When Christmas celebrations focusing on children and family grew in popularity, romantic Christmas traditions came to the fore, particularly Christmas Eve customs. Going to church by horse and cart, bringing home and decorating the Christmas tree and close-up shots of oat sheaves with bull finches and titmice are recurring themes.

Christmas in the country is almost a whole genre in itself, with a prevalence of clichés from well-to-do farming communities: sleigh rides, Christmas parties and the romantic farming life. Food and drink are also well represented. The menus are something of a mixture, often showing a full spread of cakes, fruit, chocolate, meat dishes and desserts.

During the Prohibition (1917-26), Christmas gnomes were often used humoristically to convey a view of Norwegians’ alcohol habits.

Title: Christmas 2011 – Norway
Date of Issue: 11 November 2011
Country: Norway
Denominations:
A-domestic: Boy holding Christmas letter A-domestic: Girl holding Christmas present

Source: http://www.posten.no

In 1736 a degree in law from the university in Copenhagen was also made compulsory for all applicants for judicial office in Norway. In 1811, thanks to a successful campaign on the part of Count Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg, Norway was finally promised its own university.

King Fredrik VI withdrew his opposition. In 1813 Det Kongelige Fredriks Universitet opened its doors in Christiania, at that time a small provincial town in a country without a capital. Only a year later, Norway declared its independence and passed its own Constitution, but by the end of 1814, Norway had already lost some of that independence. The country was forced into a union with Sweden, but retained its own Constitution, Government and University.

The University played a key role in helping to secure political and cultural independence for Norway within the Union. It became the centre for national development. In addition to surveying and developing Norwegian culture, language and history, the University was involved in developing the infrastructure required by a modern society. The education, health and welfare, and administration authorities also found their expertise there. In 1939, the University changed its name to Universitetet i Oslo and was the only university in Norway until 1946.

Title: University of Oslo bicentenary
Date of Issue: 2 September 2011
Country: Norway
Denominations: Kr 9.00

Source: http://www.posten.no

The posthorn was no random choice of subject. The original hunting horn had become a symbol for postal services in many countries. In Europe it was introduced in the sixteenth century and in Norway in 1730. German-Norwegian architect Wilhelm von Hanno (1826-82) was commissioned to design the stamp for a fee of 15 speciedaler, about NOK 60. He was a man of many talents and was also known as the architect of the Oslo Military Society, Geographical Survey of Norway and Oslo Commercial Association buildings, Trinity Church and the Grønland Church, School and Fire Station complex. As a sculptor he created a number of beautiful burial monuments and as a drawing teacher he numbered Theodor Kittelsen among his pupils.

Since 1872 and the 3 skilling red, posthorn stamps have been issued in another two currency units. Øre stamps appeared in 1877 and krone stamps in 1991, and in 1997 øre stamps were issued with decimal figures. Paper suppliers, printers, printing methods and designers have changed many times over the years. The subject has also been adjusted, but it was not until 2001 that the stamps were given a real facelift, starting with the introduction of new posthorn stamps with krone denominations. Veteran designers Sverre Morken and Enzo Finger combined historic stamp design with modern, five-colour offset production and, using metallic gold on the crown and posthorn, silver under the wings and all the colours of the rainbow, created a stamp series that is both trendy and classic.

Title: Posthorn – Norway
Date of Issue: 15 November 2010
Country: Norway
Denominations: Kr 4,00, Kr 8,00, Kr 30,00

Source: www.posten.no

The technique of embroidering first appeared in medieval monasteries where the monks adorned their churches and
made priest’s robes. Gold embroidery was often used for resplendent bishop’s robes. In museums and cathedrals you
can see magnificent examples of church robes that make French haute couture look like working clothes!
During the Rococo period, flat embroidered decorative motifs could be seen on ladies’ evening dresses at the Palace
of Versailles. It was there the first flat flower motifs appeared on curtains, bed canopies and covers for chairs
and chaises longues.

In time, embroidered patterns also began to appear on folk costumes in Eastern Europe, on woollen blankets in England and on tablecloths and curtains in Scandinavia. The Oseberg Ship is Norway’s finest example of exquisite handicrafts from the Viking Age. One of the things found on it were remnants of silk embroidery. In Norway the art of embroidery reached its peak in the 18th century, probably as a result of education among young girls in the upper social classes. Embroidery on women and men’s clothes was fashionable then. A great deal of work also went into embroidering and edging bed linen and undergarments.

