Above the Artic circle and about 40 minutes off the coast of Norway lies a small fishing village by the name of Sørvær. This island is so remote that the next nearest piece of land is the east coast of Greenland. So, what is the significance of such a small, remote island, you ask? The answer lies within the confines of a tiny hotel on the island, featuring four sleeping cabins.
Standing proudly in the center of Oslo, next to the harbor, Norway’s Nasjonalmuseet (national museum) is now ready for visitors. This project took nearly 30 years to come to fruition, with the idea first being discussed in the 1990s. The building, which was designed by German firm Kleihues + Schuwerk, opened its doors on June 11 and is a massive 584,480 square feet. This makes the institution one of the largest art museums in Europe, right behind the State Hermitage Museum in Russia and the Louvre in Paris.
Midsummer is known as the time in the middle of the summer, often celebrated on or close to the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. Traditionally, Midsummer is on June 24th and is quite popular in the Nordic nations.
Syttende Mai, Norway’s national day, is of course a day to commemorate the signing of Norway’s constitution, however it is also a day to celebrate heritage, through a traditional folk costume known as the Norwegian bunad.
When thinking about one of the longer holiday celebrations during the calendar year, Christmas is top of mind for many. Most other holidays come and go as they occupy a quick 24 hours. This is not quite the case though in Norway. Yes, citizens of Norway certainly do take time to celebrate Christmas, but they also take advantage of the Easter holiday, something not quite as common in the United States.
This Norwegian delicacy is a traditional Easter supper eaten throughout much of Norway. Rakfisk is fermented fish, commonly made from fresh trout.
Trade, culture, and exploration are among the list of items to cross the globe for centuries now. But what helped facilitate this list? The answer is wooden sailboats.
For almost two years now, the coronavirus pandemic has affected many aspects of daily life. Social events have been postponed, activities have decreased, and people have adapted to a new “normal.” Although it has acted as an interruption to many, it has also provided the chance to step back and take a closer look at society. The Norwegian Directorate of Health did exactly that with the Norwegian diet in 2020.
New Year’s Eve is a joyous celebration that is widely observed around the world. In America, the New Year is rung in by the big ball drop in Times Square, popped bottles of champagne, and a kiss with a significant other. Most people mark the occasion by spending it with their closest family and friends. The same can be said for Norway.
Although Halloween has come and gone, there is still time to participate in the Scandinavian Christmas version of trick-or-treating known as julebukking. Julebukk translates to “Yule goat” and was brought to the United States by Norwegian and German immigrants.
