Solveig’s festive prosthetic leg

Solveig notes that it is nearly Christmas, and what usually brings a tear the eyes of all of both herself and the other members of her family, is when they gather to decorate the Christmas tree and the “juletrefoten”. While it appears at first that she is referring to the Christmas tree stand (‘juletrefoten’ translates literally as ‘the Christmas tree foot’), it is quickly revealed that she is actually referring to a prosthetic leg, which has been wrapped in tinsel and lights.

Solveig – unable to refrain from laughing during her explanation – shares that in the summer of 2003, her mother had developed a flesh-eating bacterial infection in her left foot, which had ultimately resulted in the amputation of her entire leg. After her mother’s death, Solveig had inherited the prosthetic leg her mother had been using, and she and her family had begun decorating it, every December 23rd, in her memory [Note: this is corroborated by a November 2022 article].

Atle awards Solveig first place.

(Written by Jenny R and proofread by Karl Craven)

(Illustrations collected by Jenny R and adjusted by David Fuller)