– It is important that the children do not feel left out
– We already celebrate so much else, so why not Christmas too? Aysa Kaya is a Muslim and loves Christmas.
A stone’s throw away from Tasta Idrettspark, in a new and modern terraced house, it is a Christmas-themed Aysa Kaya who opens the doors to her decorated home.
– Get on, or welcome in, they say, she smiles.
The 30-year-old is married and the mother of two, a four-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl. The small family moved from Denmark to Norway back in 2012, and has since established themselves at Tasta in Stavanger.
She is a trained makeup artist, he works as a preschool educator.
The imminent Christmas holiday, a highlight of the Christian calendar, is fully applicable in the house of the Muslim family of young children:
– My children and my husband are already well accustomed to the Christmas traditions through school and kindergarten, it is I who have not been well acquainted with it, she says.
Wants included barn
Aysa grew up in Denmark, where her family chose not to celebrate the Christmas holidays at home.
Like expressing that she does not feel that she does not feel anything growing up:
– No, I have never felt such a feeling, even though we had no Christmas tree at home. But we were born and raised in Europe, and it’s not harmful to have that decoration at home, I think.
At the same time, the mother of a small child emphasizes the importance of her children and that they are well. It is also important for her that they feel included in Norwegian society.
– We have a child who has now become so grown that she begins to understand much of what is happening around her. That is why we choose to show her that we are also a part of society, and that it is cozy with the Christmas decorations, she says.
She also points out that they are already celebrating a number of other holidays:
– We already celebrate so much else, so why not Christmas too? We decorate for both Halloween, Easter and Ramadan, so why not bring the Christmas holidays home, she says, and adds:
– The children already see it everywhere, at school, in the kindergarten and in the shopping centers. It’s just nice and cozy. I want no one to experience it, she says.
Is after all in 2021
30-year-old Aysa is from Copenhagen, and is of Turkish descent. In addition to Danish, she also speaks fluent Norwegian and has no problems hitting a number of Christmas traditions from both of her Nordic countries.
In the spacious terraced house on Tasta, she has already got days before Christmas has put in place Christmas wreaths, ramps, and a number of other decorative items that help to press the holiday stand for the stairs.
However, Aysa admits that it is especially the two years that she has decorated so much for Christmas, and that this year it has peaked with the purchase of a Christmas tree.
– Are both you and your husband equally busy with the Christmas celebration?
– Yes, we are both together about it. We do what we must for our religion and follow it 100 percent, but the Christmas celebration is also very cozy and rich in tradition, she says.
Before their question if she has had any reaction to it, add:
– We have never received criticism from anyone, she says.
And adds:
– The family has not said anything about it either. I do not see any difference between celebrating Christmas, Halloween, Easter or May 17th. For us, it’s a bit the same. We decorate the table with Norwegian flags for the national day, we bake cakes, and we invite to dinner. Now it was really just a Christmas tree we were missing, she says.
– After all, we are in 2021. It is not something religious for us, but more has become a tradition, she says.
Just beyond the decorated Christmas tree and wreath that adorns the dining table, there are a number of beautiful tableware from Denmark. It represents an ever so small passion for the 30-year-old.
– Yes, I actually collect tableware from Royal Copenhagen, so why not also buy the Christmas series, I thought, before she adds:
– It gives a cozy atmosphere, when no one should have porridge, and they like it well, she says.
Close family ties
The 30-year-old’s parents both live in Denmark.
However, the pandemic has made it difficult for them to visit, or get visits from their parents, but they still keep in close contact with them, many thanks to social media:
– We talk a lot with them on FaceTime, and there they also get to put all our decorations, she says.
– They also get the feeling of being involved when we organize nice things with the children, for example when we make rice porridge for them. Then we send them pictures and video on Snapchat, she smiles.
When asked what the family thinks about celebrating holidays across religions, Aysa says the following:
– My family absolutely does not mind it, even though they are very religious. My brother has also celebrated Christmas with his children for many years. It has simply become a tradition, she says.
Before speaking an important religious point:
– My religion clearly states that we must respect all other religions and have a good time together.
Passion for interior design
But it’s not just the Christmas celebration that captivates and fascinates Aysa.
She also currently runs an interior design blog on Instagram, and is very busy working in step with different themes and seasons.
– My interest in interior design began many years ago, and after we moved into a new apartment, I felt the urge to try out a little different things.
– As a native Dane, I am very interested in design and value quality, she adds.
On her Instagram account you will find a wide selection of both interior, family life and glimpses of modern design.
Apart from a short break when the youngest child was born, the mother of a small child has kept up her activity on the photo sharing service since 2018.
The goal is to share inspiration around interior and design with others, and at the time of writing she can point to over a thousand followers from both Denmark and Norway.
– I am constantly trying to switch to different themes on the blog. Well, it’s Christmas and New Year, and then there will be a lot of pictures of Christmas decorations I make myself, and not least the Christmas table. While when it’s Ramadan, that’s the theme, she smiles.
– The response on Instagram has been very good. It has become very cozy and something that has developed into a passion, she concludes.