Traditional Christmas in Norway - Life Under the Oak Tree

A traditional Christmas in Norway is magical. The lights, the snow, the mountains, and the deep blue winter light during the twilight hours create a cozy ambiance and make everything so Koselig. There are a lot of traditions and celebrations that are quite different than what I am used to, in the best possible way. Here are a few of my favorite things about a Traditional Christmas in Norway.

Count down the days with Advent

In order to have a traditional Christmas in Norway, you must have an advent calendar. There is an advent calendar for everyone here, from the most simple to the most complex. They start on December 1 and every day there is a treat inside. Dave’s had all different kinds of candy in his, and mine had a bag of tea with either a piece of candy, chocolate, or licorice on the inside and a nice quote in Norwegian that I had to translate. The quotes were reminders to slow down, enjoy the season, and be in the moment.

Some of the TV channels will also offer an advent. They will play 24 episodes from December 1 – December 24 to count down the days to Christmas.

Cut down your own tree

We started asking about Christmas trees at the end of November, which is when we would start thinking about getting a tree in the states. The first lady I asked said she goes to the mountain on Christmas Eve and cuts one down herself. Two Sundays before Christmas, we drove with our friends Lois and Svein, until we finally came to a stop and were told we could pick out our Christmas tree. We walked until we found the most perfectly imperfect tree, and down it came. Svein, Lois’ husband, then told us this land has been in his family for generations and we were welcome to come walk and explore it whenever we wanted. It is tradition for Norwegians to cut down their tree and/or decorate on December 23, as that is the last day to get ready for Christmas.

Shop at Christmas Markets and boutiques

Shopping local has the same magical feel no matter where you are in the world. It’s the same feeling of knowing that your purchase matters to the local business owner, or artist, and this transcends countries and language. Shopping small in Norway means visiting some of the best Christmas markets in the world, or visiting your local boutique. I had the opportunity to do both and the experience of eating a homemade pancake with Brunost cheese (my personal favorite Norwegian treat), while talking to a local farmer about her homemade crafts made from sheep’s wool, or shopping at the local boutiques where all gifts are complimentary gift wrapped, cannot be matched by shopping in the big crowded malls.

Have a Christmas beer or pop

Or, soda for my non-midwesterners. We visited Macks’ brewpub, Olhallen, which is the Northernmost Brewery in the world and the oldest bar in Tromso. We had a lot of fun trying the different Christmas beers in a relaxed atmosphere. They had board games and decks of cards so you can cozy up and play a game if you’d like. The bartender told us that on the Friday before Christmas it is one of the busiest days of the year for them. Everyone loves to have a Christmas beer and socialize with their friends before all of the family festivities begin.

Julenisse and Nissen

Julenisse is Santa Claus and Fjøsnissen, or nissen, is a mythological being from Nordic folklore. Nissen are similar to gnomes, and they live in barns to protect the people that live there. There are lots of stories and tales of Nisse and trolls in Norway, and Julenisse is a Christmas version. This also means that Norway officially has the best Santa’s that I have ever seen, and I have started to accumulate them and gift them.

Bake Christmas Cookies

There are so many delicious baked goods and pastries in Norway. Baking is an important part of getting ready for Christmas. The cookies make the best homemade gifts, and are perfect to eat on Christmas morning for breakfast. I made 4 types of Christmas cookies this year, including Kringla, a traditional Norwegian cookie that is very rustic looking (or maybe that’s just my skill set) and soft and delicious. They are made with sour cream instead of butter, perfectly sweet, and somewhat similar to a sugar cookie. You can see more of my Christmas baking here.

Find the almond in the porridge

Grøt, or Norwegian rice porridge, is a common dish throughout the year. Julegrøt is the holiday version and is oftern served with dried fruit or cinnamon and eaten on Christmas Eve as a lunch or dessert. Typically, a single almond is hidden in one of the bowls and whoever finds it wins a marzipan pig! Also, as it turns out, I do not love marzipan so I do not need to win this game.

Have a traditional Christmas in Norway meal

While the food that served will vary a bit regionally in Norway, the big family celebration typically happens on Christmas Eve. Depending on the location, Ribbe (pork), Pinekjøtt (sheep), Lamb, or Cod (or Lutefisk, we can talk about that later) may be served, along with several traditional fixings. The most popular dish is Ribbe, eaten by more than half of Norwegians, which is pork belly served with a very crispy crust. This is what I decided to make for Christmas eve, and since I have never made it or eaten it before, I am proud of how it turned out!

I also made some very traditional Norwegian side dishes: whole potatoes, mashed rutabaga and carrots, Boller, a traditional Cardamom bun, Norwegian meatballs, and roasted cabbage with sausage, prunes, and apricots.

It is a very meat heavy meal, which is not how I typically eat but I wanted to immerse myself in the culture and tradition as much as possible and this is a very traditional Christmas in Norway meal.

Enjoy Juldag Day 1 and Day 2, followed by Romjulen

Since the big family celebration and Christmas dinner happens on Christmas Eve, along with opening gifts, Christmas Day is more quiet and private for families. Enjoying a movie together or going on a nice walk or skiing together is common. December 26 is Juldag 2, which translates to second Christmas Day. Another day to relax and enjoy the company of your loved ones. Romjulen is the time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Many Norwegians take this time to travel, visit with friends and family, or spend the time quietly at home reading or knitting. Restaurants may have special hours and menus, and it is a good time for some additional R&R before the New Year.

And that’s it! That is how we celebrated Christmas like Norwegians. I love our Traditional Christmas in Norway and I hope to take some of these traditions with us during our life and loved the opportunity to experience them first hand.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

xo Kelly

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4 thoughts on “Traditional Christmas in Norway”

Julie Ann
December 27, 2019 at 3:01 pm

Hi Kelly! Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing your Christmas in Norway with us. It is so beautiful and refreshing to see the lack of commercialism and nonsense we have in the U.S. Christmas trees SHOULD be put up closer to Christmas (than Thanksgiving). What an awesome experience for you guys this Christmas! XO
1. Kelly
  January 10, 2020 at 1:26 pm
  
  Hi Julie! I am so glad you enjoyed learning about Christmas in Norway! It is definitely refreshing to take a break from the commercialism of it all and so lovely that so much of it is focused on time with family.
D'aniza
January 4, 2020 at 8:21 am

I loved reading about Christmas in Norway I learned a lot about things and I’m happy you enjoyed your Christmas. I can’t wait to read more!!
1. Kelly
  January 10, 2020 at 1:27 pm
  
  Hi D’Aniza! Thank you so much, I am so happy you enjoyed the post!

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