Exactly three years ago I wrote from Iceland here about Christmas. My nephew is now 8, and Bjøssi, his cat, is still very much alive.
According to folklore the Yuletide Cat eats children that don't receive new clothes in time for Christmas. Hence, the Icelanders will get new clothes and various fabulous accessories for Christmas, making i.e. my brother-in-law look casual, yet very funky.
Another tradition is the Christmas Boot, which has to be placed in the window. Nice children get gifts, not so nice children get potatoes.
Though far off everything, on an island in the Atlantic Ocean, just counted Christmas decorations on the tree from Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Icelanders love light. Especially the electrical, colourful and kitschy stuff, which you can decorate your house with. No wonder, the sun is a distant memory at this time of year, and in northern Iceland we only have day light from around 10:30 to 15:30 where dusk sets in. Intersteringly, there is a huge section in the local supermarket where you can buy all sorts of light bulbs.
Another important element is the Christmas card. Here on display in my sister's kitchen window, facing the mountain, which was covered in snow during Christmas.
Now, the snow has melted, leaving a landscape in all nuances from blue to gray. Here with at view of Skagafjörður facing Drangey, reminding us that from now on the days are getting longer.
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