The Holidays in Norway

December was full of family visits, and the entire month felt like Christmas (except of course for the occasional 6 hour final exam, etc.) My Dad, Step-mom and Grandma were here in early December, and we welcomed the advent season at the Festival of Lights which included an amazing fireworks display above hundreds of individual torch lights and people singing Norwegian Christmas carols.

I’ve been especially lucky to have family here for both Christmas and New Years. My brother Alex and I went out on the town last night with a group of Germans, Belgians, French, Japanese and Norwegians. It was allegedly the last New Year’s celebration in which private fireworks would be allowed, so people put out quite an impressive last hurrah. Everywhere was lit up, throughout the center of town and along all the hillsides. The weather was beautiful with not a cloud in the sky, so we were able to actually be outside without fear of torrential downpour. That is an amazing gift when you live in Bergen.

Christmas was really fun and very meaningful. It was the first time my Mom had been to Norway since she was 22 years old. The relatives still live on the same farm where my great-grandmother grew up. She left Norway when she was 18 years old, moved to Petersburg, AK, and never had the chance to come back to Norway to visit. We all feel extremely grateful that we have the chance to know each other now - there are many wonderful cousins, including some very cool 3-12 year olds who are especially fun to hang out with. (There was quite a bit of Guitar Hero being played, mostly by Alex and the kids ;)

There was Lefse, and real homemade Lutefisk! There was Pinekjøtt (a traditional holiday dish of sheep ribs). There was an old skit aired on TV called “Dinner for One” that everyone must see at least once at Christmas. The Julenisse stopped by after Christmas-Eve dinner, especially to say merry Christmas to the littlest ones, and then all the presents were opened that night. We think it must be because the American relatives were visiting this year, but the American Nisse also came and brought stockings on Christmas morning. On Christmas Day there was homemade beer, an uncle who plays Hardanger fiddle, a neighbor who is one of the best accordion players in all of Norway and karaoke in both English and Norwegian (not to mention Guitar Hero).

Happy 2008!