18 December 2025
We are approaching Christmas Eve, and several museums have had Christmas workshops and similar events during Advent.
Every year, Sortland Museum and Øksnes Museum invite school starters in kindergartens and 1st graders to a cozy and educational pre-Christmas program.
Many excited children visited to learn about how they celebrated Christmas in the old days. This year there has actually been a record number of visitors – almost 250 children from both Øksnes and Sortland have visited one of the museums!
Why do we make so many cakes for Christmas, and how did they make it before? Why do we walk around a juniper bush and not a spruce? What did you get for Christmas in the old days? And what little barn helper likes to be served porridge on Christmas Eve?
The children were shown old-fashioned tools used in Christmas celebrations, and shared their own Christmas traditions.
In the past, you could also expected new clothes for Christmas. Thus, the children learned about the entire process from the wool is on the sheep until it becomes a sweater, and tested out some of the tools that are used. There may not be as many people who make their own clothes anymore – at least not from scratch.
Then the children made their own Christmas decorations based on old traditions, namely the classic Christmas link, and simple baskets to hang on the tree. Maybe they also got some glimpses of the enigmatic and shy barn gnome?
Now Ingeborg and Julien from the museums have welcomed the last group for this year, and would like to say thank you for visiting, and wish everyone a cozy and peaceful Christmas time!
