All Hallows Day
It would seem that Halloween is a new celebration in Norway since trick-or-treating has only become popular in the last ten years. However, this holiday has a long tradition in Norway that started in medieval times. In the 10th century A.D. the Catholic Church had become established among the pagan Norsemen under the iron fist of St. Olav. The Church celebrated All Hallows Day, now also known as All Saints’ Day, on the 1st of November every year. Traditionally, All Hallows Day started at sunset the day before, which was called All Hallows Even (Hallow E’en or Halloween). The holiday was adopted by the Protestant Church after the reformation in the 16th century, but was altered to be a commemoration of the dead.
Today, All Saints Day is marked on the calendar, but is not widely celebrated as a religious occasion. However, the day has instilled a tradition with Norwegians to visit and tend the graves of their loved ones with lanterns and flowers – be it on All Saints or any other day of the year.
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Pølse is THE fast food of Norway. When the grilled pølse was first introduced to Norway in the 50s it was eaten naked – without bread.
Many Norwegians know what they are doing when they pick wild mushrooms. This knowledge is passed down the family during mushroom hunting trips. The hard-core mushroom hunters go into the mountain wilderness for days to get the best finds.
The sun never goes down during this season but the mountains to the East are so high that the sun still has to raise above them in the morning hours and an artificial dawn-effect wakes the city.
I remember visiting the cemetery in Sumstad. I saw many of the graves of my father’s family.
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from L-Jay:
Cemetery’s are everywhere in Norway. Norwegian’s don’t really cremate and so it is common for families to buy a plot to be buried together.