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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
Hostelling International – the door to Norway
Radisson Blu Hotels – discover your favourite destinations
Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia
AutoEurope – always a smooth car rental experience
Vy express – travel with bus throughout Norway
DFDS – Europe’s leading ferry operator 2012-2020
Rent-A-Wreck – the smart car rental alternative
Arctic Campers – Norway’s camper van rental
NOR-WAY Bussekspress – travel green with express busses
Vy – it should be easy to travel green
Hurtigruten – "The World’s Most Beautiful Sea Voyage"
Authentic Scandinavia – exciting Norway tours
Up Norway – tailored journeys
Norrøna Hvitserk – expeditions and adventure holidays
Fjord Tours – experience Norway in a nutshell® with one ticket
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
Secret Atlas – Svalbard and Northern Norway. Small Ship with 12 guests.
DanCenter – your specialist in holiday homes in Norway
Norgesbooking – book your perfect cabin stay in Norway
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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.
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.
Dates are from 2020 - will be updated for 2021 when available:
14 November–3 January
(Closed 24 December)
Winter Wonderland in Spikersuppa, Oslo
31 October–23 December
Christmas market at Hadeland Glassverk
3–6 December
Christmas market in Røros
29 November–20 December
Norsk Folkemuseum’s annual Christmas fair, Oslo
4–20 December
Christmas market in Trondheim
30 October–20 December
Pre-Christmas fun in Henningsvær, Lofoten
28 November–22 December
Christmas at Bærums Verk
28 November-24 December
Christmas market in Kristiansand
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Read up on everything Norwegians do and eat before and during the holiday season.
See our selection of companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.
The change in attitude towards Norway’s food traditions has been formidable. From envying other nations, to celebrating what is uniquely Norwegian in modern and untraditional ways.
Is this Norway’s oddest culinary speciality? Every year in autumn the Løne family in Voss in Fjord Norway start producing smalahove. And they need to work hard to get the 70,000 sheep’s heads ready in time for Christmas.
In Norway, it’s always waffle-time. In fact, we love waffles so much that we even serve them in the shape of a heart. Try it as a sweet treat or a cutting-edge Michelin dish.
There is a reason why the Norwegians are among the happiest people on earth. Learn the noble art of “kos”, taste some weird and wonderful food, and join us during our favourite holidays. And we know you’ll want to get a closer look at those fierce Vikings!
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