Halloween in Norway.  Do nordmenn celebrate Halloween?  The answer is yes, but not to the extent that Americans do, and they do it slightly differently.  It was not until very recently that the trend caught on in Norway to celebrate Halloween.  Actually, there is an interesting chart in an article in Aftenposten online that shows the increase of coverage of Halloween in Norwegian newspapers.  In 1997 there were 15 comments or discussions about Halloween and in 2008 there were 433.  It was only a matter of time before the spooky day became popular. 

This year the most popular kostymer (costumes) are edderkoppdrakt (spider wear) and djeveldrakt (devil wear).  There are definitely barn (children) who dress as non-scary things, such as prinsesser or other Disney karakterer.  The following site provides a guide to kostymeutleie (costume rental) places in Oslo: http://oslopuls.aftenposten.no/shopping/article88457.ece 

So what do barn say when they ring a doorbell in hopes of godteri (candy)?  They don’t say “trick or treat,” they say “knask eller knep?”  I have never experienced Hallowen in Norway, but apparently it is not uncommon for barn to actually play a knep or even vandalize something if they don’t get a knask. In the U.S., “trick or treat” is just what you say when you ring a doorbell and someone answers.  Most people will simply smile and give you a treat.  I actually don’t remember ever not getting candy or being asked to do a trick.  The only thing I ever got mad about was getting an eple (apple) or something else healthy for a treat. Halloween is all about sugar!

So if you are going out for Halloween in Oslo tonight, it sounds like there are plenty of fester (parties) and feiringer (celebrations).  There is even an event up at the lake that I lived by in Oslo-Sognsvann.  There is a huge bål (bonfire) up by the lake where you can roast pølser after you walk through the dark forest to get there.  You can take a trip to the Historisk Museum to decorate a skull.  You can go to Akershusfestning and hunt for ghosts or listen to live musikk inspired by spooky things.  There is plenty to choose from in Oslo to feire Halloween tonight.