Jul (Norway)

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As in the other Scandinavian countries, the pre-Christian Jul (pronounced: Yule) has survived as the Christmas holiday of Norway. The main event for Norwegians is on Julaften (Christmas Eve) on December 24th, the evening when the main feast is served and gifts are exchanged.

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[edit] Food

There are several different traditions of main dishes, served on Juleaften, around Norway. In the past, there were sharp regional differences, but these have been progressively blurred as mobility has increased.

In Western Norway Vestlandet, Pinnekjøtt (steamed, salted mutton ribs, lit. "stick meat") is a common dish, while near the town of Voss, Smalahove (mutton head) is eaten. Lutefisk (lit. "lye fish") is another common dish, but it's losing popularity. In Northern Norway, fresh boiled cod is more common. In Eastern Norway, Svineribbe (pork ribs) is the most common dish. Other popular dishes are turkey, rakfisk, lutefisk, medisterkaker and medisterpølser (meatcakes and sausages made of medister) and cod.


With all these dishes, mashed rutabaga, gravy, sauerkraut and boiled potatoes "Mandelpoteter" are usually served.

To some, Juleaften dinner begins with rice porridge which contains a single almond. Whoever gets the almond wins a prize. A bowl is traditionally put out in the hay loft for the unpredictable Nissen so that he will continue to watch over the farm animals and not turn mischievous. More common, rice porridge is served for lunch Juleaften, where the remains of the course will be used for the most popular dessert, riskrem (lit. rice Cream). Rice cream is always served with the optional dessert sauce consisting of raspberry juice.

Almost all Norwegian breweries produce traditional beer, juleøl, which is darker, stronger and has more flavour than the common Norwegian lagers. Breweries also produce a special soda, julebrus, which in some parts of the country is a red raspberry soft drink, with a festive label on the bottle, or orange with orange flavour. It is normal to have both varietes on a Juleaften feast table. Akvavit is also common and traditionally drank to deaden the large consumption of fatty foods.

Jul dishes are also served on Julebord, where people from work gather around late November/early December to feast and drink alcoholic beverages.

Also, a large variety of deserts, julekaker (Lit. "Yule cakes") exist. Traditionally, the mother of the house is expected to bake 7 types of julekaker. These are different for each county as well as the individual household traditions, but the most common are pepperkaker (ginger snaps), decorated with icing sugar frosting and can be used both for hanging up in windows or the christmas tree. It is also a dear tradition to make a miniature scale house of gingerbread and decorate with candy and use indoors quite similar to a Jack-O-Lantern. Others are smultringer (doughnuts), sirupssnipper (lit. "treacle snaps"), sandkaker (lit. sandcakes), lefsekling (griddle cake) filled with an icing of butter, sugar and cinnamon. Also are krumkaker (lit. "Curl cakes") and Brune Pinner (lit. "Brown Sticks") sugar cookies. Many other types of Yule Cakes are varieted from sugar cookie dough.

[edit] Julebukk, Nyttårsbukk, Drammebukk

It is common for children to pay visits to neighbours where they are given candy, nuts and clementines. Each area has a fixed tradition for this; it varies throughout the country. It's called Julebukk or Nyttårsbukk. In some places, kids may go out every day between Juleaften and New Year's Eve, and in other places, they may only go out on New Year's Eve. In most areas, the children dress up. This tradition is somewhat similar to the American Halloween tradition, but kids are not supposed to scare people, and they are not allowed to do bad things in order to get candy (as in Halloween "trick or treat"). They are instead expected to sing a Christmas carol or perform in some other way. Some or most are too shy to do this, and simply collect the candy.

In some areas, adults may dress up later in the evening and Drammebukk by paying visits to neighbours in much the same way as the children, but the main difference is that adults are given drinks instead of candy.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

2 Christmas in Norway