On the picture H. E. Ambassador Per Holmström.
Text and pictures by Henry Arvidsson.
As darkness fell over Lange Voorhout and the temperature dropped it was the perfect time to brighten it all up. One Hague tradition is that there will be a Swedish Christmas tree outside the Escher museum and as another tradition has it that it will be lit on the Lucia day. And so it was this year again. However this year a small village of food offerings, glühwein and a mobile ski slope also surrounded the tree.
The Salvation Army band started the evening off with Christmas music, followed by a choir from Lund in Sweden who had no problems staying tuned in the brisk breeze. The audience stayed warm in a trilingual (English, Dutch and Swedish) sing-along. A few short remarks by the representatives from the Buurtschap 2005 and the deputy major who pointed out that this was also the day when the Nobel Prizes are handed out in Stockholm and Oslo.
Followed by the recently arrived Swedish Ambassador Per Holmström who remarked on the significance of the City of Peace and Justice. Then the moment all assembled had come for, the Lighting of the Christmas tree. With the help of the youngest in the audience the tree was plugged-in followed by a cheer. It will stay lit beyond the new-year. The outdoor portion of the evening was rounded off with traditional Swedish Lucia songs sung by the now white dressed choir.
For invite guests Ambassador Holmström opened the doors to his residence on Lange Voorhout and an aperitif of Glögg, pepparkaor och lussekattor (feel free to Google). A buffet of traditional Christmas dishes including “Janssons frestelse” prepared guests for an encore performance of Lucia songs and as the voices rang out and their candles darkened it was time for the rest of us to get out in the cold but now warm at heart.
