Published by Mats Hjørnevik, Marketing Manager at Nordkapp

Every year in Norway, we celebrate Advent on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It's a great excuse to eat treats and spend quality time with family while watching a classic Christmas movie. It is a fine tradition that many of us cherish. But I have always thought that it could be improved. So, last Sunday, I brought my daughter aboard the Coupe 905 V12 to show her how to spend Advent in style.

An Advent(ure) at sea

We woke up early with a sense of excitement; I had already finished my first cup of coffee when my daughter got out of bed. After a light breakfast, we got in the car and headed for the dock. At this time of year, the sun does not rise until early noon, so we would start our celebrations in darkness, which is the perfect setting to enjoy the ambience of the first Advent candle (In December, we light one Advent candle each Sunday until Christmas). As we entered the wheelhouse of the 905 V12, I cranked up the Webasto heater to make it nice and cosy, in contrast to the crisp weather outside. 

Before setting off, we fueled up with gingerbread cookies and some hot chocolate on the couch.

Driving in a winter wonderland

Soon, we headed out on the waters for our short Adventure. The 600-hk Mercury Verado engine was eager to show off its full potential. However, speed was not the focus today; we were going on a leisurely cruise. The engine responded gladly with a silent rumble, settling in at a steady pace so we could enjoy our moment of tranquillity aboard. The sky greeted us with a milky appearance as the sun rose behind layers of clouds. Laughter and aromas of gingerbread filled the air as we renamed Santa's reindeer's and discussed what the North Pole must look like this time of year.

Being on the water while the thermometer reads sub-zero feels like a privilege. Boating is, in many ways, an outside activity, so feeling warm and comfortable while gliding through a winter wonderland is a surreal experience. And a luxury that I never take for granted. Year-round boating is something I find myself talking about often, and there are few things apart from my family that bring the same joy as a good wheelhouse boat. Pair it with a V12 engine, and things get even better.

"Give it some power"

So there we were, in December, cruising in our boat for the day, with the candles safely tucked away while we were on the move. My daughter saw my hand steady on the throttle, gave me a daring smile, and requested that we give it some power. I gave her a slight nod and a smile as I pushed the throttle forward. The Mercury Verado engine released the powerful torque of the counter propeller system, and before we knew it, we were soaring above the water's edge – if only for a moment. As I gently pulled the throttle back again to a steady pace, we stopped planing as seamlessly as we started. Looking back at my daughter, we could not contain our ear-to-ear smiles, and we let out what can only be described as a giggle of ecstasy. 

As we neared the end of our journey, and with bellies full of Christmas cookies, my daughter headed into the boat's cabin for the remaining time to watch a movie. I poured myself a cup of coffee as we cruised along the coast and enjoyed the snow-covered landscape through the panoramic windows. I took a sip and made a mental note to spend more winter mornings at sea. 

A celebration of feasting and sacrifices

During our special Sunday together, my daughter asked about the origin of Christmas. I did not have an answer, so when we returned home, I researched - and the story was fascinating: Christmas, as we know it, actually stems from pagan and Roman traditions where people lit bonfires and candles to counteract the darkest day of the year (the winter solstice). During Viking times, the Norsemen had a 12-day celebration called Yule at the end of December. It was a time of feasting and sacrifices, celebrating the Norse gods, asking them for their favour and ensuring a good harvest in the coming year. The Yule feast involved the slaughter of livestock that couldn't be kept fed through the winter, providing ample food for a lavish celebration. Over the years, the tradition evolved into a Christian celebration where Advent was introduced, meaning arrival or visit - anticipating the second coming of Christ and celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The Greeks do it best

Over the years, different cultures have formed their own Christmas traditions. In the USA, people leave milk and cookies for Santa, while the Irish leave out a signature pint of Guinness. But no one does it quite like the Greeks. I believe the Greek tradition of "Karavaki" is the pinnacle of Christmas celebrations. Instead of decorating trees like the rest of the world, the Greek people decorate boats, which seem like a fitting tribute to the vessels we adore. This tradition is prevalent along the coast and islands, where various decorated boats light up the streets. The custom of decorating boats for Christmas is thought to honour and celebrate the country's close relationship with the sea. Historically, this tradition was also linked to the return of sailors from their voyages. Families would decorate boats in anticipation of their return, celebrating not just Christmas but also the safe return of their loved ones.