Title: Christmas 2010 – Norway
Date of Issue: 15 November 2010
Country: Norway
Denominations: A-Priority Domestic: Details from Grandma’s embroidered
Christmas tablecloth

Source: www.posten.no

The author takes us back to a Norway where having a phone installed was an adventure and where it was possible to load Grandma and eight children on to the back of a truck and drive up to the mountains. Since there are so many of them and they live so closely together, Maren,Martin, Marte, Mads, Mona, Milly, Mina and Morten are a little more inventive than most children – like the time when little Morten invites four pigs for coffee in the neighbouring farmhouse parlour!

The first of nine books about Lillebror and Knerten appeared in 1962. Knerten is possibly Anne-Cath. Vestly’s best-known character and many children have found a good friend in him. He is actually a tree root that looks like a little boy, but for Lillebror he is a boy. Knerten is Lillebror’s best friend, someone to confide in and share things with. Knerten is faithful and kind, but is very clear about what he wants. This leads to many an argument.

Anne-Cath. Vestly had made her debut in 1953 with Ole Aleksander Filibom-bom-bom, which was followed by books
about Aurora, about Guro, about Kaos, about Ellen Andrea and about Monrad. In these books she set the focus on current issues such as immigration, gender roles and solidarity and, in her positive story-telling way, also encouraged good attitudes in children. Norway’s stamps for this year’s Europa issue under the joint theme of Children’s books were illustrated by Anne-Cath. Vestly’s husband, Johan Vestly.

Title: Children’s books – Norway
Date of Issue: 15 November 2010
Country: Norway
Denominations:
A-Priority domestic: Grandma and the Eight Children
A-Priority Europe: Grandma and the Eight Children

Source: www.posten.no

After the grand opening it was back to the daily grind: insufficient technical equipment, short-staffing and thin budgets, but a lot of good television. The mainstay and in fact the most complicated production was Dagsrevyen, the evening news. It was broadcast live and varied between studio reports, telephone recordings, stills, video tapes and films, all sewn together by the news presenter behind a desk and the producer in the wings. Many things could go wrong and frequently did. “Sorry, technical error” became a familiar sight on the screen, but loyal viewers sat glued to their TV sets on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays when Dagsrevyen’s globe logo revolved on the screen to the sound of fanfare and drum beats.

A few years later we could watch Dagsrevyen every day, a film on Monday, entertainment on Wednesday, a detective series on Fridays, more entertainment on Saturday and eventually in 1972 (as the last country in Europe) we had colour TV. Before long it was possible to watch TV all day long. Then the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) lost its monopoly. Gradually at first, but the death blow fell in autumn 1992 when TV2 went on the air after winning a licence to operate a nation-wide advertisement-funded television channel. It is clear today that NRK has not been harmed by the competition, but is better and more professional than ever. Digital TV, on three channels!

Title: 50 Years of Television in Norway
Date of Issue: 20 August 2010
Country: Norway
Denominations: A innland

Source: www.posten.no

now located at the Folk Museum in Oslo. A general assembly was heldon 18 January 1810 to get the organisation started and to elect apresident and other members of governing bodies and a secretariat.King Frederik VI was approached with the request to call theorganisation Det Kongelige Selskab for Norges Vel (the RoyalNorwegian Society for Development). The King agreed and granted hispatronage to the Society – on one condition: that his name should beincluded among the members!In 1810, the Society led the way in promoting the establishment of a
Norwegian university in Christiania. During a long visit to Copen-
hagen, Count Wedel Jarlsberg, one of the Society’s prime movers, had
plenty of opportunity to talk to King Frederik and on 2 September
1811 the King gave his approval. Activities started up in 1813 under
the name of Det kgl. Frederiks Universitet. This name was kept until
it was changed to Universitet i Oslo (the University of Oslo) in 1939.

There was really little activity in the Society until the 1850s, when
new rules for government grants gave the Society a chance to invest
more in its agricultural companies. Agricultural meetings were held
at intervals of 2-3 years and these were the forerunner of the large
agricultural shows. The Society also helped to establish dairies,
dairy schools and a travelling agronomist scheme.

Today, the Society is best known for promoting business
development in rural communities and for awarding the Medal for
Long and True Service. It is also involved in development cooperation projects
financed by Norad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These include
algae farming in Madagascar, a demonstration farm and potato
cultivation in Macedonia, and business development in East Africa.

