out in the sauna. The leftovers will be used for riskrem, the traditional dessert on Juleaften, but then mixed with whipped cream and refined with lots and lots of goodies. Of course we will save a serving for julenissen! 🙂 When we have finished our risgrøt, we will put a plate outside for him.
And now it’s time to clean ourselves in the sauna. Well, that`s old style we would say because the vast majority hunker down in front of their TVs to watch Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK)’s annual Kvelden før kvelden , (The evening before the evening), an annual Christmas program with song and dance, cooking tips and celebrity appearances.
Speaking of Norwegian traditions, guess what? The famous Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square has been an annual gift to the people of London by the city of Oslo as a token of gratitude for British support of Norway during WW II each year since 1947. We think this is a wonderful way to celebrate a friendship!
Lille Julaften, der Kleine Weihnachtsabend ist ein skandinavischer Weihnachtsbrauch, der ein Tag vor Heilig Abend in Norwegen, Island, auf den Färöern und seit dem 18. Jahrhundert auch in Schweden gefeiert wird. Am Torlaksmesstag (Tollesmessdagen – zu Ehren des isländischen Bischofs Thorlákr Thorhallsson [1133—1193], der am Lille Julafton starb) säubert man sein Haus und bezieht sein Bett frisch. Man geht in die Sauna oder badet zumindest und legt sich feine Kleidung für das große Weihnachtsfest bereit. Es ist in Skandinavien üblich, bis spät in die Nacht alles vorzubereiten – mit der entsprechenden Dosis Alkohol 😉 Der Torlaksmesstag wird auch heute noch dazu genutzt, das Haus bzw. die Wohnung gründlich zu reinigen. Damit sollen böse Geister vertrieben werden, und wer hierbei schlampt, den holen die Åsgårsreia.
Emsig werden die letzten Weihnachtsvorbereitungen getroffen, wie z. B. das Backen von Weihnachtsgebäck und das Herrichten des Weihnachtsessens, das festliche Schmücken der Wohnung und des Weihnachtsbaumes. Auf Island ist es heute noch üblich, wie teilweise auf den Färöern und in Norwegen, an diesem Tag ein spezielles Fischgericht zu essen als Brechen des Fastens vor Weihnachten.
God jul og godt nytt år!
Wir wünschen alle ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr.
Merry Christmas everybody! We take a holiday from blogging now. A big thank you to each and every one for your kind support and much appreciated visits and comments.
Love, hugs, klem
Dina, Klausbernd, Sir & Selma
merry christmas form austria!
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Merry Christmas and happy New Year
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Ohhh, was für ein Foto.
Wundervolle Weihnachten und eine guten Start in das Jahr 2014.
Herzliche Grüße von Mathilda ♥ ♥
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Dadurch, dass es eine schwarzweiß Fotographie ist (oder zu einer umgewandelt wurde), sieht das Foto so schön antik aus.
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Danke! Auch Euch wunderbare Weihnachten und erholsame Feiertage! Kommt gesund und glücklich ins Neue Jahr!
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Liebe fabulous four,
ich wünsche euch ein besinnliches Weihnachtsfest und ein gesundes, gelingendes neues Jahr. Desweiteren einen guten Start eures gemeinsamen Blogs im neuen Jahr, dem ich genau so gierig an den Lippen hängen werde wie den beiden im heurigen Jahr. Celebrate the Celebrations, ein gelungener Schachzug, den man beherzigen solte, wenn man einen feierlichen circulus vitiosus einleiten will 🙂 Und by the way: Ich saß einmal, als 17jähriger Pennäler in einer schwedischen Sauna bei Östersund, und ich muss gestehen, es ist mir nicht bekommen. Beim ersten Aufguss flüchtete ich stande pete und warf mich in den See, der zu meiner Rettung direkt vor der Saunatür lag. Gehabt euch alle wohl, wir lesen uns.
Liebe Grüße aus Freiburg
Achim
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Stante pede muss es heißen, Potzdonner, ich habe sie jetzt endgültig nicht mehr alle bei mir …………. Zerknirscht von dannen zieht 🙂
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And then, of course, there is Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) in Germany when the children receive their gifts from the Christkindel. Even though I raised my daugher in the US, she always negotiated opening half of her gifts on Christmas Eve to pay homage to her German ancestry! Thanks for sharing this Norwegian custom. Merry Christmas to the four of you, I have really enjoyed reading your blog(s) this year.
