Tree House
Since the Viking age (at least) it was typical to have a layer of dirt on houses and buildings as the dirt insulated from the cold Winters and warm Summers. Grass was grown on top so the dirt wouldn’t fall off and I guess to also beautify the building. The Sami even mounded their houses into a little hill of earth and grass, like the one below from Nordland. Even though Sami were nomads, they would have seasonal houses they returned to every year which made this permanent structure worth while. However, not all Sami were nomads. The coastal Sami had permeant structures for both humans and animals. And today it is only the Sami that have a livelihood herding that live a semi-nomadic life.
Grass roofs sure look cute in the Norwegian landscape. Nowadays it is usual to see grass growing on boat sheds, however, I think this little one has taken it one step further and is growing trees on its roof.
Subscribe
RSS
Many English words actually come from old Norse language – brought by Vikings to England in medieval times. Here are some words you have probably uttered without realising you are speaking Norwegian!
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.
There is an opposition in everything. At the darkest time of the year, we celebrate Christmas. And at the exact opposite end, when the midnight sun is at its highest, we celebrate Midsummer.
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.