“På ferie” (on holiday) is one of the first phrases you learn at Norwegian language school here in Norway and there is a very good reason! Norwegians love going on holiday – it is Norway’s biggest past time. Come Summer and practically the whole country shuts down to cater for all the Norwegians taking their [...]
The days have been beautiful over Easter and so we couldn’t let all the sunshine go to waste. A family BBQ on the sledding hill was the perfect way to make the most of our holiday. At 1 o’clock the hill was packed with sun-bathers and families. The hill is in a great position facing [...]
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 [...]
‘I’ll be away’ is starting to be a pain. I’m organising a festival at the moment and to make a festival happen you need people, lots of people. However, this time of year is the ‘I’ll be away’ season. Spain, Brazil, Thailand, Africa, Sweden and France are just some of the places my friends, family [...]
How Norway became a country is shrouded in mystery and folklore. The most well known tale is of Harald Hårfagre who gathered the small kingdoms of the north into a unified nation in 872AD – and of course, this story is about love.
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 further ‘out of the way’ you go the more common it is to see folk cottages standing by the side of roads, along fjords or in a thicket of trees, minding their own business.
Reindeer herding is more than just an occupation, it is a way of life and an integral part of the Sami culture and identity.
I think Autumn is my favourite season in Norway – the weather is still warm here in Tromsø, the sunsets come down over the mountains again and the blueberries are ripe for the picking.
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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!
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