Archive for 'Culture'
Happy Anniversary, Norway! Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on May 17, 2014
Hurra for Norge! (Hooray for Norway!) On this special 17. mai small, handheld norske flagg (Norwegian flags) are being waved with more stolthet (pride) and glede (happiness) than ever. It’s 200 years since Norway left Denmark and got its own lover (laws). Let’s take a look back: For 400 years, Danish kings ruled Norway. Danmark-Norge…
Words for Well-Wishers Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 17, 2014
Sometimes we use språket (the language) as a trylleformel (magical formula). Når noen nyser (when someone’s sneezing), most Norwegians will automatically react by saying prosit! [PROHsit]. In some strange way the little word changes the air, making the sneezer feel better. Below are a handful of other expressions used in order to wish somebody well…
What’s in a flag? Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 30, 2014
Det er Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått! That’s Norway in red, white and blue! So many Norwegians sing on 17. mai, Norges nasjonaldag. As the text shows, Norwegians love their flagg. On festive occassions, such as skirenn (ski races) and bursdager (birthdays), they’ll fetch their little handheld fabric flags and wave them energetically…
Eating Norwegian Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 26, 2014
In the online comic ”Scandinavia and the World”, the Norway character is often accompanied by a fisk (fish). Traditionally, maten i Norge (the food in Norway) has indeed been dominated by fisk – as well as poteter [poTEHTer] (potatoes). Although modern Norway is full of hurtigmat (fast food), many people still think it’s important to…
Huts of Norway Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 10, 2014
A couple of Norwegian friends and I recently shared the fun and excitement of walking to a hytte på fjellet (a hytte in the mountains), and it struck me I hadn’t written anything about hytter… En hytte (or ei hytte) translates as ’a hut’, ’a cottage’ or ’a cabin’. It’s basically a small house that…
Happy Romjul Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 30, 2013
Norwegians just can’t get enough of jula (”the christmas”). When the whole family has received their gaver (gifts) on julekvelden (Christmas Eve, December 24th), there is still første og andre juledag (1st and 2nd day of Christmas, December 25th and 26th), a time for eating and visiting friends. (Hva fikk du i julegave i år?…
Cinema Season Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Nov 24, 2013
November is usually a dark and cold month in many parts of Norway. Træerne (the trees) have lost their blader (leaves). Snøen (the snow) is coming, or isn’t quite there yet, so everyone is waiting for the riktig vinter [RIKtee VINter] (real winter) to begin in desember. Instead of catching a flu or a depression…