"Jul i Skomakergata" or "Christmas at Shoemaker's Street" is a television Christmas calendar which is fondly remembered and deeply treasured by the older population of Norway. Sadly, the current generation of kids don't know to appreciate it.
NRK (Norway's biggest broadcasting network) aired this piece for the very last time in 2003, announcing that it would never again be shown on television. The reason? Because modern day kids just don't seem to enjoy it.
Granted, you can sort of see why: "Christmas at Shoemaker's street" tells the tale of an old, kind shoemaker named Jens Petrus Andersen, sort of like a Norwegian version of Papa Panov. Good old Andersen is always prepared to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. Over the course of the 24-episode series, Andersen counts down the days to Christmas with us, the viewers, while keeping a smile and a friendly gesture handy on every occasion. Which comes very much in handy, considering how nearly every person in the neighborhood decides to drop by his shop for a friendly word and a pat on the back.
Seeing as how this series doesn't consist of anything that draws modern kids in and keeps them invested, it is fitting to see why it was so brutally axed.
Now, don't go ahead assuming I'm a grumpy old man who's just mad at these "damn kids". I'm an 18-year old boy very much in my physical prime. And yet I simply adore this series.
Our family has this series on DVD, and we watch it every Christmas. Every time, we take joy in Andersen's kind demeanor and simple acts of selflessness along with the massive plethora of colorful and memorable characters the series otherwise provides.
Like the flower shop owner "Rosengren" (Rose Branch) who is constantly chased by the colonial owner Mrs. Franzen when he plays a wrong note on his clarinet.
Police Chief "Klinke", who secretly plays Ludo with Andersen once a month.
Truck owner "Hjul Juel", who asks Andersen to hide a gargantuan package for him since he can't hide it from his wife, the intended recipient.
The Mail man, who loves to drop by Andersen for a cup of coffee on his delivery route.
And of course, Tøfflus, Andersen's sentient slipper who lives in his desk and who's favorite food is Parsley. (which is really fun to say and funnier still to type)
There's plenty others, like Mrs. Juniper, Conductor Flag, Baker Snipp etc.
"Christmas at Shoemaker's street" is an unbelievably charming and objectively simple mini series that warms my heart every time.
