Fresh Red Currants
In Oz, ‘don’t eat the red berries!’ In Norway, ‘eat as much as you want’. I grew up enjoying nature from a distance. Australians are taught to be scared of everything because it will bite, poison or kill you. On the other side (of the world) people live life differently. Nature gives without taking. Little pockets of yummy goodness can be found right outside your backdoor. Red currants grow wild in Norway, beside roads, next to fences and under trees. It is so much nicer seeing something yummy and being allowed to eat it. What a wonderful childhood it would be to always have blueberry fingers, red currant lips and cloud berry bellies.
by in category Food & Recipes, Nature, Quirks & Tickles
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Nisse parties happen in many kindergartens, primary schools, church and community groups in Norway. They are a casual celebration of the julenisse (Christmas elf) tradition especially for children (but the big kids love them too).
Confirmations were important for entrance into adult life. One had to have their confirmation to be able to work or get married.
It’s always fun to take kids to the beach.
Table settings are very much a part of the tradition of serving cake.
How do you like the darkness?
This custom is based on a spiritual commitment.
We sort of have the same thing here… I often see people picking blackberries from hedges around my neck of the woods. I miss cloud berries, and always stock up with jam from IKEA… it’s the next best thing, I guess!
I absolutely love cloud berries. But those red berries look good too.
I spent my first twelve years in Norway and enjoyed picking and eating blueberries but I’m not familiar with cloud berries. We used to pick “tytte” berries, similar to a small cranberry. Is that what you refer to as cloudberries?
One of my favorite childhood memories was reaching out a window of my uncle’s rambling old house in Bergen and picking fat blueberries on the steep hillside near the harbor. Then taking his boat to Foldnes and staying in their cabin on a ‘rock’, where I would pick gooseberries and throw them at my grandfather until he got up from his sun bath & scolded me. Of course, I would eat as many as I threw. Thanks for reminding me what sweetness there is to be found along the way, if we just look for it.
@Henning: Cloudberries are “multebær” in Norwegian. It’s the larger, orange/red berries. Very sweet, and often considered the gourmet berries of Norway.