From a Norway completely covered in newfallen snow, and with mostly favurable weather conditions, we send our best wishes to our readers around the world on this Christmas Day morning.

However, Christmas Eve is the most important day of Christmas in Norway. Most families decorated the tree late the night before or early in the morning on Christmas Eve.

Churches, large and small were packed with people for the Family Service at 16:00, and even if you don't go to church the rest of the year, you get there for this service, or the one on Christmas Morning. (Photo: Vågå Kirke ) According to statistics, 1.3 million Norwegians (pop. 4.8 mill) will have attend Church on Christmas Eve.

Then it's home for the last touches to the Christmas dinner. Depending on where you come from, or your family traditions, it might be fresh cod, cured cod, pork roast or lamb. The latter is salted, dried and then steamed.

Traditions vary, but if there are small children in the house, after dinner it would then be time for the distribution of gifts, either from a pile of packages from under the tree, or from a jolly 'Julenisse', the Norwegian version of Santa Claus.

Not all of us serve the usual '7 kinds' of Christmas cookies any more, but you'd be surprised at how many manage that and more!

In many families, the singing of traditional Christmas songs and hymns is still a must, walking around the Christmas tree, holding hands and trying to remember all the 10 verses of the hymns one learned as a child.

Here follows the English translation of the most Norwegian Christmas Carol of them all:

'Jeg er saa glad hver Julekveld' - "I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve"

1.I am so glad each Christmas Eve, the night of Jesus' birth! Then like the sun the star shone forth, and angels sang on earth.

2.The little child in Bethlehem, He was a King indeed! For he came down from heav'n above to help a world in need.

3.He dwells again in heaven's realm, The Son of God today; And still he loves his little ones and hears them when they pray.

4.I am so glad each Christmas Eve! His praises then I sing; He opens now for ev'ry child the palace of the king.

5.When mother trims the Christmas tree which fills the room with light, She tells me of the wondrous star that made the dark world bright.

6.And so I love each Christmas Eve, and I love Jesus too; And that he loves me ev'ry day I know so well is true.

Text: Marie Wexelsen (1832-1911) Tr. : Peter A Sveeggen (1881-1959)

Rolleiv Solholm