In a nation obsessed with dieting, the store shelves have been pretty much stripped clean of butter for over a month. The reason is not what you may expect.

This year I was on a mission to see the difference between julekake… …and julebrød. In past years they seemed to be the same to me but I never had them both at the same time to make a proper claim.  So, this year I bought both a julekake and a julebrød together. And the [...]

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).  Children dress up as little nisse (elves) with red dresses and gowns with white trimming.  It is common for children [...]

Coming in on the barge to Lyngen I had to double-take – is that Nisse?  He looks quite at home in the Arctic snow.  I would have thought it was the juletid season if I didn’t know it was three months after Christmas.  The difference between Christmas and Spring is that the sun has returned [...]