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Frohe Weihnachten, Ihr Lieben!
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Frohe Weihnachten☆
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Ich wünsche ebenfalls schöne Feiertage und alles Gute fürs Neue.
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Merry Lille Julaften and Merry Christmas from America. You have given me a new holiday, Little Christmas Eve. What a great gift. Thank you.
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Ich wünsche euch besinnliche Weihnachtstage und kommt gut ins neue Jahr!
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Reblogged this on dunjav.
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A very Merry Christmas to you too!!!! 🙂
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A very merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for the beauty in words and pictures this year.
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Merry Christmas from Italy 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you and yours Dina 🙂 And I’m sure the christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is much appreciated by all!
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I grew up in Denmark with the Lille Juleaften tradition as well. In my family it was the evening where we would decorate the Christmas Tree. All the relatives had arrived, and we had our pre-Christmas Eve dinner of Hamburgryg (a type of ham) with “Grønlangkål” (cream of kale) and sugar browned potatoes! During the day of Lille Juleaften we would prepare for the big Christmas dinner, make our Marzipan figures and other sweets, and finish making the last Christmas decorations for the tree as well as the house. My Mom wanted everything to be as fresh as possible for Christmas Eve, so it was a busy, but super-fun and exciting day for us kids. We would sit around the kitchen table and listen to our aunts and uncles tell stories from years past, as well as fairy tales about “Nisser” (Christmas Trolls) while we were busy working and sneaking a few bites of candy.
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Merry Christmas – Glædelig Jul to everyone!
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It sounds as if we miss out on a lot over here! No sauna, no nice rice pudding, or other Scandinavian treats. Our tree is long decorated, and we have just returned from Tesco, in lashing rain and winds. That’s more usual for us, I’m afraid. Presents will be opened on Christmas morning, never before, but I might have some wine later, with the excuse that it is a holiday in Norway.
Merry Christmas, and love and best wishes to you both, Dina and KB, Pete, Julie and Ollie (poorly tail). X
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Happy Christmas to good friends in far away…beautiful places.
Raye in Portland Oregon USA
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Merry Christmas. I just saw the tree in Trafalgar Square last week.
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Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesundes Neus Jahr 2014
Wolfgang
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Adore the image–I wish you happy and peaceful days ahead.
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Also from Holland all the best!!! Enjoy the following days!! 🙂
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Wish you and family, Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year… from India.
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Euch ein wunderschönes Weihnachten mit den besten Wünschen für das Jahr 2014 ♥
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Kein Schnee in Norddeutschland, um so schöner Euer Bild! Auch ich wünsche Euch wundervolle Weihnachten!
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Merry Christmas to some of my favorite people♥
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I love it!! 🙂
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Ich wünsche euch allen ein frohes und besinnliches Weihnachtsfest und entspannte, schöne Feiertage!
LG Michèle
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What a lovely photograph Dina. And thank you for sharing your Norwegian traditions with us. I wish you, Klausbernd, Siri & Selma a very peaceful and joyful holiday and I look forward to sharing your travels and photos and interesting observations of life and the universe in 2014 😀
Jude xx
(So which Bookfayrie sits at the top of the tree then?)
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Frohe Weihnachten und ein Gutes, Gesundes, Erfolgreiches Neues Jahr! Hope I’ve spelt all that correctly 🙂
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Morgen bei Phoenix, ich habe es mir auf Aufnahme gelegt: http://www.phoenix.de/content/phoenix/die_sendungen/stille_nacht_im_land_der_fjorde_/780142?datum=2013-12-24
Auf Youtube habe ich es noch nicht gefunden.
Ansonsten: Schöne und geruhsame Weihnachten euch beiden.
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Wer immer es aufgenommen hat, kann es gleich wieder löschen. Man erfährt nicht viel über Weihnachten in Norwegen, ich bin nur in der Ansicht bestärkt worden, dass es sich bei Kreuzfahrten um den Vorhof der Hölle handeln muss.
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Ich wünsche euch allen 4ren auch ein wunderschönes WEihnachtsfest 🙂
Den brauch kannte ich… fand ich auch irgendwie süß 🙂
LG und feiert schön
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Have a great celebration and a bit of time off, but what is Klem? MM 🎄
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wünsche euch ein frohes besinnliches Fest und für das neue Jahr alles Gute, viel Glück und vor allem Gesundheit !
