Christmas celebration in Norway is rich in traditions, and is dedicated to family and friends, parties and good food. For most people, the celebration of Christmas Eve on 24 December is the most important event.
15/12/2006 :: The Advent season in December gives a foretaste of Christmas. Family and friends get together, lighting candles on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve. The first Sunday, one candle is lit, and an additional candle is lit each week to mark the passing of Advent, the period of waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many people keep old traditions alive, for example by reading Christmas stories and by putting out a sheaf of grain for the birds. Children are often given an Advent calendar containing a small chocolate figure or homemade present for each day.
The vast array of Christmas magazines that are published in December are another Christmas tradition that is peculiar to Norway. Young and old alike read the popular Norwegian and foreign comics dedicated to Christmas.
Most families have their own traditions for Christmas Eve. Rice porridge is often served at lunchtime, and whoever finds the almond hidden in it gets a present, typically a marzipan pig. In the afternoon, many people go to Church, and after the service some people put candles and flowers on their relatives’ graves. At five o’clock all the church bells ring, and on television the boys’ choir Sølvguttene sing carols to mark the real beginning of Christmas.
Depending on the region, Christmas Eve dinner may consist of roasted pork ribs, steamed lamb ribs or fish. The grown-ups mostly drink special Christmas beer, which some people still brew themselves, and aquavit, while the children are given a special red fizzy Christmas drink. A typical dessert is rice cream served with a sauce based on red berries. After dinner, it is an old tradition for the family to join hands round the Christmas tree and walk round it singing Christmas carols.
For most children, the most exciting moment is when Father Christmas knocks on the door and comes in, bringing presents for the children that have been good. Another popular figure associated with Christmas in Norway is the barn gnome. He can be mischievous and full of tricks if he isn’t treated well. On many farms, a big bowl of rice porridge with butter, sugar and cinnamon is therefore left in the barn at Christmas to keep him happy.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs