Just as in the U.S., Christmas in Norway is about family, togetherness and quiet nights with loved ones. But Norwegians also have traditions that are not very well known by many Americans -- and maybe a bit surprising.
Advent with Lights and a Calendar
Christmas in Norway starts on December 1 with the Advent Calendar, which traditionally is filled with 24 small gifts for the children to open, one each morning through December 24. On the first of the four Sundays before Christmas Eve, Norwegians light the first of four advent candles and say the first of four advent verses. And while Christmas features the color red, Advent decorations are traditionally purple. Advent is originally a Christian tradition, but like many similar traditions it has been adopted by many Norwegians as a part of Christmas and time for family.
Santa Lucia
A very important part of Christmas is Santa Lucia, one of very few saints’ days widely celebrated in Scandinavia. It is largely a secular event and is mostly celebrated in kindergartens and elementary schools. A girl and a boy are chosen to represent Lucia. The two have a special crown with lights and lead a procession of children dressed in white gowns and holding candles. They sing the traditional Neapolitan song “Santa Lucia” and hand out lussekatter, a special kind of yellowish, S-shaped bun made with saffron. Parents often take time off from work to watch their children’s processions, which often end up in retirement homes, hospitals and nursing homes, to the delight of the residents.
Christmas Eve
The Christmas tree is to be decorated on the day before Christmas, traditionally by parents after the kids have fallen asleep. Decorations made by several generations, Norwegian flags and lights dominate the green branches, and a shining star rules on top. The evening is spent on the couch watching TV, more specifically Dinner for One, a German black and white short film from 1963.
On “Christmas morning,” which in Norway refers to the morning of Christmas Eve, the children wake up to find Christmas stockings filled with candy, which is eaten while watching Disney classics and the Czech movie Tre nøtter til Askepott (Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella). Produced in 1973 and dubbed into Norwegian, the movie has been a staple on the morning of Christmas Eve in Norwegian homes for years. Putting the children in front of the TV is also a popular strategy for parents who want to prepare for Christmas Eve in peace. Rice porridge is a favorite as an early dinner, with an almond hidden in the casserole. Whoever finds the almond wins a marzipan pig, but it’s important not to tell before everyone is full and done eating so that the suspense builds throughout dinner.
Norwegians celebrate Christmas Eve with close family, bringing their gifts to whoever is lucky enough to be the host of that year’s dinner. The gifts are placed underneath the tree and dinner is served with aquavit for the grown ups and a whole lot of patience for the children. The food varies from region to region, with, for example mutton ribs dominating on the west coast and pork ribs being the winner on the east coast. In addition, Norwegians eat turkey and cod, and of course a few have lutefisk.
In families with young children, rice porridge is placed outside for Santa before dinner and when he comes to visit it is important for Uncle Peter not to be caught because he forgot to change his socks before putting on his costume. Singing Norwegian Christmas songs and dancing around the Christmas tree is also a long-held tradition popular among families with young children.
After Christmas
Norwegians have both the first and the second day after Christmas off and they are both spent with family and food. In the days between Christmas and New Years it is popular for children to go carolling in the neighborhood dressed in Christmas gnome costumes and receiving candy from the neighbors they carol for. Many like to remove the tree and decorations sometime in early January and the trees are often burned in an annual neighborhood bonfire.
God Jul!
Some Norwegians eat salted mutton ribs on Christmas Eve. Photo: Lisa Westgaard/tinagent.com
Others prefer pork rib. Photo: Lisa Westgaard/tinagent.com