The period of Advent is always very special on Iceland. Preparations for Christmas follow many traditions. In Brúarskóli at Dalbraut we have the tradition to bake ginger bread houses with all students and make a Christmas village. This year though we started as early as possible we made a small village; some students were practicing returning to their home school, some left the hospital after a short while. To decorate the tree we used advertising folders to fold box chains and made wreaths of paper. http://www.michelemademe.com/2011/06/series-6-box-chain-5-paper-wreath.html We were inspired by Michele. We added decorations of wood and felted wool.

In Iceland the 13 Yule lads are making the children very happy with little gifts in their shoes. We told about these creatures on Skype with London and Torino. Besides the Yule lads, the Christmas cat is lurking around somewhere and ready to eat naughty children, except for those in new clothes he thinks all of them very tasy.

Maybe some of our partners will visit next year. The website http://christmas.visitreykjavik.is/?lang=en will help those interested to prepare.

Of course Christmas is a christian tradition. To commemorate the birth of Jesus, we played a nativity play with all kids for parents and staff of the hospital, followed by a traditional icelandic christmas ball. We danced around the tree singing all well known christmas songs and had a visit of Stekkjastaur the first Yule lad to come on 12th of december. The treat he brought with him was warmly welcomed.

With the youngest students we saw also his brother Askasleikur at the National Musem of Iceland.