How to Celebrate a Norwegian Christmas
In Norway Christmas is considered a holiday for children. But adults also enjoy the baking, decorating and other preparations that are needed to celebrate the winter festivities.
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Things You'll Need
- Christmas Gifts
- Advent Calendar
- Advent Wreath
- Christmas Tree Ornaments
- Christmas Trees
- Candles
- Beer
Instructions
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1
Prepare for Christ's Nativity by participating in Advent, which marks the beginning of the church year. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas Day.
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2
Use an Advent calendar to mark the days. For each one, you open another door in the calendar.
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3
Chop down your own Christmas tree if you live in the country, and adorn it with decorations. Some traditions call for the parents to decorate the tree on Christmas Eve, letting the children see it just before the gifts are opened.
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Expect outdoor Christmas trees displayed in public places to be lit the first Sunday of Advent.
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5
Make your own candles to use as lights on the tree and on your Advent wreath. In the past, the way the candles burned was considered a sign; for instance, if a light went out, it meant the owner would die.
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Wait until Christmas Eve to light the Christmas tree in your home.
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Build a fire in your fireplace during the holiday and invite family and friends to sit with you and exchange gifts.
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8
Bake a Norwegian Christmas cake, which contains mashed potatoes, raisins and nuts, or traditional cookies such as "kvite kakemenn," "pepperkaker" and "lussekatter" to share with friends and neighbors. "Julekake," a popular Christmas bread filled with raisins and candied fruit, is also baked at Christmas.
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Decorate bread with a cross on it to keep evil spirits at bay. You can also carve a cross pattern in the butter.
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Expect Julenissen (Santa Claus) to come with presents for the kids. Remember that "nisser" (gnomes) and trolls may also visit you during the holiday season.
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Prepare a traditional Christmas meal with pork as the main dish.
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Follow the old custom of circling the Christmas tree. One person circles the tree and picks up a gift, then passes it to the recipient. All watch while the gift is opened, and another person circles the tree. Repeat until all gifts are opened.
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Tips & Warnings
Brew or buy Christmas - or "holiday" - beer. This tradition dates back to the age of the Vikings, who produced strong beer to celebrate the winter solstice.
Christmas in Norway used to be viewed as a festival marking the change from winter to spring.
"Nisse" the gnome can be appeased by taking a bowl of porridge to the barn for him.
Norway is a country with many cultural influences, so Christmas traditions are quite diverse and cannot be generalized. The preceding steps represent a few examples of local traditions that may or may not be appropriate for your personal celebration of Christmas.
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Comments
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jeanbean14
Dec 03, 2009
I'm Swedish-American, and wondering if this article was written by a Norwegian-American passing down family tradition. That would explain the candle thing. Can't imagine ANYONE uses real candles anymore. My great-grandparents did that, lit the candles and sang ONE carol, then blew them out. Silly to talk about real candles on a tree in this day and age. I think electric strings of lights are what people use now....duh. Candles are for the table, the angel chimes, and the advent wreath, right? This article needs to be edited in view of the comments from actual Norwegians. :) I'm going to visit the Lillehammer site now. Fun! I am guessing Norwegians are not silly enough to go to church at 5am Dec. 25th like the Swedes, lol. Or make their daughters wear crowns of burning candles (also fake now?) and serve coffee & buns -- what's with the early morning stuff? Let people slee... -
Nov 22, 2005
I agree with Tove. Use candles if you want to burn it, the presents and your house down. And if you are British, be sure not to confuse Christmas Eve (what Norway celebrates) with Christmas Day. Children get to open their gifts after dinner, perhaps 1 gift before going to church. Yes, church - 90% of Norwegians are Christian, but far less actually go to church normally. Christmas is usually the time everyone goes to church for the Christmas church services. For many, the traditional set of television programs is also a part of Christmas.
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Nov 22, 2005
I agree with Tove. Use candles if you want to burn it, the presents and your house down. And if you are British, be sure not to confuse Christmas Eve (what Norway celebrates) with Christmas Day. Children get to open their gifts after dinner, perhaps 1 gift before going to church. Yes, church - 90% of Norwegians are Christian, but far less actually go to church normally. Christmas is usually the time everyone goes to church for the Christmas church services. For many, the traditional set of television programs is also a part of Christmas.
