Marie Wexelsen facts for kids

Marie Wexelsen (born September 20, 1832 – died December 7, 1911) was a talented Norwegian woman. She worked as a teacher, a poet, and wrote books for both children and adults. She is best known for writing hymns, especially the popular Christmas carol, Jeg er saa glad hver Julekveld (which means I am so glad each Christmas Eve).

Early Life and Education

Marie Wexelsen's full name was Inger Marie Lyche Wexelsen. She was born in a place called Østre Toten in Norway. Her parents were Wexel Hansen Wexelsen and Marie Louise Wexels. Marie was the youngest of nine children in her family, who lived on a farm. Her brother, Christian Delphin Wexelsen, became a well-known artist in their area. Her nephew, Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen, later became a bishop.

From 1846 to 1852, Marie went to a girls' boarding school. This school was located in Leikanger and was run by a priest named Jacob Andreas Lindeman.

A Career in Teaching and Writing

After her mother passed away, Marie and her sister, Fredrikke Wilhelmine Wexelsen, moved to Hamar. There, they started a school for young children. To improve their teaching skills, they traveled to Denmark in 1878-1879. Marie attended Askov folkehøyskole, a special school that followed the teaching ideas of N. F. S. Grundtvig, a famous Danish educator.

Around 1890, Marie opened her own private school in Trondheim. She continued to run this school until she passed away in 1911.

Marie Wexelsen was also a very active writer. She published several novels and often wrote for different magazines. Her first novel, Vesle-Kari, eller de Forældreløse (which means Little Kari, or the Orphans), came out in 1858. She used the pen name "I. L." for this book.

She is most famous for her beloved Christmas carol, Jeg er saa glad hver Julekveld. This song first appeared in a collection called Ketil, en Julegave for Smaa in 1860. Marie Wexelsen wrote the words, and Peder Knudsen created the music. Later, in 1931, the song was translated into English as I am so glad each Christmas Eve by Peter Andrew Sveeggen, a professor at Augsburg University.

Marie Wexelsen died in Trondheim in 1911. She was buried in Tilfredshet kirkegård. In 2013, a statue honoring Marie Wexelsen was put up in the village of Lena in Østre Toten. The statue was made by sculptor Angelina Engelsen.

Published Works

• Steffen. En gammel Præstedatters Ungdomsminder (1860)
• Et Levnetsløb (1866)
• En julehistorie (1894)
• En liden Børnebog med Rim og Smaahistorier (1895)