Christmas spirit all year round

Christmas spirit all year round

Yanne Bazin from France has managed the Christmas and souvenir shop Julehuset at Bryggen for eleven years now, and still finds the job rewarding. – It is very fun, and I get to speak to people from all over the world, she says.

Written by Vibeke Blich. Photos by Emilie Gundersen

The shop Julehuset is one of four Audhild Viken-shops situated at Bryggen in Bergen. This particular shop has three floors, whereas the top floor displays Christmas-decorations all year round. In the two bottom floors you find more typical Norwegian souvenirs.

– It’s a mix of souvenirs and a Christmas shop. From October to January we only have Christmas things in the shop. A lot of people come to us to buy their Christmas decoration every year, also the locals, Bazin says.

Yanne Bazin

Photo Emilie Gundersen

ALL YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS …

Christmas tree ornaments are popular items among the visiting customers – regardless of whether it’s June or December.

– Ornaments with motifs of Bergen are extremely easily sold. Also, many customers ask for Christmas ornaments with a particular year printed on it, Bazin says.

According to the manager, people often collect the Christmas tree ornaments, give them away as presents, or need new ones because an old one is broken. Many of the city’s locals have a tradition of visiting the shop every year to buy 24 small gifts for their children’s advent calendar, Bazin says.

This time of year, there’s mostly tourists who visit the shop. Many of them don’t seem to lack the Christmas spirit as little Santa’s, angels and reindeers change hands over the counter ever so often.

– We get new products every year. We have our own wooden production and also produce our own Christmas ornaments, Bazin explains.

TRADITION IS EVERYTHING

Julehuset opened in 1993. According to Bazin, little has changed since.

Julehuset is located at Bryggen, in Holmedalsgården 1.

– The interior has changed a little bit, but the stairs and floors are crooked. People who come in from cruise ships, still feel like they are at sea when they walk in here, she giggles.

Here, people from all over the world stop by. It tends to be crowded all day from May to August.

According to the manager, up to 20.000 people come to Julehuset in just one working day.

– During the summer we need a lot of employees at work. We are open from 9-23 as the cruise ship-passengers tend to shop late. Luckily, we receive a schedule of all the cruise ship arrivals so we can be prepared for anything! Bazin says. ▗