Christmas Carols and Cultural Skills
With Christmas right around the corner, why not take time to enjoy some seasonal music? Here are a few selections you might enjoy on your own, in your lodge, or with your family:
A special gift—Christmas Traditions of Norway
Exclusively for members, our newest publication is Christmas Traditions of Norway. This interactive, 16-page PDF includes Christmas customs, fun activities, and recipes with embedded links and video content.
Norsk winterwear—more than just warm
Norwegian wool sweaters are something we associate with tradition, cozy warmth and, if we’re lucky, the people who knitted them. But did you know that they were made to protect us not only from cold, but also to ward off malicious spirits?
Studded tire subsidy is a hit with Oslo’s winter bicyclists
Norway is well known for its ambitious—and successful—efforts to encourage greener, healthier lifestyles among its residents. But the latest of these efforts may come as a surprise even among those who are accustomed to Norway’s overachieving outdoorsiness...
For the birds, and good fortune
The tradition of putting up a julenek (Christmas sheaf) at Christmastime goes back a few centuries. It was supposed to be a large cut of a farmer’s best grain, and the last thing to be harvested in the autumn.
Princess Märtha risks it all to defend Norway in new drama
Norway’s royal family thought that neutrality would protect their nation from hostile takeover, but they were caught unawares when the Germans invaded in 1940. A new historical dramatization, Atlantic Crossing, recently debuted on NRK, Norway’s National Broadcasting Corporation.
Surviving winter like a Norwegian
As much of the United States and Europe brace for a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us worry we’re facing our darkest time yet and wonder how we’ll cope with the long winter nights. Our answer might be to look at the Norwegian lifestyle.
Celebrate a merry Norwegian Christmas!
Christmas, known as jule in Norway, is a magical time. Norwegians enjoy getting into the spirit of Christmas, or julestemning, with loved ones.
With demand skyrocketing, Norway expands citizenship processing
Ever since Norway began allowing dual citizenship in January 2020, applications have been pouring in from people seeking to become Norwegian citizens. The influx of applications has far outpaced expectations, prompting lawmakers to propose expanding Norway’s citizenship processing capacity by NOK 61.5 million in 2021.
Norway’s fortresses bring History to life
Norway’s fortresses all hold secrets of the past. They were built as far back as the 1100s and as recently as the German occupation. Once built to keep invaders out, today they invite people in.