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Den här krönikan hade jag inne i Arjeplog Times i numret som kom ut i början av december.

Advent - a time of joy and expectations

Last Sunday was Advent Sunday. Advent is a time of expectations and the long wait for Christmas. For the local people of Arjeplog, Advent is also the end of waiting for the car testing season to begin. We are glad to welcome you all to our part of the world and to our municipality and society. We are especially glad to welcome you during the time of Advent as we can show you Arjeplog from one of its best sides. The Christmas spirit of Arjeplog is almost magical and in many ways always present here. The snow, the Advent Candlesticks in the windows, trees and bushes in the gardens that are lit up, the stars in the sky and the Christmas illuminations in the centre of town create a perfect stage for Christmas. But Advent and Christmas are so much more than this.

December is a month characterized by darkness and cold, but at the same time a season characterized by human warmth and light. In a lyrics of a song that children often sing at this time of the year the thought of brotherhood and human warmth is expressed like this:

"We are lighting a candle in Advent.

It warms the one who is freezing.

We are lighting a candle in Advent.

It spreads light in the darkness here.

And everyone who is frightened and freezing here on earth

We ought to let them share our table with us.

When we are lighting a candle in Advent"

I think this is an expression of the true meaning of Advent and Christmas. Advent can be a time for reflection and consideration. A chance for us to remember the unfair conditions of life in our world, and that we should take better care of each other.

I want to wish you all a really nice Advent time here and don't forget to enjoy the Christmas spirit of Arjeplog.

Let every moment be a moment of total presence in the now.