A special Christmas tradition for kindergarten children in Tromsø is the Nissetog (Santa Parade). Over 30 kindergartens in Tromsø gather together in the city’s torget (market square). The energy in the square could light a thousand Christmas trees. All the children, family and friends, dress as Nisse (a Norwegian Elf). The Nisse come in two [...]

OK, picture this: You are walking around in the city, minding your own business and focusing on the ground to avoid slipping on the ice. It’s late November and shops are beginning to put up decorations. You hear the low hum of rotor blades in the distance. As you walk, the hum gets louder and [...]

Norwegians love to social dance. I am often amazed at how many dance places there are in big cities, country towns and even coastal villages. Norway has its own traditional dance that involves a short man in a suit kicking a hat out of a maiden’s hand who is standing above him on a chair [...]

Every Easter the Sami host the World Reindeer Racing Championships. It is held at Kautokeino, a little Sami town just two hours south of Alta. Easter is a perfect time to have the event as there is plenty of snow and the sun is shining bright. (But you still have to keep moving otherwise your [...]