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.
Søtsuppe (sweet soup) is a traditional Norwegian food that is great for family celebrations. It can be eaten hold or cold and is delicious for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.
Halloween is an American holiday which didn’t catch on in the rest of the world until recently. However, it has increasingly become a phenomenon in various parts of the globe. One country that has grown well-acquainted with Halloween is Norway. The traditions of Halloween were “imported” to Norway in the late 90’s and are now quite common, at least in the larger cities.
In a recent analysis conducted by French travel agency Voyage Avec Nous, and data firm Flashs, Norway has topped the chart as the safest holiday destination in Europe. This analysis was structured using five criteria: health, security, road deaths, robberies, and intentional homicides. The data for these criteria came from the EuroHealth Consumer Index, Global Peace Index 2021, and Eurostat. The areas that tipped the scales to Norway were Norway’s security, as well as low levels of road deaths and murders.
