Traditions and everyday life in Norway
Festivals, family customs, favourite places and everyday traditions, written by members of Global Penfriends who live in Norway. Each cultural keepsake is a short note about life where they are.
40 keepsakes from Norway · page 1 of 2
Family life
Konfirmasjon when we turn 15 years of age
The year we turn 15 we can choose if we wanna have a konfirmasjon. If we do want it, we have to choose either a Christian konfirmasjon or bourgeois. The Christian one was more normal in the older days but still over 50% choose it…
Shared by Noorababe
Place
Gaustatoppen mountain - Norway's Majestic Viewpoint
Gaustatoppen is a towering mountain in Telemark, Norway, renowned for offering one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the country. Rising to 1,883 meters, it’s said that on a clear day, you can see one-sixth of Norway from its…
Shared by Avocadomaze
Activity
Folkehøyskole after high school
Folkehøyskole is a type of school that one goes to after high school, when one wants a break from study. One chooses different courses that conductor over a year, this can be anything from fashion, theater, dance, skiing…
Shared by Siri_sh
Tradition
Mountain cabins for Easter
It is very common for Norwegians to own or rent a cottage some distance outside their home. Cottage tradition is something that has been around for many years. Easter is celebrated in the cabins, the winter months are spent at…
Shared by Ylvisss
Event
Norway's National Day
It's the most special day in Norway - the 17th of May. It's always a day where nobody works except in hospitals, the cabs, the police and other important jobs. ☺ The whole country dresses up om our national clothes, goes outside…
Shared by Emily1972
Event
Potatoe festival
Every year towards the end of september a big local potatoe festival is held. Here people set up stalls along the pavement in the towns high street and sell all types of potatoes like. sacks of potatoes for taking home, baked…
Shared by Jaames
Tradition
Konfirmasjon
A Norwegian confirmation happens when you’re around 14/15, and can be both religious and non-religious, it’s really up to oneself. Normally there is a course have to complete, before the ceremony. The day of, one will…
Shared by Sofie.solheim
Everyday life
The Midnight Sun & Polar Night
Imagine living somewhere the sun doesn't set for weeks in summer, but barely makes an appearance in winter!Welcome to life above the Arctic Circle! During summer, we can go hiking at midnight in broad daylight. In winter, we…
Shared by AmandaBal
Place
The view from Mount Ulriken, Bergen
Mount Ulriken is the tallest of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen. There's multiple trails, where the most popular one consists of stone stairs that were placed by Sherpas. As hiking is a big part of the culture here, you'll…
Shared by Lyu5
Event
17th of May
On the 17th of May 1814, the Norwegian constitution was written and signed by Norwegian noblemen in Eidsvoll. Today, this event is celebrated every 17th of May as a national holiday with parades, flags and local festivities…
Shared by sofaturret
Tradition
Taco friday
Taco friday is a widespread phenomenon in Norway, where may people will eat taco at least once a week, and usually on Fridays. Nobody really knows how it ended up being a so big part of our culture, but we are all pretty happy…
Shared by Chilili08
Activity
Skiing is very popular
Skiing is popular in lots of countries, however Norway is especially famous for the sport. Almost everyone here knows how to do both cross country and downhill skiing. I for one started learning how to ski cross country when I…
Shared by coldcakepop
Everyday life
Polar nights
Polar nights are when the sun dosen't rise above the horizon. This phenomenon happens within the Polar Circle. That means the days a short and daylight is almost non-existent, usually only 1-3 hours of daylight. The nights are…
Shared by Briney
Activity
Going on a hike/walk/trip on sundays
Norwegians often have sundays as a day when you go for a hike. Shops are closed and most people dont have work on sundays so people often choose to go hiking in the mountains, go skiing or taking a little trip on this day. I…
Shared by Raven321
Tradition
Norwegian bunad
In Norway we have a traditional national costume called bunad, its the most solemn clothing you can wear. About 70% of all women own one and about 20% men, we have about 450 different bunads, they all represent what…
Shared by X10ne
Activity
The Beauty of Nature
My country is known for it's beautiful nature, but I cannot underline how much it seeps into the culture. Going fishing, going hiking up mountains, going on car rides across the country as a child. Seeing sheep, and fjords and…
Shared by Peridotdot
Tradition
Buekorps
Thus is an old tradition, from the 1800. Its almost as a Archery brigades. Most of them are just Boys, but now there is also mixed and just Girls. On pur National day they go around in the streets with drums and uniformes.
Shared by Trolljeger
Activity
kayaking in the skerries
My favorite activity is to kayak around the small islands and listen to the beautiful sound of the ocean and the bird life. I often bring a cup of coffee and a good book to sit on the small beaches and enjoy the nature.
Shared by Marinapåtur
Activity
Go for walks in the nature
Norway has the most beautiful nature to explore! Especially the mountains. It is so beautiful colours allmost everywere. For example you have a place called Besseggen and it is just the most amazing view there.
Shared by Dull
Place
Hiking in the norwegian mountains
We love our mountains. The view is nice so long the fog is gone. We greet strangers in the mountains, but not in the cities. The pictures are from when my family and I hiked in Loen and Oddekloven in Norway.
Shared by Lene_Bookdragon
Tradition
Fastelaven boller
Every year in fastelavn we make these fastelavn buns that are really delicious. They have whipped cream and berries as filling. Even though it’s connected to religion, we just do it because it’s fun
Shared by Flexi
Activity
Norwegians born with skis on feet
They say that norwegians exit their mothers womb with skis on their feet. Everybody skis in the winter and when the snow is gone and summer is here, we just put wheels on our skis and keep going ^^
Shared by Chrispi91
Activity
Going on hikes
Norwegians generally love going on hikes, and I'm no exception. I'm working on my art skill so I can bring some drawing and painting supplies on my walks and try to capture the beautiful scenery.
Shared by Mothil
Activity
Summer-berries
Summertime in Norway mostly consists of finding fruits and berries, picking fruits and berries and eating them. A lot of eating. This picture represents typical Norwegian fruit!
Shared by O20H08
Place
Statue of Liberty Norway
This is a miniature version of the statue of Liberty, it was made after the discovery that the Copper from Visnes was sent to France to be a part of the original statue.
Shared by Falk B
Activity
Watch northern lights
Normally its something you forget about when you see them almost everyday during winter, but its so much fun bringing friends from abroad who has never seen it before!
Shared by gamstern
Everyday life
Beautiful Hovedøya
A very beautiful small Island thats 10min away with a ferry from the city bay down by the ocean. Love going here especially when spring starts, very green and quiet
Shared by Simasuperduper
Activity
Winter skiing
Skiing in the mountain and winter blue light in January. Have to make a fire and make a snow wall to hide from the cold wind and keep the heat.
Shared by Maasen
Place
National day 17th May
On this day we need to get up early as our son will join his school band and walk through the streets playing his saxophone.
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