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 [...]

Norwegian Constitution Day is celebrated by a series of parades. In these parades it is the people who are in focus as they march on Norway’s ‘birthday’. There are so many happenings, things to see and do, on this day. In this video you will see a slice of what a 17th May parade day [...]

Påskeris is the Easter equivalent to a Christmas tree – a traditional Norwegian decoration.  Made of birch twigs and set into a vase, påskeris is normally put up on Palm Sunday.  The birch twigs are a substitute for palms branches, in remembrance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, however, most of the religious significance [...]

Easter in Norway is a time of renewing.  Spring is in the air and the sun has returned.  New life creeps into the landscape, homes are redecorated with Summer colours and Norwegians enjoy the outdoors with snow activities.  This time of year marks the end of the long Winter. Symbols of Easter Chickens and eggs [...]