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From our house to yours – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – may all you wish for be yours.
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Hallo Dina,
ich wünschte wir hätten Schnee wie auf dem Foto, aber leider ist es zur Zeit ja mehr Frühling.
Ich wünsche euch ein schönes und entspanntes Weihnachtsfest.
LG Angela 🙂
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Merry CHRISTmas from Georgia, USA!!!!
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Happy holidays to you, Dina 🙂 What a nice tradition. Sometimes it feels like waiting and waiting… so, yes, let’s get the party started!
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Frohe Weihnachten und einen Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr sendet euch ihr lieben Vier verbunden mit lieben Grüßen Susanne
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How sensible to make the Eve of Christmas Eve an official holiday. Have lots of fun – that rice porridge sounds such a great way to start the holidays! Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
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And a very happy and peaceful Christmas to all four of you, enjoy the celebrations and your short holiday from blogging. With many good wishes from B. 😉
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Merry Christmas from Texas!
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Your plans sound wonderful–full of tradition! Best of all things, from the state of New York!
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Ich wünsche euch ein schönes und frohes Weihnachtsfest. Lasst es euch gut gehen und genießt die Feiertage.
God Jul
Stefan
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What a lovely photo and so interesting about the Norwegian customs. I hope to get to Trafalgar Square to see the tree this year – Seasons greetings
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Merry Christmas from Vancouver Island, Canada.
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Lovely photo and a lovely story. How sweet to keep traditions going! Nothing but the best wishes for the fabulous four! Hugs, klem and knufs from Johanna.
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What a wonderful idea, I think everybody should celebrate a “Little Christmas”!
Merry Christmas to you, too!
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Our best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday!! Clearly, Lille Julaften is by far preferable to the American equivalent: “The day we celebrate the start of celebrations” = Halloween! All the best to you both, and of course, the Bookfayries as well 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you and yours! I love learning about new traditions from around the world. and I learned a lot from this post so thank you very much!
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Enjoy the holiday and best wishes to all for a happy and healthy 2014!
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Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year ahead. Thank you for sharing those amazing photos
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Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and I am also wishing I could sample some of your rice porridge 🙂
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I hope you all share a most memorable Christmas and may 2014 be a good year for you.
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Ihr Lieben!
Die Wünsche nehme ich gerne an und gebe sie ebenso gerne an Euch zurück.
LG juergen
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All the best wishes for you and yours from here, Glædelig Jul… 🙂
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Thank you for sharing your traditions with us, Dina. I love the card! Merry Christmas to the whole bunch!
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Dina, for my final post of the year I have left a present under your Christmas tree and it is scheduled to arrive Christmas Day. Merry Christmas and thanks for your support, MM 🎄
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Happy holidays and a very happy and healthy new year! 😀
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Merry Christmas 🙂
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Lieb Dina, Klausbernd, Siri und Selma. Ich wünsche euch ein schönes Weihnachtsfest und eine gute Nacht im frisch bezogenen Bett. Herzliche Grüße aus Berlin wo die Vorbereitungen auf Hochtouren laufen, das Bäumchen ist eingestielt, die Hunde scharwenzel aufgeregt herum und jetzt warten wir auf das Christkind …
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What a wonderfully peaceful photo. (Perfect sauna weather!) Delightful little Christmas Eve tradition — warm wishes to you and Klaus, Siri and Selma.
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Great post. I didn’t know that. Merry Christmas Dina to you and your family.
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Dina, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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A very happy Christmas to you Dina, and all the best for 2014… RH
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Merry Christmas, sounds like you have some lovely traditions 🙂
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So nice! I have learned two new things: I love the idea of celebrating the beginning of a celebration 😉 and I love that Norway has been giving England a Christmas tree ever since the end of WWII, very nice.
Also, Dina’s image is outstanding! I totally love it, its mood and subdued color palette. Just great.
Merry Christmas, dear friends: enjoy and be merry! 🙂
Stefano
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A merry Christmas to you too!
