Norway Christmas: fully Entrenched in Traditions

Norway Christmas Traditions are such that they make the festivities stand out from the rest of the Christmas celebrations from around the world. Here Christmas is a combination of traditional heathen believes merged with the ancient Christian traditions. It is the conglomeration of the old superstitions along with the rituals and customs of the area. There are month long celebrations for this festival as both young and old get together to enjoy the festivities and dwell in revelries. People usually become more pensive and caring at these times.

Traditionally Christmas was the time when the mid winter sacrificial feast were held, marking the transition phase from the dark and dingy winters to lively spring summer season. This was the time that was marked to celebrate harvest, fertility death and birth. However King Haakon I in 900s ascertained that the heathen custom of drinking Jul (Yule) should be rescheduled to December 25, to show respect to the birth of Jesus Christ as well.

Norway Christmas celebrations traditionally involve putting the cross signs on the doors and also on the bread for decorations. This is considered as means for keeping the evil spirits at bay. Though there was a wide variety of dishes that are served during the Christmas celebrations but one underlying factor in all is the fact that the meals are very elaborate.  The entire household including the helpers and the guests and family eat together and take pleasure in the joys of Christmas. Food so prepared during this time is left out till the next day so as to feed the spirits who might want to be a part of the celebrations during the night. No one can forget the share of the little gnome ‘Nisse’ who is considered as the guardian of all the farm animals and plays tricks if his special porridge treats is forgotten at this time for him.

Norway Merry Christmas entails extended celebrations that can go on for weeks to enjoy the joys of the festival. It is marked by ‘Advent; that is the time for celebration of Christ’s nativity. This is the time of fasting marking the spiritual preparations. Christmas fairs are held all over and the entire festive surroundings ensure that you are deeply entrenched in the spirit of Christmas. In addition to the traditional festivities involving the spirits and the gnomes there are also special meals that are prepared during these times. ‘Sand Kager’ which is a favourite during the festive season is a holiday cookie that is always prepared during these days. Just like the Halloween celebrations in US where children go out asking for ‘trick or treat’, in Norway Christmas children go to everyone’s houses asking for goodies, and their requests are complied pleasurably. Though Norway Christmas is celebrated in totally different manner but the spirit and the enthusiasm is the same and it advocates the underlying faith of being good human beings.