It was nothing as large as German Christmas Markets, but the Vinterland Festival had a charm all its own. It was cozy, festive, and much more interactive then some Christmas Markets.
There was shopping (of course). And there was food.
We enjoyed Mooseburgers from one of the stands. It was dressed with lingonberry sauce and was all the more succulent because we ate it sitting around a fire with other festival-goers.
There was ice skating. (I had things to do the next day ((dog sledding!)), so I didn’t want to risk breaking a leg.)
And, there was a little girl turning away from Santa. Brought back many memories of my own daughter’s hysteria over Santa. We had to shield her from any chance of glimpsing Santa. Not always easy. 😦 It was sweet to see it happening to someone else. The same Christmas stories that take place all over the world.
Merry Christmas from Norway!
Browsing The Atlas 
Happy Christmas Juliann and thank you for your very entertaining travelblogs during 2016.
Thanks, Royl It’s certainly my pleasure. 🙂
This reminds me a lot of the Christmas holiday spirit/atmosphere in London when I was studying there. It seems to me that the general Christmas spirit in Europe feels really festive without as much kitsch, but that could just be me. Wishing you all the best for the new year ahead!
I know what you mean. It is festive and Christmas-y in a different way than here in America.
Looks like Norway is a fun way to enjoy the Holidays, Juliann. Fear of Santa would be a tough one at Christmas, however. Must be a lot like fear of clowns when going to a circus!
Here’s wishing you a very Happy New Year. –Curt
Thanks, Curt, and Happy New Year to you and Peggy, too! You can’t imagine how many Santa Clauses you run across until your have to dodge them before your child has a meltdown. Good times.. 🙂
That would be tough! 🙂
Actually, I was never very sure of people dressed as Santa either. (Perhaps I sensed they weren’t the real Santa.) 🙂
Oddly, I can never remember actually believing in Santa. The fire trucks used to come down our street on Christmas Eve with Santa aboard handing out candy canes. I knew even then that that wasn’t him, because we’d always spot his sleigh and Rudolph’s nose in the sky. 😉
Yep, those guys were only helper Santas, not the real Santa. 🙂