Christmas Spirit

Left to right at rear: vannkringler, hutzelbrot, kransekake, pjalt
Foreground: fylte kjeks, siruptynnkake, kokosmakroner, sjokoladehjerter, kanelstjerner, krumkaker, lebkuchen.

Some of the the things that put me in the mood for Christmas:

•  Snow obviously. Wading through drifts of it while walking the dog. The branches of the trees lined with snow, 
• Driving home from work in the dark past houses decorated with christmas lights.
• The christmas concert that Husband and I go to each year. 
• And most of all baking while listening to and singing Christmas Carols.

Oddly christmas shopping does nothing for me, in spite of the shopping centers best efforts with decorations and Christmas muzak. The atmosphere is too comercial, and christmas doesn't really come alive there. Though I love the fact that you can get stuff that is impossible to find at other times of the year.  It is more the planning and wrapping of christmas gifts that add to christmas Spirit.

I worked the evening shift this christmas: 3 to 10:30 pm. To my surprise the mood in the ER was festive and full of good cheer. The TV was playing christmas cartoons (Tom and Jerry) when we arrived and christmas music as the evening progressed. One of the nurses wore a Santa hat. Others had christmas pins on their uniforms. The hospital had provided a Christmas plate for our supper. There were gifts from our managers. We all had brought gifts to play secret santa. Many had written words of encouragement and appreciation on the card. There were not too many patients either, so that we had time to eat and exchange gifts in between working.  After the chaos of the last weeks there was a feeling of solidarity and fellowship, the feeling that we are doing our best for our patients in a trying situation.  

Aknowledgements: Husband baked the pjalt and krumkaker. The kransekake is courtesy of husband's aunt. The rest were made by yours truly...