Norway

Norwegians cherish their freedom and independence.  Although the country has a king, his role is mainly ceremonial. Norway's love of liberty stems from its long history of domination by Sweden and Denmark.

Most people's lifestyles include sufficient money for food, leisure activities, and to find fulfillment in life. Norway is a wealthy country, and many Norwegians spend money on housing, including refurbishing older homes

Most Norwegians have blond hair, blue eyes and the same ethnic origins. The largest minority group in Norway is the Sami.  The Sami were Norway's first inhabitants. Norway is ranked as having the highest standard of living in the world.

Norwegian cities are very clean. Many parks are found within the cities, and wilderness areas are nearby. Oslo is Norway's busiest city.   Because Norway is mountainous, some areas are isolated from each other. The distances between people have caused many different communities and dialects to develop. Some people living in the Norwegian countryside still lead a traditional way of life and farm for a living.

When meeting someone shaking hands is the normal way in any matter and situation. It is not uncommon to hug after shaking hands. In the morning, one might say "god morgen". "Bokmal" is the more popular of the two official forms of the Norwegian language. Most books and magazines are written in Bokmål.  There are three extra letters in the Norwegian alphabet æ, ø, å

When guests leave a hug is appropriate.

Norwegians feel they have a “border” around their heads that is about three feet, which is their “intimate zone,” which should not be violated during conversation.

Norwegians take vacation during Easter week.  Many people camp, hike, stay in a cabin, or go skiing.  Some go to church on Easter Sunday.  Norwegians call Christmas "Jul (YOOL)". A tradition called ringe julen (REEN-geh YOOL-ehn) means ringing in Christmas.  Church bells ring at five o'clock on Christmas Eve to start the signal of Christmas.  People celebrate on Christmas Eve with a traditional dinner. After which they exchange gifts. They may also attend church. Christmas trees in Norway are sometimes decorated with small Norwegian flags.

Norwegian clothing style can vary depending on location, weather, occasion, and personal preference. However, there are some general trends and traditional elements that characterize Norwegian fashion:

Practicality: Norway's climate can range from cold winters to mild summers, so practical clothing is essential. This often includes layers, waterproof outerwear, and sturdy footwear suitable for outdoor activities like hiking or skiing.

Outdoor Gear: Norway emphasizes outdoor activities and nature, so outdoor gear brands like Norrøna, Bergans, and Helly Hansen are popular. You'll often see people wearing functional jackets, pants, and accessories from these brands.

Casual and Comfortable: Norwegians generally prefer a casual and comfortable style. This can include jeans, sweaters, t-shirts, and sneakers for everyday wear. Neutral colors like black, gray, navy, and earth tones are common.

Traditional Clothing: While not worn daily, traditional Norwegian clothing like the bunad (folk costume) is still worn for special occasions such as weddings, confirmations, and national holidays. Bunads vary by region and are richly decorated with intricate patterns and embroidery.

Scandinavian Minimalism: Norway, like other Scandinavian countries, is known for its minimalist aesthetic. Clean lines, simple designs, and high-quality materials characterize many Norwegian fashion brands and the everyday style of their people.

Seasonal Adaptations: Warm clothing like wool sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves is essential in winter. In summer, lighter layers and breathable fabrics are more common, particularly in coastal areas with milder temperatures.

Sustainable Fashion: Norway strongly emphasizes sustainability, so you'll often see people opting for eco-friendly and ethically made clothing. Second-hand shopping and clothing swaps are also popular ways to reduce environmental impact.

Norwegians typically eat four meals a day. Frokost (Breakfast) is usually eaten at home and may consist of porridge or other cereals and open-faced sandwiches. Lunch or Lunsj (LOON-sh) is usually eaten at school or work and may be a large snack. The only hot meal is dinner or middag (MIH-dawg) which is eaten at home but it is usually eaten about four in the afternoon It often includes soup, bread, and a main course of seafood. Some people also eat a late meal called kveldsmat (keh-VELL-dis-mawt) with tea or coffee.

Bread is a main part of Norwegian diet. People in Norway often eat open-faced sandwiches. They eat bread with salted herring, brown goat cheese, cold meats and spreads made of vegetables, shrimp, or sweets. Flatbrød (FLAWT-brohd) is a thin, crisp bread often eaten with stews. Gomme (GOO-meh) is a popular sweet milk dish that people eat with waffles. A sour cream porridge called rømmegrøt (ROHM-meh-groht) is often served at weddings.

In many families both parents work, but family relationships are very important. Families in Norway are usually small, often with just two children. People in Norway pay high taxes to help fund the welfare system, which includes programs that provide for the needs of families and children.

Soccer, Handball, and Gymnastics are the sports played by kids, usually on sports teams; school teams are rare. Kids also enjoy swimming and skiing. Norwegians enjoy skiing in winter. The Holmenkollen Ski Jump is one of the most difficult ski jumps in the world is in Norway.  School children hike on nature trails and learn how to camp in snow.

During summer, Norwegians swim, fish, and sail in many waters. Many people own cabins in remote places and reach them by hiking. Norwegians love to spend time with their friends.  They often visit each other at home because eating at restaurants can be expensive.

The first Birkebeiner race was held in Norway in 1932 to challenge skiers' endurance and honor the brave peasant who saved Prince Håakon IV in 1205 after his father's death.    Today, Norwegian skiers still carry a pack representing the weight of the infant prince in the 58K race near Lillehammer.

All children in Norway must complete ten years of basic education in three stages: lower primary, upper primary and lower secondary. They study subjects such as religion, Norwegian and English, they can also study a third language. After lower secondary school, students may go on to upper secondary school. They can choose either general or vocational studies. General studies prepare students for higher learning at a university, Vocational studies help them learn skills that enable them to work. Admission to a university is based on performance in upper secondary school. Norway has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Schoolwork is not graded for primary school students. Students only start to receive grades when they go to secondary school.