Christmas in Norway

I can count on one hand the Christmases I didn’t celebrate ‘at home’ since I moved to the Netherlands 37 years ago. And when I say home, I mean Norway in this context.

Christmas (‘Jul’ in Norwegian) is a very special holiday for us Norwegians. A time of traditions, but also a time that we want to spend with family. It is so special, I wouldn’t want to miss that, and neither would André, he’s also grown fond of it.

The days leading up to Christmas are called ‘førjulstid’, or ‘pre-Christmas time’. We bake Christmas cookies – seven different types when we can; we go out to dinner with colleagues (‘julebord’); we buy presents, write Christmas cards, hang up the decorations in and around the house, etc. Yes, it’s a bit stressful, but nevertheless, we try to enjoy it as much as we can.

And then it’s 23 December, ‘lille julaften’. The day before Christmas. In the old days, this was the day when families would decorate the tree, and at night they would gather around the television set. It’s a tradition, dating back to 1980, to watch the Christmas classic ‘Dinner for one’, with Miss Sophie. This film, in black and white, is hilarious!

24 December is ‘julaften’. The main event: Christmas eve. In the morning, there’s still time for a last trip to the shops, but you have to hurry because they close at 13.00h. That’s when the relaxation starts.

For lunch, we have rice porridge, nice and warm. One of the plates of porridge contains an almond. While we eat, we keep a close eye on the others. Who will find the almond this year? My mother has her preferences; there’s always someone she wants to spoil a little extra on this day. The person who has the almond gets a prize. Most years, it’s a marzipan pig (‘julegris’). Funny enough, André wins more often than I do.

After lunch, we start preparing the dinner, another very traditional affair. What you eat depends on the region where you live or where you’re from. That could be anything from fish to meat. At our place, we eat ‘pinnekjøtt’ (mutton), served with copious amounts of beer and Aquavit. It’s delicious, nom nom nom! André has a slightly different opinion, so he gets an alternative. Again, he gets spoiled!

As I said, Christmas in Norway is a family affair. On Christmas eve, the family comes together, and it’s unusual for people to visit others that evening. The only people you will see out on the street are people on their way to visit family.

During the day, or at least before dinner, we commemorate the loved ones who are no longer with us, by laying flowers/wreaths on their graves and by lighting a light. When it gets dark, the whole cemetery lights up; it is a great sight, especially when it’s been snowing. It takes your breath away. It is so beautiful!

The festivities start at 17.00h, the official start of the Christmas celebrations. We dress up in our best clothes, and the table is set with the best china service. We drink mulled wine as an aperitif, and then we sit down for an elaborate and enjoyable dinner. The children are somewhat impatient because after dinner it’s time for the Christmas presents. And who knows, maybe ‘julenissen’ (Santa) will be paying us a visit! ??

The evening can run late into the night, so we often skip breakfast on Christmas Day and meet again for Christmas lunch.

GOD JUL!