Firstly, I’d like to say, how wonderful the UiT danseklubb performers were last night.  The dancers were beginner-amateurs of Swing and have only had a handful of Swing lessons before signing up to be performers.  Even though they weren’t professional dancers, the audience was none-the-wiser.

Being a trained/educated stage manager, I tend to have very high [...]

Berg is just outside of Tromsø on the mainland.  It is a farming area and every year the community gets together and puts on an event for us city-goers.  The Nissehelg (Elf Weekend) is now a tradition and every year we go out and brave the cold (and darkness) to visit the fjøsnisser (barn elves). [...]

I had the opportunity to be in Oslo the day Obama left.  I arrived early in the morning and when I reached the city the streets were filled with police and their automatic weapons.  They completely outnumbered the pedestrians.  It was hard to get around as the footpaths were still lined with steel fences.  There [...]

Juletid (Christmas time) is a celebration of traditions and family in Norway. With the fall of winter snow and the wonderful displays of Northern Lights, Norwegians sit round their fire places, dance around the Christmas tree, enjoy rich food and share julefryd (Christmas cheer) with family, friends and in their communities. At this special time [...]

Decorating the whole house for Christmas is a big tradition in Norway.  It is certainly worth all the fuss as it not only creates a great atmosphere but your work will be up during the whole Christmas season – from December til mid-January.  (That’s better than displaying your artwork at most galleries!)  No table is [...]

A Norwegian Christmas is filled with many celebrations and traditions, old and new. As the snow falls, the white landscape is the first sign of Christmas and Norway starts to prepare for their long season of juletid.
November
As the snow comes, Norway enters the Christmas season early with a series of Christmas parties. Work, clubs, schools [...]

In Norway, Advent is the time of year when Christians count the days to the birth of Christ celebration – Christmas.  Technically Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before 25th December and is remembered each Sunday until Christmas Day.  This season features the colour purple as purple symbolises anticipation and preparation.  Traditionally four purple candles [...]

The 17th of May – Norwegian Constitution Day – is celebrated all over Norway and around the world.  Tromsø puts on a grand event with ‘the people’ being the focus of the day.  Events happen from 7am in the morning with the flag raising and the laying of wreaths at particular memorial sites to commemorate [...]

The Sami Easter festival has something for everyone.  Not only can you get up close and personal with the reindeer but there is a whole array of activities that showcase Sami life and culture.  The festival also includes the Reindeer Racing World Cup, the Sami Film Festival (which is held in an ice-cinema), the Sami [...]

Dance Day (or Dansens Dag in Norwegian) is celebrated all over Norway.  Every year Norway joins with the rest of the world to promote dance on International Dance Day, 29th April.  However, Norwegians love dancing so much that the closest weekend is also included and so we get to have a whole week of dancing [...]