Norway Christmas

Christmas stamps of Norway

This year's Christmas stamps of Norway feature attractive decorations, a double heart made of straw and a delicate, eight-point double star cut out of paper.

Christmas stars made of straw

Even in pre-Christian times, straw was regarded as holy and believed to bring luck. Sick animals were fed with straw and it was scattered over them to protect them from the forces of evil. The traditional Scandinavian straw goat may have been a forerunner of Christmas gifts, while Christmas stars made of straw served as a reminder of the star in Bethlehem.

Overload Christmas trees

Paper was also found to be suitable for making stars, small heart-shaped baskets, hanging angels, lanterns and so on. Colorful glazed paper has made it possible for children to overload Christmas trees with hopeful little baskets for sweets and endless paper chains, regardless of any adult preference for simple elegance.