Archive for 'Traditions'
Sprites of Christmas Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 25, 2014
If you go to Skandinavia in desember, you’ll most certainly encounter little men (and women) with pointy røde luer (red caps) everywhere: In butikker (shops), in private homes, på tv [paw teh-veh] (in television). No, you’re not mad! Say hello to the nisser… The typical nisse looks like an old man with a langt, hvitt…
Flames of Advent Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Nov 30, 2014
Så tenner vi et lys i kveld vi tenner det for glede. Det står og skinner for seg selv og oss som er tilstede. Så tenner vi et lys i kveld, vi tenner det for glede. Then we light one candle this evening we light it for joy. It stands shining by itself and for…
Birthdays in Norway Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jul 31, 2014
Gratulerer med fødselsdagen! (Happy birthday!) Since July is crowded with birthdays in my family, I thought it would be nice ending the month with some facts about fødselsdagsfeiring (birthday celebration) in Norway. • Mange norske barn har barneselskap. (Many Norwegian children have children’s birthday parties.) The barneselskap is hosted by the child’s parents. Children…
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…