Vertshuset Den Gyldne Hale is a Norwegian Christmas calendar series that aired on NRK Television in 1989. All the actors spoke both Norwegian and sign language (signs for speech).
The script for the series was written by Grete Høien and Gudny Hagen. Grete Høien was also the director of the series. She has told Dagbladet Magasinet that of all the series she has worked on, she is most proud of Vertshuset Den Gyldne Hale. Gudny Hagen is behind several TV series for children, and has previously worked as a preschool teacher for hearing-impaired children.
Mischievous, quick-witted Lillebror has just moved into town and not made any friends yet. One day he discovers a twig--Knerten--in a pile of firewood, and this becomes his imaginary friend. When his mother gets a job in a general store and his father is traveling for his underwear-salesman job, Lillebror must manage on his own most of the day. With Knerten in hand, he encounters a new everyday rural life filled with colorful characters and challenges. But can a pine twig be a real friend? And can his family afford to stay in the rundown house?
