Fun and festivities in Norway - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

Norway is one of the most amazing and beautiful Scandinavian countries. It is interesting not only for its stunning landscapes, but also for its deep customs and traditions. Norway is rightfully famous for its numerous commemorations and festivals which are held in various parts of the country.

Just like many other countries, Christmas is one of the most important and large-scale holidays for Norway. The Norwegian name for Christmas is Yule. It is celebrated on the 25th of December. On this day, traditional ceremonies dedicated to the Norwegian Santa Claus, Julenissen are held. Christmas holidays last until 13th of January. Within the duration of the festivities, all sorts of masquerades, hymns, reindeer runs, cross-country skiing, and “Yule goat”, which may be compared with Russian Kolyadka goat, are often held.

Another equally important and massive holiday is Shrove Tuesday. The Norwegian carnival Maslenitsa is similar to ones in other states by the fact that it absorbs not only Christian but also pagan traditions. However, it includes its own customs and traditions. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Easter is the main religious holiday in Norway. Like residents of many other countries, Norwegians paint chicken eggs on Easter. The Norwegian symbol of Easter is the yellow chicken which becomes a decoration not only for all shop windows, but every festive table. On November 11th, St. Martin’s Day is celebrated throughout the country. On this holiday, it is customary to arrange a delicious dinner and prepare roasted goose. This is due to the fact that eating food of animal origin after St. Martin’s Day is not accepted until Christmas.

The Constitution Day of Norway is celebrated on May 17th and is accompanied by numerous carnivals and concerts. Traditionally, participants in the carnival wear national costumes on this day. In addition to well-known holidays, a number of interesting and unusual festivals take place in Norway. First to be mentioned is the March wine festival which is held in Stavanger. Besides this holiday, the city annually pleases its guests and residents with a festival of potatoes and a week of garlic, as well as a jazz festival.

The city of Lillehammer is known for its blues and jazz festivals which are held in March and September respectively. But then again, these are not the only music festivals in Norway. Every year, the wonderful city of Bergen becomes the venue for a large-scale International Music Festival. In addition to this, various music and dance festivals are held in Balestrand, Hardanger, Kinsarvik and other cities.

Fans of history and local traditions will like the June Viking Festival which takes place in Kopervik. Among other interesting events are the folklore festivals, which are organized regularly in Honningsvåge and Förde. No one will be indifferent to the International Chamber Music Festival which takes place in the above-mentioned city of Stavanger in August. During the last month of summer, residents and tourists can enjoy the music of many outstanding composers, including Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Brahms, Grieg and Mendelssohn.

Nevertheless, the most popular of all festivals is the Summer Festival which takes place in Oslo, the capital of Norway. It lasts throughout the month of June. It includes a huge variety of free activities for adults and children. During the festival, there are a lot of live concerts held in the center of the capital. Everyone can enjoy not only Norwegian folk music and dances, but also classical music and jazz.