I love Christmas time in Norway. The best part to me is the whole season, preparing and waiting for Christmas. Decorating the house, baking gingerbread, the atmosphere is magical. This year it even snowed in Stavanger (very rare), making the julestemningen (Christmas mood) even better.
1.Christmas is a longer season in Norway than in Brazil, for example. In Brazil, we have Christmas eve on December 24th and Christmas Day on the 25th. The other says are normal. In Norway, they name the weeks before Christmas as førjulsuker (weeks before Christmas). On the 23rd is called lille julaften (little Christmas eve). The 24th is Julaften (Christmas eve). The 25th is Først Juledag (First Christmas Day). 26th is Andre Juledag (Second Christmas Day). The period between the 27th and 31st is called Romjul. Many Norwegians take a break from work in Romjul and go to their cabins in the mountains.It’s popular to spend New Year’s Eve there and bring own fireworks.
2.Vocabulary. There’s Christmas added to every word you use this season. Just add the word Jul or Jule (Christmas) to the word. For example: food = mat. Then it’s julemat , there you go. Bread = brød. There’s julebrød (sweet bread with raisins). Julebrus (soda only sold on Christmas season), julemiddag (dinner). Julegaver (Xmas gifts). Julevasking (washing the house before Xmas). Julemusikk, julesanger (Xmas songs, and carols).Christmas shop = julehandel . Christmas dinner at work = julebord
3.Set up Christmas tree on the 23rd. It’s common to see Norwegians bringing live Christmas trees home and setting it up on the 23rd. Not before.
4.Another curious fact: Norwegians give a big Christmas tree to Great Britain every year as a thank you gift. That’s due to World War II, when British army helped Norway to be free from German occupation. The tree is usually set at Trafalgar Square in London. The mayor of Westminster comes and lights it in front to the population. This year, 2021, the tree was criticized for looking weird, squarish.
5.Christmas Eve food. Typical Christmas food is strong in taste and fatty. In Stavanger and Bergen, more to the South, the most popular dishes are ribbe (pork ribs) and pinnekjøt (salted or dried lamb ribs). In Trondheim, more to the North, for example, ribbe is popular, as well as fish is popular in some regions: lutefisk (dried cod) and rakfisk (fermented trout). Many Norwegians also appreciate anchovies. My favorite is pinnekjøtt. I’ve even learned to cook it. Check my Instagram for more traditions. And please don’t give me lakris (licorice).
6.Rocking around the Christmas tree. One rare opportunity to see Norwegians dance is on Christmas time. On Christmas Eve, they go to church, christians or not. It’s a tradition. There, they sing Christmas carols and dance around the tree. Some do it at home too. And in the neighborhood, when they have the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
7.The marzipan pig and the risengrynsgrøt. It’s a popular tradition, also done at schools. On the 24th (depending on the family, it can be done on the 23rd), everybody gets a bowl with this delicious creamy rice porridge. The person who makes it, peels one almond and puts in one of the bowls. Only one of them. Nobody knows who got it. So you have to eat the whole porridge carefully and hopefully. The person who has the almond wins a little marzipan pig. At schools, due to allergy issues, they write a cross under the bowl. The kids must eat up the grøt before they can check under the bowl. The toppings are usually sugar, cinnamon and butter.
8.Watching the same films every Christmas. Three nuts to Cinderella is the most popular Christmas film in Norway. The old version is from the 70’s, made in Easter Europe. More about it here. The film is aired on NRK on the 24th before lunch. I love it. And now, a Norwegian version is coming to the cinemas soon. I’ve seen the trailer. Still, I’ll be watching the old version on Christmas. Also the Christmas calendar tv series for children are super popular. Families watch one episode per day until the 24th.
9.Gnomes and trolls. We see Christmas gnomes and trolls everywhere. They are super cute and part of most Norwegians’ homes.
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