https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Norway in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Norway is a country full of unique cultural traditions and quirks, so it should be no surprise that living with Norwegians can come with a few surprises. https://www.thelocal.no/20241004/five-unexpected-things-you-learn-living-with-norwegians Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:15:54 +0200 five-unexpected-things-you-learn-living-with-norwegians Generally speaking, Norwegians are quite respectful and open-minded in communication. However, there are some things that tend to irritate – or dare we say, offend – them. Here's what to look out for. https://www.thelocal.no/20230406/how-to-have-a-discussion-without-offending-a-norwegian Thu, 06 Apr 2023 15:44:22 +0200 how-to-have-a-discussion-without-offending-a-norwegian While Scandinavian countries are known for traditionally being comfortable with nakedness, Norwegians – especially younger generations – are not big on public nudity. However, there is a time and place for getting naked in public. https://www.thelocal.no/20230404/how-where-and-when-can-you-get-naked-in-norway Tue, 04 Apr 2023 14:39:29 +0200 how-where-and-when-can-you-get-naked-in-norway Having to regularly check which date is meant when a Norwegian gives you a week number can be frustrating, but there’s a method in the numerical merry-go-round. https://www.thelocal.no/20220830/why-norwegians-use-week-numbers-instead-of-dates Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:02:36 +0200 why-norwegians-use-week-numbers-instead-of-dates If you have been to a local Norwegian supermarket lately, you have probably noticed that the shelves look different. Norway’s food traditions change with the seasons, and summer is certainly not the exception. https://www.thelocal.no/20260602/explained-how-norwegians-change-their-diet-during-the-summer Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:42:13 +0200 explained-how-norwegians-change-their-diet-during-the-summer You don’t need a faultless accent and broad vocabulary to convince people of your Norwegian credentials, as there are a few quirky interjections you can make to fake fluency. https://www.thelocal.no/20250311/strange-noises-you-can-make-in-norwegian-to-sound-like-a-local Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:44:35 +0100 strange-noises-you-can-make-in-norwegian-to-sound-like-a-local Skipping the seemingly voluntary act of 'dugnad' has seen some residents in Norwegian housing associations fined. But is this allowed, and what do the rules say? https://www.thelocal.no/20240412/can-you-really-be-fined-for-skipping-dugnad-in-norway Fri, 12 Apr 2024 11:07:22 +0200 can-you-really-be-fined-for-skipping-dugnad-in-norway Every year, a survey dives into the sexual habits of Norwegians, and this year’s findings are likely to leave many feeling... unsatisfied. https://www.thelocal.no/20260422/sad-numbers-new-survey-reveals-frustrated-sex-lives-of-norwegians Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:10:24 +0200 sad-numbers-new-survey-reveals-frustrated-sex-lives-of-norwegians How do you keep in touch with friends, neighbors, or colleagues in Norway? You might need to change your approach and try out some apps you never used before (or stopped using a while ago). https://www.thelocal.no/20260407/explained-why-dont-norwegians-use-whatsapp Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:55:11 +0200 explained-why-dont-norwegians-use-whatsapp If you see a film, restaurant or album given a six in Norway, it's been met with the highest possible accolades rather than middling reviews. So, where does this unique ranking system come from? https://www.thelocal.no/20220826/reader-question-why-do-norwegians-rate-things-out-of-six Fri, 26 Aug 2022 13:21:01 +0200 reader-question-why-do-norwegians-rate-things-out-of-six Volunteering is a big deal in Norway, and new arrivals are often told to get involved to learn the language, meet new friends and improve their odds of getting a job. https://www.thelocal.no/20250123/explained-norways-proud-tradition-of-volunteering Thu, 23 Jan 2025 12:46:54 +0100 explained-norways-proud-tradition-of-volunteering Norway has a reputation for healthy outdoor lifestyles, but what are the recommended diet habits in the active Nordic nation? https://www.thelocal.no/20240815/limit-snacks-eat-more-fish-what-makes-the-perfect-norwegian-diet Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:31:52 +0200 limit-snacks-eat-more-fish-what-makes-the-perfect-norwegian-diet While Norwegian traits of indirect communication and politeness generally make for pleasant social interactions, they can also give rise to passive-aggressive behaviour. https://www.thelocal.no/20231212/five-norwegian-passive-aggressive-habits-and-how-to-handle-them Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:53:54 +0100 five-norwegian-passive-aggressive-habits-and-how-to-handle-them Norwegians are generally calm and peaceful. Avoiding confrontation is a big part of the culture, and getting them upset takes extra effort — compared to many other places in the world, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get angry at times. https://www.thelocal.no/20251010/norways-social-codes-you-need-to-know-so-you-dont-offend-the-locals Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:27:45 +0200 norways-social-codes-you-need-to-know-so-you-dont-offend-the-locals Norwegian winters regularly see temperatures dip down below -10c or even -20c depending on where you live. Therefore, making sure your kids are properly equipped for the weather is essential. https://www.thelocal.no/20240103/how-to-dress-your-children-for-the-cold-weather-in-norway Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:21:34 +0100 how-to-dress-your-children-for-the-cold-weather-in-norway From not worshipping at the temples of frozen pizza and cross-country skiing to littering on hikes and talking smack about Norwegian food, these actions – even when unintentional – are likely to annoy a lot of Norwegians. https://www.thelocal.no/20230214/18-sure-fire-ways-to-offend-a-norwegian Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:40:29 +0100 18-sure-fire-ways-to-offend-a-norwegian If you're visiting Norway and want to blend in seamlessly with the locals on buses, trams, and trains, this guide will go through all the bases you need to cover if you want to pull off seeming Norwegian. https://www.thelocal.no/20240702/how-to-fake-being-a-local-on-norways-public-transport-system Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:00:07 +0200 how-to-fake-being-a-local-on-norways-public-transport-system There seems to be a never-ending stream of 'Scandinavian lifestyle trends' in international glossy magazines, but only some of them are worth pursuing, while others are all hype and little reward. https://www.thelocal.no/20240704/three-scandinavian-lifestyle-trends-that-are-actually-worth-trying-and-three-that-arent Thu, 04 Jul 2024 13:53:37 +0200 three-scandinavian-lifestyle-trends-that-are-actually-worth-trying-and-three-that-arent Moving to a new country comes with plenty of unexpected lessons and surprises. Norway is no different, and here are six things you'll need to know before the move. https://www.thelocal.no/20240507/five-useful-things-to-know-before-you-move-to-norway Tue, 07 May 2024 18:43:46 +0200 five-useful-things-to-know-before-you-move-to-norway Autumn in Norway brings about chilly rains, shorter days, and unpredictable weather. Fortunately, some tried-and-true hacks can help you enjoy the season. https://www.thelocal.no/20240924/six-hacks-to-help-you-get-through-autumn-in-norway Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:48:58 +0200 six-hacks-to-help-you-get-through-autumn-in-norway