Over the course of eight weeks, Norwegians celebrate Christmas, or “Jul,” a holiday that combines contemporary celebrations with traditional ones. Christmas Eve is the pinnacle of the celebrations that start on the fourth Sunday before the holiday and continue until about the middle of January. Baking seven varieties of Christmas cookies, going present shopping, and going to Christmas concerts all begin on the final weekend of November, when preparations begin to heat up in the country. On Christmas Eve, guests gather for the main course and the present exchange. “Ribbe” refers to roasted pig belly, “pinnekjøtt” represents salted and dried lamb ribs, and “lutefisk” refers to stockfish preserved in lye and water. A mystical mood is created when the whole nation transforms into a light festival, which continues into the New Year.
Christmas Traditions in Norway
Norwegians celebrate Christmas on December 24th, a holiday that is distinctive and joyous because of the country’s long history of customs. Here are a few of the most important ones:
- Julaften (Christmas Eve): On Christmas Eve, or Julaften, the majority of Norwegians assemble for a Christmas dinner and gift unwrapping. This is the most important part of the whole festivities.
- Adventskalender (Advent Calendars): The four Sundays before Christmas, Norwegians burn candles as part of an advent calendar (Adventskalender) to mark the passing of the days till Christmas. One of the Advent Sundays is symbolized by each candle.
- Christmas Markets: During the holiday season, you may get Christmas marzipan and other handcrafted goods at fairs. One of the best places to discover both modern and classic holiday décor is also at these marketplaces.
- Christmas Decorations: As a reference to the nation’s emblem, the heart-shaped fjord, Norwegians display holiday decorations in the form of hearts. Simple decorations and a string of blinking lights decorate Christmas trees.
- Julebord: This is a community event when social clubs or sports teams get together since having friends over is a big deal in Norway, and partners are always invited. After a traditional meal, there is a lot of drinking and late-night celebrations.
- Christmas Table: Traditional Norwegian Christmas Eve fare includes ribbe (roasted pig belly), sauerkraut, boiled potatoes, and other table trimmings. Songs are played while families hold hands and dance around the Christmas tree.
- Opening Presents: Following the dance, the children’s favorite part of the party begins: unwrapping gifts. The Norwegians put their gifts directly beneath the tree and do not wrap them.
Christmas Foods in Norway
Traditional Norwegian foods are served at Christmas and a few examples of the most typical are these:
Ribbe: More than half of Norway’s population eats ribbe on Christmas Eve, making it the most popular meal of the day. Sauerkraut and redcurrant sauce are traditional Norwegian accompaniments to ribbe, which is seasoned pig belly. Christmas sausages, cranberry sauce, and honey-dipped fried apple slices are common accompaniments.
Pinnekjøtt: It is a beloved savory dish in the western counties, prepared using lamb ribs. Pinnekjøtt literally means “stick meat” due to the fact that the meat is soaked in water before being cooked with real wooden sticks to extract the salt.
Lutefisk and Cod: It is a classic Scandinavian fish stew prepared with stockfish marinated in lye and water. On the other hand, fresh fish, such as cod, is another popular Christmas meal in the country.
Cakes and Cookies for Christmas: Bløtkake, Kransekake, and Fattigman are a selection of traditional Christmas cakes and sweets in Norway.
Risgrøt (Christmas Porridge): Porridge served throughout the Christmas season is another popular holiday dish. A creamy rice porridge consists of rice, milk, water, and sometimes sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, or cardamom for flavoring.
Christmas Decorations in Norway
Various traditional ornaments and symbols are used in Norwegian Christmas decorations. Among the most popular embellishments are:
Nativity Scenes and Gingerbread Houses
Traditional and warm, nativity scenes and gingerbread houses are holiday decorations that Norwegian families like putting up in their homes.
Wreaths, Angels, Gnomes, Hearts, and Star
Many people decorate their houses with wreaths, angels, gnomes, hearts, and stars in the weeks leading up to Christmas, all made from natural materials.
Christmas Tree Decorations
Felt ornaments, painted wood ornaments, and straw ornaments are common Christmas tree decorations in Norway. The Christmas season gains a sense of continuity and tradition when these decorations are handed down from one generation to another.
Lights and Candles
Norwegian Christmas decorations would not be complete without candles, which provide a cozy and welcoming ambiance. White twinkling lights, together with candles, are a traditional Christmas tree and house decoration.
Norwegian Ornaments and Figures
Norwegians like to decorate their houses and Christmas trees with sleigh ornaments, love birds, pewter stocking ornaments, and reindeer ornaments.
Places to Visit in Norway at Christmas
- Oslo: The capital city of Norway, Oslo, is a popular spot to enjoy the holiday season because of its festive events, Christmas markets, and decorations.
- Bergen: Visit the historic Hanseatic city of Bergen, known for its streets and festive Festplassen Christmas market. The biggest gingerbread village in the world is located there as well.
- Tromsø: In Tromsø, Norway, you may experience a one-of-a-kind Christmas trip while also seeing the world-renowned Northern Lights.
- Trondheim: You can experience the joy of Christmas in Trondheim, with many markets and festivals where you can shop for traditional Norwegian goods.
- Røros: This medieval mining town, Røros, provides an idyllic backdrop for a white Christmas thanks to its narrow streets, local arts and crafts, and sleigh ride excursions.
History of Christmas in Norway
Norwegian Christmas, or “Jul,” contains Christian overtones although its origins are in pagan practices. This month in the ancient Germanic calendar was originally called “Jul” (Juli). Scandinavians tended to think about Jul more in terms of a time frame than a particular event. These names are cognates with “yule” and “yuletide” in contemporary English.
The second moon of the winter part of the year, approximately from the new moon of November to the new moon of December, was when Jul was celebrated. By this point in the season, the harvest had come to a close, the flour had been ground, and the last tasks of the fall had been finished. The time had come to rejoice. A drinking horn represents the Yule ale and “drinking jul” traditions on December 25 in the Runic calendar.
Yuletide, a modern term meaning Christmas, has its roots in the Norse pagan celebration of Yule. The ancient Germanic people, notably the Vikings, have celebrated Yuletide and related holidays for millennia. The Celts also had comparable celebrations. It wasn’t until Christians started converting the Vikings in Norway in the early 11th century that Christmas even existed there. The pagan roots of Norwegian Christmas make it unique among non-Scandinavian celebrations.
Several pre-Reformation and pre-Christian aspects have been preserved in the present celebration, which is mostly focused on the Church year. On Christmas Eve, or julaften, the Scandinavians gather to eat their traditional holiday feast and exchange presents with one another. The ancient Germanic practice of keeping track of time by the night rather than the day could explain this.