Friday, December 04, 2009
THE NISSE FAMILY'S LULLABYE
The Norwegian Youlenisse usually lives in the barn. One can easily imagine a whole nisse family living thee, like in this Advent series from the NRK. I prefer watching Youle on the Moon peak to any late night crime series. The nisse family are singing a goodnight song.
It's not that many years ago people in Norway actually believed in both nisses and trolls.Superstition lived side by side with Christianity. Few farmers dared to celebrate Christmas without leaving a huge pot of porridge for nisse daddy. At least till about 150 years ago that was the tradition on farms, maybe even longer. Now our Youle nisse has been mixed with St. Claus till something nobody can relate seriously too. maybe that is a loss, especially to those, to whom Christmas only is gifts and food.
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4 comments:
This is so sweet Elise. I googled nisse to learn more and was charmed. Please be sure to put out a bowl of porridge for me and the daddy nisse that Annie from America says hello.
oh this is so sweet felisol.
the language itself is as musical as the people's singing.
that is such a sweet little piggy!
how can anybody ever think of killing one and baking it with an apple in its mouth felisol.?
whenever grampa yade has a pig roast, i can hardly stand the sadness of it...and they are just baby pigs too felisol!
have a great weekend. i want to answer your long email letter but i will have to do that tomorrow..
i am glad that serina is feeling well after those exams!....love terry
Dear Terry,
Your empathic, great heart is beating for every living creature on God's earth.
I think you were cut out to be a vegetarian.
I grew up with tight bonds to a loving grandfather who was your spiritual mate.
During ww2, when Norway was occupied, there was shortage of all kinds of food. The Germans would force the farmers to deliver food for export for a low price and the Norwegians got food coupons to buy the most nessessary. It was then the expression villa pig was invented.
People set up a shed, bought a couple of piglets and fed them for Christams slaughter.
My granddad at that time had his own bus company and a taxi, so he got much around. He collected food for his piglets, he talked with them, cuddled them and soon they came running when they heard his voice. "Where are my little piglets today,?" he'd yell out.
They oinked with joy and would jump up and rub against him, even as they grew fatter and longer each day.
My grandmom was not happy. She had to was his smelly clothes, he never bothered to change before visiting his friends in the pig shed.
Inevitably came the day the pigs had to let down their lives for the purpose they were born and raised. Food for four adult sons and even their families.
My grandfather was destroyed with sorrow. He wouldn't even taste potatoes and gravy when his friends were served for dinner. He ate cheap food at the diner.
I bet you'd done the same, Terry dear.
From Felisol
Dear Felisol, this is such a magical tradition and i remember you displaying all your collected nisse. These folks are so charming...right out of fairyland.
The little piglet in the video is so cute I want one for a pet. But I India pigs are not liked, and no one will come to my house if I reared one.So sad
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