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Christmas in NorwayGod Jul!
The Season Begins with Advent
Christmas in Norway begins with Advent. Advent is the preparation for the coming of Christ. In the old days, this meant four weeks of fasting and prayer, starting the Sunday closest to November 30. Every Sunday for four weeks, another advent candle is lit. The first three represent hope, peace and love. The fourth candle represents joy, and is represented usually by a different color. Some people add a fifth candle, to be lit on Christmas eve, which is always white - and symbolizes Christ.Advent also signals the beginning of preparations for Christmas in Norway. Norwegians begin by giving the house, yard and barn a thorough 'rafter to bedrock' cleaning. The whole family joins in, and everything gets the once-over to be sure it is sparkling for the holidays. The next holiday celebrated as a part of Christmas in Norway is St. Lucia's day, December 13th. These celebrations are similar to those in Sweden. Lucia was a 4th century Sicilian Christian, martyred in 304. She was known for her kindness and generosity, eventually becoming a saint. Schools, nursing homes, hospitals, churches and many businesses have Lucia celebrations. These often include one girl chosen to represent Lucia herself, and several other girls, also dressed in white to be her attendants. They may bring food and drink on their rounds, and they always spread good cheer and glad tidings of the season. After Lucia Day, preparations for Christmas in Norway begin to move at a faster pace. Much holiday baking is done, with seven different kinds of cookies, cakes and pastries being a minimum offering in nearly every home. Often, there are more! Julekake is among the most popular in many households. It is a sweet bread, made with raisins, candied fruit peels and cardamom. Christmas beer, "juleol," is brewed early in the season so that it is sure to be ready for a fine toast on Christmas eve. Originally, this was a sacrificial beverage, made from the best grains of the harvest, and dedicated to the gods. Now, it is sometimes blessed by a priest, and is drunk as a toast to honor Christ. During this time, families go out to either cut, or purchase their Christmas tree. Most of the Scandinavian countries are thick with fir and pine forests, and cutting the tree is a typical family tradition in many parts of Norway. Crafting of ornaments for the tree, as well as the rest of the home is a quite common activity associated with Christmas in Norway, and the entire family joins in the fun. Candle-making is a part of this crafting tradition as well, and one that most families still practice. Because it was believed that at this time of the year, ghosts, gnomes and fairies wandered about the countryside, and that light chased them away from homes, candles have always been an important part of all winter festivities in Norway.
Christmas Eve is the Highlight of
Christmas in Norway
Christmas eve is the biggest of the holiday celebrations. It begins very early in the morning, with a trip to the barn to deliver the porridge for the "fjosnisse", or barn gnome. He lives in the barn and watches over the livestock. His job is to protect not only the animals, but the entire farm. If he doesn't get his Christmas porridge - and a big bowl of it at that - he has been known to play tricks on the humans that have snubbed him.Fjosnisse wears plain woolen clothing, a red knit cap, and a snowy white beard. He looks similar to Santa, but his purpose is to be sure the farm stays safe. In the old days, barn doors and windows were painted with a cross to keep evil spirits from entry and help the fjosnisse with his job. These days he works for a bit of simple bribery alone. Livestock and pets get a bit of special feed and extra portions in their buckets at Christmas. Feeding the wild birds is an important job as well. A sheaf of grain is tied with a red ribbon to a tall post, tree branch or bush. It is said that the more birds that come for the grain, the better the family's fortune will be in the New Year. Caring for the animals, whether it be pets, livestock or wildlife, is always a very important part of Christmas in Norway. While all of this is going on, parents are scurrying about the house, decorating the Christmas tree and wrapping gifts. The tree normally still dons real candles, though there may be white electric lights in addition to them. On Christmas eve, it is the candles that are lit. Church bells begin to ring at 5:00 pm. This signals that it is time for the businesses to be closed, and to hurry home and enjoy the evening. Before the family sits down to the evening meal, they gather to hear one member, usually Father, read from the family Bible about the birth of Christ. After this, a traditional Christmas eve dinner begins. There may be fresh cod or lutefisk (lye-treated, boiled cod). Pork dishes are very common, as pigs are one of the largest commodities of Norway. Traditional rice porridge is made, with the special almond, though wise mothers include one in each child's portion! All sorts of seasonal fruits, vegetable dishes and home-made breads grace the holiday table as well. Many of the breads are marked with the sign of the cross on top. Some food is always left out overnight, just in case a wandering spirit would like to join in the festivities. After dinner, the living room is opened to reveal the fully decorated and lighted Christmas tree. The family enters the room, joins hands, and begins the singing of Christmas carols, dancing around the tree, which is in the middle of the room. During the dancing and singing, Julenissen (Father Christmas) arrives with his sack full of presents. While the children gather around him, he asks if there are any good children there - to which the answer is always a resounding "YES!". He then distributes the presents, and while the children are opening them, slips away again, as mysteriously as he arrived. Relaxation with coffee, cake and other sweets ends the day.
On Christmas Day and After,
the Festivities Continue
The entire family goes to church on Christmas morning. The service is later now than it used to be, and breakfast is not quite the huge meal it was. Instead of a big breakfast after services, a smaller meal is in order, with snacks throughout the day, and dinner has replaced it as the traditional Christmas meal.For both, pork dishes are the highlight, and there are always breads and pastries. A full day of visits can be expected, and is a time-honored way of keeping Christmas in Norway. New Year is celebrated with a bang... Guns are fired out in the country, and fireworks are a part of the celebration in the cities. Church bells ring, and toasts are given. Another festive evening meal is also a part of the works for celebrating New Years. Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th. This is the night that the three Wise Men had finally arrived in Bethlehem to honor the birth of the Christ Child. Finally, Christmas in Norway departs on January 13th, which is the feast day of St. Canute. It is said that on the twentieth day, Canute comes to drive away Christmas. The entire season has been one for socializing, but the time between Christmas Day and January 13th is especially so. There are sleigh-rides and sleigh races. Friends and family pay visits to one another, taking their turns at each other's homes. Families often visit nursing homes, hospitals and shut-ins to spread a little Christmas cheer. During Christmas in Norway the children are often allowed to stay up late, playing, or socializing with the family. Sometimes they go from farm to farm, and are given warm drinks and sweet things to eat where ever they stop.
Other Traditions of Christmas in Norway
Norwegian sailors - wherever they happen to be dream of Christmas in Norway. They decorate their ships, both in harbor, and out at sea, and decorate and tie Christmas trees to the mast. Christmas is celebrated aboard ship as it is at home, with special dishes prepared for dinner, and all manner of sweets available. There are many sailor's missions which have been established throughout the world, where sailors can go for a taste of home during the holidays.Another tradition of Christmas in Norway is that of sending a huge and beautiful fir tree to Britain, to decorate Trafalgar Square. Norway has been the supplier of the Square's Christmas tree nearly every year since the German occupation of the country during the 1940's. It was during this time that King Haakon was exiled to England. Each year during his exile, the Norwegians smuggled a tree through the lines, and made sure he got it in time to celebrate a traditional Norwegian Christmas in Britain! Second Christmas is also a tradition in Norway. It occurs on St. Stephen's Day, December 26. This is usually the time that families go to visit the hospitals. They make special visits to those who cannot get out to visit others. Often, they share special Christmas sweets, bring presents, and sing carols with those who would otherwise miss out on all of the festivities of the season.
Links to Other Sites About
Christmas in Norway
Christmas in Scandinavia This site has several wonderful pages specifically about Christmas in Norway, as well as pages dedicated to how other Scandinavian countries celebrate Christmas, stories and other information. More to come. . .
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