Norwegians really appreciate the warm and bright Sunny days. July is the main holiday month.
Anywhere they go, an important activity is: Bathing. By bathing I mean jumping in the water and leaving right after. That’s what you do in the Norwegian Summer. The water is usually between 15 and 19C degrees . That would be 59 to 66F. When you leave the water, chances of a cool breeze are big. That’s why I recommend a towel, a long sleeve blouse or a fleece. Norwegians take off their swimsuits and change for underwear at the beach, covering themselves with a towel. Check out my tips on bathing in Norway.
Crab fishing is popular among children. At the beach, they use their krabbestang (crab fishing net) to catch crabs. What they do with them? They place the crab in a bucket with water. They admire their deed. They show to friends and parents. Before they leave the beach, children return the crab to the sea.
Fishing. Also fishing with their parents is popular. By boat or standing by the shore. Once, in Geiranger, we were passing by a family. The kids were fishing and the grandparents asked us if we’d like to join them. Our kid loved it. Check the area for signs if it’s forbidden to fish.
Get sunburned. Norway ranks second place in the world in death by skin cancer. Shocking, right? Only a few years ago, solariums were forbidden. Norwegians appreciate the sun, so scarce year round. We feel cold for 9 months and when the sun is finally out and about, they stay outdoors too long and unprotected. Kreftforening is the cancer foundation. They’ve run campaigns to warn Norwegians pf the dangers of too much sun exposure.
Possible reasons:
Since the 60’s, one of the most popular destinations in the Summer is the South coas of Europe, here called Syden. Not used to sunlight exposure, they get too much sun in warm countries.
Underestimating Norwegian sun. People may think the sun in Norway is not that warm. The Earth tilt in the Summer in the Northern Hemisphere makes the sun rays more dangerous in Norway. I don’t know if children learn that at school. They should.
They can get tricked by the cold breeze. Yes, even in the Summer you can feel cold due to the wind from the North. That can give a false impression that the sun is not that strong.
They want to get tanned. It’s horrifying to see Norwegians looking like shrimps. Seriously, I come from Brazil. We’re pretty aware of the dangers of skin cancer. It freaks me out to see Norwegian feces in the color of beat, carrots, tomatoes, you name it.
Make barbecue. Grilling season goes from Spring to early Fall. It’s simple (for those who can grill) and you spend time outdoors. There are disposable grills and grill facilities at parks and beaches in Stavanger, for example. I have a post about grilling in Norway here.
Eat ice cream. Norwegians eat an average of 60 million liters ice cream per year. All kinds, anywhere. Check my Instagram Reel about the famous ice cream truck.
Sit outside, with your back to a wall. In Norway, walls are super important if you want to enjoy and eat outdoors. That’s to avoid the uncomfortable cold wind that visits Norway also in the Summer. Walls are really handy as you can get rid of the jacket, relax and enjoy the sun without the wind.
Drink coffee. Norwegians drink coffee year round. Summer is no exception. It’s cozy ti sit outside with a coffee mug and talk to your friends and family. Do you love coffee? Here’s my Norwegians and coffee post.
This 2022, tourists are coming back to Norway. What about the locals? Wanna know where Norwegians like to go in the Summer? Check my post 3 popular places where Norwegians go in the Summer.
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