Once again the Christmas season is upon us.  Doesn’t it seem like it comes faster and faster every year?  “Christmas” in Norwegian is jul.  Merry Christmas-god jul.  We give gaver (gifts) at Christmastime, which sit under juletreet (the Christmas tree).  Vi pynter juletreet (We decorate the Christmas tree).  There is ofte a stjerne at the top of treet.  We eat loads yummy dessert.  Now that you have a few terms down, I’ll tell you a little about jul in Norway.

Norway did not adopt Christianity as a national religion until the end of the first millennium.   Olaf Trygvasson (the man for whom St. Olaf College is named after), king of Norway from 995 to 1000AD, converted the Vikings to Christianity.  Previously, like all early developed countries, Norwegians had practiced what are now considered to be heathen traditions. 

In fact, many traditions that Christians practice today come from heathen customs.  Many of us today decorate our homes inside and out with evergreen trees, wreaths, balsam firs, mistletoe, etc.  Hundreds of years ago these items were believed to keep witches, evil spirits, and sickness away.  Another belief was that darkness and winter were a result of the sun god growing weak and so the winter solstice was a time to celebrate the sun getting stronger and the coming of life again.  Large feasts were eaten in celebration of the coming farming season.�

Isn’t it amazing that Christians and many non-Christians alike still practice generally the same traditions that were considered to be pagan hundreds of years ago?  Most of the traditions that Americans celebrate are similar to those that Norwegians celebrate.  The Norwegian santa is called nisse, a mythical Norwegian creature who was thought to protect farmers from misfortune.  Nisse is a small elderly man-like creature, unlike the large American Santa.  Instead of milk and cookies, Norwegians leave out porridge with perhaps raisins and nuts for the nisse. 

God jul alle sammen!  Make sure to leave treats out for nisse or Santa!  Enjoy all of the yummy mat and all the gaver you give and receive!