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Scandic Hotels – in all major cities from north to south
Nordic Choice Hotels – a different hotel company
Thon Hotels – with fantastic breakfast
Radisson Blu Hotels – discover your favourite destinations
Citybox – modern and affordable hotels in a central location
DanCenter – your specialist in holiday homes in Norway
Norgesbooking – book your perfect cabin stay in Norway
Campcation – book camping all across Norway with Campcation
Vy – travelling by train has never been easier
SJ NORD – the adventure starts on the train
Vy express – travel with bus throughout Norway
NOR-WAY Bussekspress – experience amazing scenery by bus
Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia
DFDS – Europe’s leading ferry operator 2012-2021
AutoEurope – always a smooth car rental experience
Rent-A-Wreck – the smart car rental alternative
Arctic Campers – Norway’s camper van rental
Cabin Campers – your cottage on four wheels
Hurtigruten – "The World’s Most Beautiful Sea Voyage"
Fjord Tours – Home of Norway in a nutshell® - Norway’s most popular tour
Authentic Scandinavia – Travel created by locals
Up Norway – Bespoke luxury tailored by insiders
Norrøna Hvitserk – expeditions and adventure holidays
Booknordics.com – hundreds of activities, tours and day cruises in Norway
Brim Explorer – silent fjord tours by electric catamaran
Fjord Travel – let us show you the beauty of Norway!
Go Fjords – tours and activities all over Norway
50 Degrees North – unforgettable tailor-made and small group tours to Norway
Discover Norway – skiing, biking and hiking tours in Norway
Norwegian Holidays – low-price package holidays with Norwegian. Flight, hotel and rental car
Stromma – sightseeing, excursions and experiences with bus, boat and train
Rauland – Skiing holidays in stunning mountain scenery
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Norwegians are known for being a happy people, and we surely celebrate Christmas in the most diverse ways. Some immerse themselves in the sacred aspects of the season or enjoy a quiet time with family and friends, whilst others embrace the party.
Still, there are some specific tastes, flavours, and traditions that need to be in place for the Christmas spirit to truly take hold of Norway’s homes. The traditions vary wildly from the north to the south and from the east to west, and here are some of the major ones. Are you ready to cook? Warm up for your tasty holiday with The Norwegian Cookbook.
The most eagerly anticipated meal of the year? To many, that would be the dinner on Christmas Eve.
In Norway, two traditional dishes are contenders for the most popular Christmas dinners – “ribbe” (pork rib) and “pinnekjøtt” (lamb or mutton rib). Whilst the former has been the overall prime choice for years, the popularity of pinnekjøtt grows for each passing year. Many Norwegians get a taste of both dishes during Christmas.
The Norwegians’ also have their own take on mulled wine. “Gløgg” is usually made up of hot red wine and/or aquavit, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and bitter orange. The drink is served with almonds and raisins. Children get a non-alcoholic version made with fruit juice instead of wine.
The chubby, generous and kind Santa Claus has become a central part of the modern Norwegian Christmas celebration. “Fjøsnissen” (the barn elf) is a more mischievous and slightly sinister character that was important when Norway was still a farming community.
You’d be well advised to stay friends with this short, bearded guy. If treated well, he would help make sure that the farm prospered. If unhappy with the swing of things, however, he could exercise the most brutal forms of revenge, such as striking the dairy cattle dead.
This is why farmers used to bring rice porridge and home-brewed beer to the barn every Christmas, a tradition that continues on Norwegian farms to this day.
26-27 November
Christmas market in Fredrikstad's main square
4 November - 18 December (weekends only)
Pre-Christmas adventure in Henningsvær
17 November - 31 December
The Christmas Town Tromsø
29 October - 23 December
Christmas market at Hadeland Glassverk, Jevnaker
25 November - 22 December
Christmas market in Bergen
12 November - 1 January 2023
Winter Wonderland in Spikersuppa, Oslo
26-27 November
Christmas at Granavollen, Hadeland
26 November - 12 December
Christmas market "Jul i Viken", Lillestrøm and Norges Varemesse
26 November - 22 December
Christmas market in Kristiansand
26 November - 23 December
Christmas in Bærums Verk
1-18 December
Christmas market in Trondheim
1-4 December
Christmas market in Røros
4 December
Christmas market at the Stenberg Museum, Toten
2-3 December and 9-10 December
Christmas market in Lillehammer
1-11 December
Christmas market in Egersund
3-4 December and 10-11 December
Norsk Folkemuseum's annual Christmas fair, Oslo
3-18 December (weekends only)
Christmas in the old town, Fredrikstad
10-17 December
Julegada Christmas fair, Vennesla
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Discover more Norwegian holiday traditions and treats.
See our selection of companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.
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