Archive for 'Culture'
The best gift to bring back from Norge Posted by kari on May 6, 2009
This post may be a long time coming. Some of you might be wondering what kinds of gifts travelers typically bring back hom from Norge to show off their recent voyage and represent the country to their friends and family with little pieces of norsk culture. Some trinkets that the average tourist bring back from Norway…
Churches fly rainbow flags in Nordland Posted by kari on Apr 30, 2009
If you have limited knowledge about Norway’s tolerance of outsiders (perhaps if you only know about Norway in history and not modern Norway), you might be surprised by Norway’s tolerance of homosexuals. Historically, Norwegians were fairly intolerant of outsiders. I think I have explained in one or more earlier posts that outsiders ruled Norway for much…
Vikings-the beginning of international relations in Scandinavia Posted by kari on Apr 26, 2009
In response to a comment on a recent post about Norway’s involvment in the Sri Lankan conflict, I would like to address Norway’s relationship with the rest of the world through the lens of history. As most of you already know, the Vikings were a seafaring people who traveled great distances to loot, trade and colonize. …
Russeknuter Posted by kari on Apr 14, 2009
Knots. No, not the kind you tie. Or the measurement for nautical speed. Or the kind that make your back hurt. I’m talking about more or less badges of fulfillment of some kind of task or dare by a Russ during the festivities leading up to Syttende Mai. The knot itself is usually an item…
Russ-not short for Russell på norsk Posted by kari on Apr 8, 2009
It’s almost that time of year again. Russetid (Russ time, the ‘u’ pronounced like a short vowel with your lips pursed in a small circle). May 1st represents the beginning of a very important celebration in Norway-graduation from high school-which lasts until May 17, Norway’s Constitution Day. You are probably wondering what a celebration like…
Easter and crime? What a combo. Posted by kari on Apr 5, 2009
The sale of crime novels in Norway increases 500% in the week leading up to Easter. Norwegians simply love to read crime novels around Eastertime. When I first heard this, my first question was why Easter? Halloween seemed like the most reasonable holiday to be accompanied by a crime theme if I were to choose…
Religion-tror du? Posted by kari on Mar 23, 2009
Religion-do you believe? Tror dere på Gud? Do you (pl) believe in God? Any god? One of the headlines on ‘aftenposten.no’ today is “Absurd å tenke at det finnes noe mer” – Absurd to think that there is something else (finnes literally translates to ‘is found). The following excerpt comes from the article (which you…