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This puzzle is part of the Puzzling Stack Exchange Advent Calendar 2024. The accepted answer to this question will be awarded a bounty worth 50 reputation.

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While stepping out of the UK's National Gallery this morning, I remembered that I meant to design a card with a special greeting to some friends and neighbours. Here's what I came up with:

enter image description here

  • For whom is the message?
  • What is the message?

EXTRA CREDIT: Why did I select today for this puzzle?

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    $\begingroup$ For those wondering about the extra credit question rot13(Gur chmmyr znexf gur yvtugvat bs gur Gensnytne Fdhner Puevfgznf Gerr, juvpu vf na naahny tvsg gb gur HX sebz bhe sevraqf naq arvtuobhef va Abejnl). $\endgroup$
    – Daniel S
    Commented Dec 6 at 17:40
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    $\begingroup$ What is the significance of the number in the title? $\endgroup$
    – caPNCApn
    Commented Dec 6 at 18:32
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    $\begingroup$ @caPNCApn xkcd.com/835 $\endgroup$
    – user39583
    Commented Dec 8 at 20:18

1 Answer 1

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The presents below the tree

spell NORGE (the Norwegian word for Norway), using nautical signal flags.

The tree itself

is a Morse Code tree:
morse tree

The lines spell the following (in CMYK order, like printer ink):
Cyan: GOD
Magenta: JUL
Yellow: TIL
Black: DEG

So the message is

"God jul til deg" - Norwegian for "Merry Christmas to you"!

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    $\begingroup$ I looked for the reason for today in particular - my best guess was that it was related to the Yule celebration and the old Germanic calendar - but couldn't find anything. $\endgroup$
    – Deusovi ♦
    Commented Dec 5 at 8:01
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    $\begingroup$ Good work! However you have one letter wrong. BTW have you ever been to the National Gallery? $\endgroup$
    – Daniel S
    Commented Dec 5 at 8:03
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    $\begingroup$ Ah.. (rot13)Puevfgznf ng Gensnytne Fdhner... $\endgroup$
    – toybaer
    Commented Dec 5 at 10:13
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    $\begingroup$ @DanielS Oops, fixed! I kept looking at it and thinking "Yes, that's definitely an N, not an M..." $\endgroup$
    – Deusovi ♦
    Commented Dec 6 at 17:33
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    $\begingroup$ @ssssaaaa It means that the Cyan ribbon/tinsel should be read first, then the Magenta ribbon/tinsel, then the Yellow ribbon/tinsel, then the blacK ribbon/tinsel. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMYK_color_model $\endgroup$
    – Daniel S
    Commented Dec 7 at 14:41

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