Photo. Santa
Claus is from Norway (sometimes without beard).
Santa Claus is the world's best traveller and speaks every language. He can
go everywhere. So when the Norwegian Santa Claus shows up in Finland, the
Finnish believe he is from Finland. And when he drinks Koskenkorva, Finlandia
vodka, Salmiakki, Koff beer and sings Finnish Christmas drinking songs, there is
not a shadow of doubt in their mind that he has to be Finnish!
Even the Swedish claim that Santa Claus is from their country. The Danish
shouldn't say anything because they have no Reindeers which can drag the Santa
Claus around. Here in Norway we have a really big competition with our country
neighbours, with strong passion and national feelings. It's related to so high
prestige, but why? What`s the point?
Image. Santa on
his way with fast transportation.
He travels smart by using reindeers so he
avoids traffic chaos.
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I am sure that many people around the world consider us in Nordic countries as very
strange discussion this matter. Actually it's a very childish discussion. Each year we have a
quarrel about the origins of Santa Claus and where he lives.
To stop this silly discussion once and for all, I will hereby present the
finale proof. It's one thing we all agree about is that Santa Claus is a
man. Even though the biggest women chauvinists have to admit that! But in a weak
moment some interesting observations in Oslo nearly changed my mind about that (see photo below -
see also photo above from the wild party place Johns Bar in
Oslo).
Photo. Santa
appears sometimes without beard.
Santa girls celebrating Christmas at Johns Bar
i Oslo.
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Celebration of the Christmas Pre-season
The beautiful with snow around makes us happy and it
creates a unique atmosphere. At the moment it's Akevitt (Aquavit)- and Lutefisk
time in Norway. Lutefisk (Layefish; special cooked fish) is a fish you can't
fish, and Akevitt is our national drink that drives us crazy. To be more precise
regarding the drink: Akevitt is a type of strong alcoholic spirit produced in
Norway. It's distilled from potatoes, usually flavoured with caraway. Akevitt
(aqua vitae) means "the water of life".
Norwegians love Akevitt and beer together with Lutefisk, mutton
and cabbage.
The weeks before Christmas are often called julebordsesongen in Norway, or
literally "Christmas table season". This celebration has a true Viking style
with many happy Norwegians singing, making a lot of noise and drinks themselves
under the table. Many of them are dressed up like Santa Claus, but that it's
just a disguise trick to make a good impression. Of course it gives them a good
feeling pretending to be Santa Claus. Unfortunately sometimes they forget to act
as one.
Photo. Here is a Santa with good manner - so
far......
He likes to spread happiness all around, especially to the Santa
girls. |
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Many adults have lived a peaceful life during the whole
year, but when it comes to Christmas Pre-season they forget to behave well ("Det
går rett i fletta"). This is very typically family people. They are like wild
bears coming out from the lair after weeks of sleeping (hibernating). Sometimes
they just say: "Excuse me, I am on Julebord".
At the same time the children have started their extra efforts to prove their
good behaviour for Santa Claus. It could be rewarding when it comes to the
number and size of the presents.
Photo. The boy is very proud of his snowman.
He also claim that he has been a good boy, so
he hope that Santa Claus has noticed that.
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Christmas Celebration in Norway
Me and my Soumi
(Finland) wife Sirpa are now busy preparing for Christmas celebration. Christmas
celebrations vary around the world. There is also a large variety of traditions
within a given country or area. The following is a short description of how we
celebrate Christmas in Norway. Some things are typical for many Norwegians,
others not.
Photo. Santa is coming. The tension rise to
big heights.
The Christmas in Norway is both popular for children and adults. Before
Christmas, the children count down the days with their advent calendars.
We in
Norway usually have both homemade calendars and store bought calendars with colourful pictures. Inside the
calendar there are usually chocolates or marzipan.
For each day from the 1 December to the Christmas Eve, the children
open a "door" to a small room in the calendar where they find a chocolate
or some other surprises. |
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Shopping in Christmas is a nightmare
Head over heels?
This time we got
early snow in Norway. Experts say that the snow has created a wonderful
atmosphere, and caused extra high shopping activity. The pushing,
the shoving, the wrestling over price-reduced products leave many men wary of ever
shopping again. I just
feel lucky that I survived unharmed so far. Some people get so fed up by
the stress and pressure that they hire professional help to buy their Christmas
presents. It's their way to get more quality time so they can relax.
Other try Yoga for against stressing in Christmas (recommended by the National newspaper Aftenposten).
Photo. Time
for relaxing. Father and son have some fun together on snow.
They really understand how to enjoy Christmas
time!
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Women love shopping. Many of them have "Black belt in
shopping". It`s their favourite waste of time.
Research (surveys) on consumers' behaviour shows that when women take their
men on a shopping tour, they buy 50 % more than
usual. In Christmas I guess that this percent goes up to 4 - 5 more. It's the
men's nightmare. That's why the men try everything to avoid going shopping with their wife or
girlfriend. It could be very boring and expensive for them, and many men
get broke. They also have to carry a lot. But since the Viking era
is gone, the women in Norway are now the bosses, and the men have to do as
they say, or they are in really big trouble. Poor Norwegian men!
This article is especially dedicated to all the Finnish people,
and it continues in part 1.
Stein Morten Lund, 8 December 2004
Additional information
Read more about the Party
life in Norway and Finland on our website.
Read about Christmas parties at Johns Bar in Oslo.
Santa Claus could also be a women..........
More information about traditional Christmas dinners in Norway:
A
traditional Christmas dinner generally features roast pork ribs in Eastern
Norway, and cod, halibut or lutefisk in the coastal districts, even though
migration has virtually erased these culinary boundary lines.
The time-honoured rice porridge is still served, but seldom at the main
Christmas meal in the evening. More and more Norwegians are turning to turkey, a
type of poultry that has not been as common here as in other countries.
Other Christmas specialities include a variety of sweet and salted
delicacies. These are as head cheese, prepared in the Danish and German fashion,
rather than the French, mutton roll, a similar dish made of lamb, Smoked leg of
lamb, many different types of marinated herring, pork sausages and meatballs.
Lutfisk - Lye fish:
Lutefisk is a typical Norwegian speciality and
one of our oldest dinners. It has become an increasingly popular choice for
pre-Christmas festivities. The process for preparing it is advanced. The fish
must first be pounded with a wooden hammer and then soaked in water for many
hours. Adding wood ash lye to the water makes the fish particularly soft and
flavourful. With right choice of Christmas beer and Akevitt it gives you a
unique tasteful adventure.