Advent Begins

The first Sunday in advent was a busy time for us. First we were handing out ginger biscuits to kids and parents coming to see Father Christmas, courtesy of the Härnösand Lions.  Fortunately we got the first shift when the sun was shining on the Father Christmas tent and it was relatively warm.
Then we looked around the Xmas market, meeting lots of friends and being persuaded to buy many things in aid of various charities.
In the image we were outside looking at the lights that have just been switched on in the square and on the Christmas tree.  This picture is taken at 15:20 so you can see how early it gets dark!
Then it was on to watch Norrdans's premiere of Windows 2017. It is fantastic to see them dance in the rather limited space that is literally their shop window!
A cup of coffee at home with Rose, who had just baked delicious saffron buns and biscuits, and then off to the cathedral to welcome the first Sunday in Advent with hymns (mostly sung by their choir but we did get to sing three hymns) and readings and the lighting of the first candle. There are some really traditional Advent hymns and songs in Sweden which everyone knows (or half knows) and it is a lot of fun to hear them, or sing them at this year.
More chat after church, shopping, and home - whew!
The extra shows a member of the Swedish equivalent of the Territorial Army, ready for service in the winter. I thought it amusing that even his phone is white!