Week 51 - 2019
Photo: Lotte Jacobi, Angela, 1920. Belongs to the Preus Museum Collection
Du grønne glitrende tre, god dag
This is how the beautiful Christmas song starts with a favorite element for a lot of Norwegieans at Christmas. The custom of decorating Christmas trees is known from German territory towards the end of the 16th century and at that time the trees were decorated with apples and sweets that the children could have on the thirteenth day of Christmas. In fact, it is also said that Johan Wolfgang von Goethe's novel The Young Werther's Disorders (1774) should have played a role in spreading the popularity of the Christmas tree. The book describes the decorations and treats of the tree and how it will bring paradise delight to the little ones. The first Norwegian Christmas tree was mentioned in the 1820s, but the custom was seemed not established for "everyone" until the 1870/80s. In 2019, the tree comes in many varieties; some want spruce, some pine, while others swear by the sprinkle-free varieties of spruce and everlasting plastic.
Perhaps the German Christmas song O Tannenbaum has also played a role in spreading the fragrant tradition? A beautiful little Christmas song that for many in Norway is known as the tune of: A bus driver. But that's another story. In this delicate and adorable photo taken by German-American photographer Lotte Jacobi (1896-1990), we can see a little girl standing next to the bottom of a Christmas tree; The place where the packages usually lie. The girl looks concentrated and maybe it is the Christmas card of the year that will be perpetuated? The Christmas tree is not the main focus here, but forms a backdrop along with the table, the toy horse with the cart and the strange and diffuse portrait in the background. Still, it's important and we notice it. Maybe because the finished Christmas tree is too many the very symbol of that now; now the Christmas and Santa Claus begins!
Du grønne glitrende tre, god dag. Velkommen du som vi ser så gjerne!