Varmestuen in Stavanger has its own, beautiful and atmospheric Christmas tradition: singing and dancing with Espen Hana, the Christmas gospel read by Bishop Anne Lise Ådnøy and the all-singing of «Delicious is the earth». Out in the minus degrees.

From the spacious terrace at Varmestuen’s friends in Paradisbakken, we look right down at Lagård burial ground. By 4pm on Christmas Eve, the sun has already set on this icy day. From the burial grove, the lights on the graves flash. The traffic in the area is hectic right now. Many more will stop by and light candles for their loved ones, before Christmas dinner, gifts and accessories.

There is also life on the Varmestuen terrace. In two fire pans, the wood burns both warming and atmospheric.

The traditional Christmas celebration for drug addicts Varmestuen is there for, with dinner and gifts, is an hour away. But Christmas Eve begins on the terrace. Regardless of minus degrees. Everyone is welcome. If only the rapid test shows that you are not coronary heart disease.

40 guests with negative test

Indoors, small tables and long tables for 40 guests are covered. The Christmas tree glitters, and the bags of Christmas presents are ready in the Christmas-decorated living room. From the commercial kitchen, which was completed by Christmas last year, volunteers are busy with the Christmas dinner. Chairman Rolf Pettersen and Geir Høiland warmly and proudly welcome, Høiland is festively dressed with Christmas flashing braces and a cross bow.

A small dog with a red Christmas bow greets, and several guests have already rigged themselves in the salon.

– Everyone must take the fastest before they can join the Christmas dinner or the outdoor event, Pettersen explains. One toilet has been converted into a test station.

40 guests are registered for this year’s Christmas dinner, divided into two living rooms. The maximum number allowed, when taking distance to distance and corona rules.

– In a normal year we could host 100. In addition, we run out gifts and dinner to 20 users who do not have the opportunity to come anyway.

Outside, several of the dinner guests have already arrived. In the heat from the fire, we meet May Årnes and Maria, who do not want to say their last name. They talk and enjoy themselves, with blankets in their laps and stars in their eyes.

– I’ve been here several times before. He’s really good, he’s Espen Hana, says May.

Maria celebrates Christmas at Varmestuen for the first time. Both are also signed up for dinner.

Espen Hana and the Varmestuen song

That Espen Hana comes to sing and cheer before the party draws indoors has also become a tradition. The tent, which was set up on the terrace when the heating room has been closed for a long time so that the users still have a warm place to eat and stay, is now Hana’s stage, with electric piano and microphone.

He introduces the Christmas mood with “Christmas song”, and then takes us through both self-written Christmas songs about students who come home to the pots te na mor, via a separate song dedicated to Varmestuen and the people there. To a retelling of Maria Mena’s «Home for Christmas», about him who had been stranded in Copenhagen, but who this year wanted to go home for Christmas. The mood spreader Hana played the piano until her fingers froze in the cold.

Among volunteers and users of Varmestuen, Arvid Pedersen also meets. He lives in the neighborhood, and happened to stop by the outdoor area last Christmas.

– It was so atmospheric that I would come back this year too, he says.

Bishop Anne Lise Ådnøy saw the end of Hana’s concert before she took over the stage. First she read the Christmas gospel, then she kept words of remembrance for users of Varmestuen who had passed away from the last year. Four names were read out this year.

And when the bishop has been the lead singer for Espen Hana’s piano playing of “Delicious is the Earth”, the Christmas peace has subsided.

It’s time to soak in the heat.