Ordered a horse to light up Harstad for Christmas – got the kangaroo Ken-Guru – news Troms and Finnmark

– I wonder if we look at horses in different ways in the different parts of the world. That’s what the general manager of Harstad centrum AS, Linn Karoliussen Hvattum, says. They had made a slightly unconventional choice when decorating for Advent. Instead of Santa or reindeer, they decided to buy a horse that would light up the streets of Harstad. But when Hvattum was about to open the package, she got a surprise. – We have ordered a horse, we have paid for a horse and we received a package marked with a horse – but that was not what was inside, she says. – So we got a kangaroo. The kangaroo is clearly visible in the cityscape and lights up the streets of Harstad. Photo: Børge Hoseth / NRKK The kangaroo is clearly visible in the cityscape and lights up the streets of Harstad. Photo: Børge Hoseth / news The case was first mentioned by iHarstad. Name competition The Christmas horses, or kangaroo, rise two meters above the ground and are clearly visible in the cityscape. – It’s great, and it literally lights up the city centre, says Hvattum. What do you think of Christmas characters in the cityscape? I think it looks nice! I think it’s a joke! Couldn’t care less.. Show result Now the kangaroo has been in town for a while and has become a talking point and popular photo object among the residents. Several have also advocated that it should be given a name. – It was nothing planned on our part, but it was called for because he was talked about so much. People thought he had to have a name, and we listened, says Hvattum. A naming competition was thus launched, where residents submitted their proposals and a jury selected the best. Then there was a vote. The choice fell on: Ken-Guru. Nice supplement According to Hvattum, Ken-Guru is a long-awaited bright spot, since the snow has not settled in the city yet. – If we want it to be brighter, we depend on the weather and climate. This year we haven’t had any snow yet, so it seems like it’s even darker, she says. – Light figures are nothing new, but it is new for us in Harstad. The fact that they were sent the wrong animal doesn’t seem to have dampened the pre-Christmas mood. – We thought that once he had arrived, he would be a nice supplement in the Arctic North, says Hvattum. – At least he has done the job as a brand builder for Harstad. Ken-Guru has spread far beyond the city’s borders. Linn Hvattum didn’t get what she ordered, but still thinks the kangaroo is a nice addition to the town. Photo: Børge Hoseth / NRKLinn Hvattum didn’t get what she ordered, but still thinks the kangaroo is a nice addition to the town. Photo: Børge Hoseth / news



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