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Hope you had a wonderful lille julaften and joyful holidays! ❤️ Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Sofia
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Carissimi,
Ich habe mich auf eure Weihnachtsbotschaft gefreut und das Lesen derselben bis zu diesem Moment zurückgestellt, wo ich ganz alleine am Küchenfenster sitze,
den Regentropfen zuhöre und mit Freuden über das Zelebrieren dieses Festes im Norden lesen darf. Ich denke sehr, dass ich mich damit anfreunden könnte. Ich hoffe nur Klausbernd übertreibt es nicht mit dem Alkohol, da er doch mehr auf Kamillentee trainiert ist, wenn ich mich recht erinnere. Auf jeden Fall, habt’s einfach weiterhin schön miteinander. Con affetto Martina
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! Thank you for sharing so many thoughts, musings and lovely photos with all of us this year!
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many happy returns! hope to see all of you next year
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Happy Holidays !
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gaaaaaaaaaaaanz spät dran, aber ncoh nciht zu spät……!
Noch wunderschöne besinnliche weihnachtliche Stunden mit ganz lieben Gedanken an Euch sendet Euch Laura
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happy holidays from BOSTON
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Schaue jetzt erst wieder rein, nach den Feiertagen. Ich hoffe, ihr hattet ein wundervolles Weihnachtsfest!!!!
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Merry Christmas and Happy new year to you dear Dina
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What a wonderful way to start the Xmas celebration! I love it! I didn’t know about the Xmas tree in London! I always learn something new from you, guys!
Enjoy your holiday season!
Love,
Francesca Xx
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I came back twice just to read all of the comments and look once more at the welcoming photography. It is time to bid a fond farewell to our amazing year 2013! I am taking this quote with me into the New Year. I am celebrating that we are connected. Hugs across the waters….
“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been”
Rainer Maria Rilke
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Nydelige og stemningsfulle bilder, Dina!
Fremdeles god jul, – og et flott nytt år til dere!
I wish you a Happy New Year! All the best for 2014!
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Happy New Year to you & yours! Wishing you a wonderful 2014!
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I love seeing our Christmas tree from Norway. This year I went to a Norwegian concert in St Martin in the Fields church next to the tree in Trafalgar Square. It was packed out and a wonderful hour of music. Happy Christmas and New Year to you all!
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Happy New Year for all of you!
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Happy New Year to you and your family!
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Beautiful photo and story! Merry belated Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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I’m awarding you The Blog of the Year Award! No obligation to accept, I understand if you don’t. For details, you can view my post http://wp.me/p41c99-qj Happy New Year! Peace, Sage
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This is an interesting fact of Christmas day called Little Christmas. One fact I have learned today. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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Das Allerbeste fürs neue Jahr!
Von Herzen
Marion
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Happy Holidays to you! In Czech Republic, Christmas Eve is also a holiday. Just like Christmas, and Boxing Day. (Although some people jokingly refer to it as hangover day, I wonder why 😀 ). In France, only the 25th is a holiday.
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I really hope that you have had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings you and yours joy, happiness and good health. Best regards , James
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Godt Nyttår, Dina & Co!
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Thanks for the fun post Dina et al – so very festive I could almost feel the warmth of the fire inside. Best wishes for a wonderful and creative New Year to you all!
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Happy New Year. Best wishes to you… 🙂
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
NOWWW–this is WINTER! 🙂
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One quedtion—are suanas shared affairs–CO-ED or by family group…or unigender at each using? In college her in America, we had a Men’s nibghgt and a separate Women’s night.
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Of course, we all, women, men and children, enjoy the sauna together.
I visit saunas for more than 50 years now and I never experienced it in another way – except in prudish England.
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Thank you for your answering! 🙂
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You are welcome
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This is an interesting fact about another country where you have a special day before Christmas. I like the fact that you guys have saunas at your house. I have to go my gym to go to the sauna but I love it and it’s a nice time for me to bond with my mom. I like your blog. And was wondering if you could support in following mine. I’m a college student and started a social media class and am looking for followers for my blog. So if you would follow me I would greatly appreciate it. Either way thank you for your inspirational writings and your interesting blog. -bel
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Dear Bel,
yes, we have a sauna in our garden and love it very much. We go once a week for many years – sometime even more often.
We wish you good luck with your blog!
Have a happy week
The Fab Four of Cley
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Thank you very much Klausbernd, and have a nice week! 🙂
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You are very welcome
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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