In 1810, the Society led the way in promoting the establishment of a
Norwegian university in Christiania. During a long visit to Copen-
hagen, Count Wedel Jarlsberg, one of the Society’s prime movers, had
plenty of opportunity to talk to King Frederik and on 2 September
1811 the King gave his approval. Activities started up in 1813 under
the name of Det kgl. Frederiks Universitet. This name was kept until
it was changed to Universitet i Oslo (the University of Oslo) in 1939.

There was really little activity in the Society until the 1850s, when
new rules for government grants gave the Society a chance to invest
more in its agricultural companies. Agricultural meetings were held
at intervals of 2-3 years and these were the forerunner of the large
agricultural shows. The Society also helped to establish dairies,
dairy schools and a travelling agronomist scheme.

Today, the Society is best known for promoting business development
in rural communities and for awarding the Medal for Long and True
Service. It is also involved in development cooperation projects
financed by Norad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These include
algae farming in Madagascar, a demonstration farm and potato
cultivation in Macedonia, and business development in East Africa.

It is a hundred years this year since the launching of Norway’s first submarine at Germaniawerft in Kiel.his submarine, which was christened “Kobben” and later renamed A-1,surpassed all expectations and in 1911 a decision was made to build another three submarines at the same shipyard. A fifth was also started, but it was confiscated by the German navy when the first world war broke out.The history of Norwegian submarines really began in 1808, when a
village genius and blacksmith, Mikkel Hallsteinson Lofthus from
Hardanger, designed the first known Norwegian underwater boat. He
submitted drawings to a society in Bergen that promoted useful
products, but the boat was never built. There was too little interest
and not enough money. However this was put right 101 years later.

“Kobben” was commissioned on 28 November 1909 after its launching
and completion of diving tests in the Great Belt. It arrived in
Horten two weeks later and after a few days it went into full service
with a crew of 12 men. “Kobben” remained in service until 1919. It
was broken up some years later, but its conning tower was preserved
and is mounted as a memorial at the Navy officers’ training school
in Horten.

After the first world war, the Storting granted funds for new
submarines, this time choosing the American Holland class which had
the same diving depth as the A class but carried a larger crew (23
men). Between 1923 and 1930 six Norwegian submarines were built by
the main Navy shipyard in cooperation with the Kaldnes and Thunes yards.

Norway took over three submarines from the British Navy during the
second world war and a further three after the war. The Germans also
left behind fifteen submarines. Four of these were repaired and
incorporated into the Norwegian Navy. They had a crew of 47 men and a
diving depth of 180 metres.

In line with the Navy’s Fleet Plan of 1960, the Storting approved
the building of fifteen new submarines during the period from 1964 to
1967. These were of a German type and called the Kobben class.
Further additions, also German in type, were made to the fleet
between 1989 and 1992. These Ula class submarines are often described
as the world’s most advanced coastal submarines, with an official
diving depth of 250 metres. They can in fact dive much deeper – down
to 500 metres it is claimed.

of this year’s  Europa stamps. The word astronomy comes from Greekand means the  science of celestial bodies. However astronomy is more than that.It  also combines other sciences and uses them to study everything that is to be found outside our own planet. Astronomy is thus the most comprehensive of all sciences.The Greek philosopher Aristoteles (384-322 BC) believed that the
Earth was the centre of the universe and that all the celestial
bodies circled round it. Aristoteles was highly respected and his
ideas were quickly accepted. Many hundreds of years were to pass
before anyone was able to challenge Aristoteles’ geocentric theory.
Towards the end of the Middle Ages more and more importance was being
attached to accurate scientific observation in astronomy. Nicolaus
Copernicus (1473-1543) was the first to understand the true order of
the planets in the solar system. The Earth was not the centre of the
universe but the third planet from the Sun.

Galileo Galilei’s observations in 1609 were the final breakthrough
for the theory that the Sun is the centre of the universe. Although
his book, Dialogue concerning the Two Chief World Systems,describes
how the planets orbit round the Sun, it was still not known why they
do so. Enter Isaac Newton (1642-1727), who developed laws of motion
and gravitation and established that gravity depends on the object’s
mass. An object with a greater mass will attract a smaller object.
The planets are therefore held in orbit round the Sun by the Sun’s
gravitation. Newton’s ideas were ground-breaking, but his theories
about gravity did not explain everything. More details fell into
place when Albert Einstein (1879-1955) established his theory of
relativity in 1905.

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