On Friday, it is time to open the first slot in this year’s Christmas calendar, and count down to Christmas Eve. But in recent years, calendars aimed at children have received competition from expensive gift calendars with cosmetics, perfume or erotic toys, which have adults as their target group. This is a trend flower decorator and TV personality Finn Schjøll has little to spare, and often little financially. – We cannot tell the children that now everything has become so expensive, we cannot afford it. And then mum stands and squeezes expensive things out of small tubes when she could buy a proper tube for half the price. I don’t think one should have a bad conscience. Schjøll made the criticism for the first time in news’s Nyhetsmorgen last week. On Monday, he met artist and Christmas enthusiast Jenny Jenssen for a debate in Dagsnytt 18. She says she will start decorating on November 1, and has already done a number of Christmas concerts. – I have always had a Christmas calendar, even after I grew up. A calendar can be so many things. It can be a Flax ticket or a small message on a note. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive things. Jenny Jensen is looking forward to Christmas. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news But if someone wants a gift calendar for adults, and knows they can afford it, she thinks people should treat themselves to it. – No one should have a bad conscience for acquiring it. But one must of course put corrosion after nourishment. Have to learn to wait The many expensive calendars for adults take the focus away from what is the point of the Christmas calendar, says Schjøll. – When the children get a calendar, it has a purpose. They learn to wait, and open one hatch at a time while they count down to Christmas Eve and the big one. A mature person gets by just fine without an expensive gift every day. Finn Schjøll fears that some of the charm and meaning of Christmas calendars will disappear with the calendars aimed at adults. Photo: Emma-Marie B. Whittaker / news Children don’t need expensive gifts in the calendar either, says Schjøll. – Feel free to let the children have a small chocolate or piece of plastic, but it is the learning that is important. If there are too many and too expensive things in the packages, what will there be for Christmas Eve? But it’s not just children who need to feel the excitement and joy before Christmas, says Jenssen. – I think it is important that everyone can be a bit of a child again in December. Ever since I became a mother 17 years ago, I have been able to experience the Christmases I had in my childhood. And I love it!
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Finn Schjøll thinks we should stay away from Christmas calendars for adults – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
