Norwegian Christmas
How do the Norwegians celebrate Christmas? How is a Norwegian Christmas?Well, in many different ways, of course. The main stream has Christmas tree, gifts, traditional Norwegian Christmas dinner with Christmas beer and Aquavit to it.One traditional Christmas cake is "krumkaker" (see photo), and we have lots of other "småkaker" (small cakes) to the Christmas coffee, among other Christmas-this and Christmas-that. That's how it is. 
The Christmas Celebration is extremely traditional in Norway.We like to eat and to drink, exactly the same as we are used to, during centuries. The Norwegian Christmas traditions are supposed to make us feel as we used to when we were children, and it's hard to make us change anything.In schools and kindergardens, and in private homes, of course, there are Christmas workshops (see photo) , where young and old are gathered making gifts and food for Christmas. Food and statistics
9 out of 10 Norwegians are having meat as their Christmas dinner. most from pork (58%). In western Norway, 7 out of 10 prefer salted, dry meat from sheep, a dish called "pinnekjøtt". In Northern Norway, 62% has pinnekjøtt as first choice.58% said that the time with family and friends is the most important with Norwegian Christmas. Only 2% is saying that the Christmas gifts or the celebration of Jesus birth is the best Christmas is bringing.96% of the population in Norway is celebrating Christmas.Source: matprat.no How we celebrate ChristmasMany are surprised that the Norwegians celebrate the 24th as Christmas.For most Norwegians, the 24th of December IS the real Christmas. The 25th of December we call 1.juledag (first Christmas Day) and the 26th is 2.juledag. Both days are holidays in Norway, and most people are not working on the 24th either.This year, the schools are having their Christmas holiday from the 20th of December, and start again on January 3. or 4. Some goes to church in the afternoon on Christmas Eve the 24th, and some on the December 25. For many people the Christmas is just not Christmas without the traditional visit to the local church. Lille Julaften (Little Christmas Eve)
The last week before Christmas, people are buying their Christmas tree. Personally we take our tree into the house on December 22., and we decorate it in the evening of the 23., which we call Lillejulaften (little Christmas Eve).When the decoration is finished, we put all the gifts under the tree.This evening we get the first taste the Christmas food of the year, like the ”fenalår” that is a leg of mutton, salted and then dried. And maybe even a taste of the ”Juleøl” (dark Christmas beer) and the Aquavit. Then we listen to traditional Christmas music, making the last prepair for the next day, finishing the last gifts, and just enjoy the evening. Julaften (Christmas Eve)
Next day, the 24th, or Julaften, we start the day with an ordinary breakfast, and then we start preparing the family-lunch, where my sister and brothers with their family are coming for coffe and some Christmas treat.Around 15.00 we are all going to the churchyard to light candles on the family graves.Each family are then going home to their place for the Christmas celebration, and the Christmas dinner.Late in the afternoon, at 17.00, all the Church bells in the whole country are ringing, and then it's Christmas and a relaxing peace over towns and places all over Norway. 
At 17.00, when the church bells in Fiksdal Church has called for Christmas celebration, we have our traditional Christmas dinner.Most people around where we live do have the same for their Cristmas dinner, the "pinnekjøtt", which is just amazing, and unlike anything else. For those of us who are used to it, Christmas is not Christmas without pinnekjøtt.I hope to come back later with more information about the dish and the recipe.At 20.00 it's time for some coffe and dessert, and then it’s time to open the gifts. When the children were small, this could be a noicy part of the celebration, but when they are all grown up, it’s more like a moment of calm and peace. 1. Juledag (First Christmas Day)
The next day is December 25., and what Norwegians would call First Christmas Day.Now we have what we call the "Julefrokost" (Christmas Breakfast), or "Julebrunch" what you can call a late breakfast, and a meal both breakfast and lunch. The table is normally quite loaded on these occations. The best of what Christmas can offer, and food that is unlike what we eat the rest of the year.I hope to come back later with more description of the food and the recipes. 
From my childhood I remember that this was The Family Day of the year. This day we were not allowed to visit our neighbours, or to leave the house to play with other children. This was the day for relaxing, listen to the music on the radio, and to play with our new toys.I believe all these traditions are gone. For children today it's just like any other day, and maybe that's just as well?
Our family might have breast of pork (svineribbe) for dinner this day, but many people that has this for their Christmas Eve dinner, it's now time for fish.On the 25th, dinner is often served in the middle of the day, in opposite to the Christmas Eve dinner that is an evening -, or late afternoon meal. And for coffee we naturally serve our in-and-out cakes. Norwegian Spekemat
Another strong Christmas tradition is the "spekemat": Salted and dried meat from pork and sheep. For most Norwegians there will be no real Christmas without the "spekemat", and lots of people make their own. In the coastal areas, the climate often makes it difficult to get the meat dried enough, and the one you buy in the groceries are just fine. 
The spekemat from mutton we call "fenalår", and the one from pork is the "spekeskinke".To the left here you can see the "fenalår", both the whole one, and ready cut for serving on a traditional Norwegian lunch-table, of course with "flatbrød" to it. 
We also have other kinds we call "spekemat", like the "mørpølse", also called "morr" (polse means sausage). This is made from mutton, and the meat is grinded, added spices, salt and pepper, and water, and formed like a sausage, before it is hanged to dry. See photo to the left. 
And of course, with the "spekemat" we have to have old, traditional "flatbrød", and if possible: The homemade kind.Flatbrød is also to be bought in the grocery shops, but there's nothing like the thin, homemade, baked by the old women that really know the art. Christmas Desserts
To many people, the dessert is another important issue when it comes to Christmas. Again: Tradition. Tradition. Tradition.A winner at any Christmas dinner party is the "karamellpudding" (see photo), one of the most common desserts all year in Norway. You can buy a mix-in-bag where you just add milk and boil it up, before you put it to chill, but most of us definately preffere the "home made" kind.
From Cloudberry and whipped cream, we get what Norwegians know as "multekrem". This is a traditional Christmas dessert, and loved by lots of people. 
Chocolate cake. Not exactly a Christmas Speciality, but a winner at any dessert table. We will be back with more, and hope to bring you some recipes and more photosYou can also take a look at our recipes in the "Norwegian Food" pages. Back from Norwegian Christmas to homepage |
Norwegian Traditionals | |
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Smultringer / Donuts | |
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Krumkaker | |
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Fattigmann | |
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Marvpostei | |
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Pepperkaker | |
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Hjortetakk | |
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