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 On May 8th, Norway celebrates its release from occupation during World War II. The day is called Liberation Day (Frigjøringsdagen), and it also doubles as the country's Veterans Day. https://www.thelocal.no/20230508/what-you-need-to-know-about-norways-liberation-day Mon, 08 May 2023 10:53:17 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-norways-liberation-day As the snow melts away and Norwegians emerge from their winter hibernation, April and May signal the start of something truly Norwegian: dugnad season. And foreigners shouldn't avoid it. https://www.thelocal.no/20250520/six-reasons-why-foreigners-shouldnt-skip-dugnad-in-norway Tue, 20 May 2025 13:51:50 +0200 six-reasons-why-foreigners-shouldnt-skip-dugnad-in-norway Over the next few days and weeks there will be several signs that Norway has emerged from its long winter hibernation and that spring has arrived. https://www.thelocal.no/20240307/six-signs-that-spring-has-arrived-in-norway Thu, 07 Mar 2024 13:23:57 +0100 six-signs-that-spring-has-arrived-in-norway Norwegians read more crime novels during Easter than anyone else on Earth. But how did the obsession with reading about grisly murders during the holiday come about? https://www.thelocal.no/20220407/paskekrim-why-norwegians-are-obsessed-with-crime-fiction-at-easter Thu, 07 Apr 2022 10:55:48 +0200 paskekrim-why-norwegians-are-obsessed-with-crime-fiction-at-easter In Norway, there are multiple public holidays during the Easter period, including Maundy Thursday (skjærtorsdag), Good Friday (langfredag), and Easter Monday (andre påskedag). Here's why – and how – Good Friday is marked in the country. https://www.thelocal.no/20230407/the-norwegian-way-of-observing-good-friday Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:18:36 +0200 the-norwegian-way-of-observing-good-friday People in Denmark and Norway have the day off on Maundy Thursday, but people in Sweden still have to work. Why is this? https://www.thelocal.no/20240328/why-is-maundy-thursday-a-holiday-in-denmark-and-norway-but-not-sweden Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:40:01 +0100 why-is-maundy-thursday-a-holiday-in-denmark-and-norway-but-not-sweden While many in Norway will be looking forward to a few days off over the Easter break, it’s important to ensure you aren’t caught out by reduced opening hours at businesses, cafes, and shops. https://www.thelocal.no/20250415/whats-open-and-whats-closed-in-norway-over-easter Tue, 15 Apr 2025 12:15:10 +0200 whats-open-and-whats-closed-in-norway-over-easter Yellow daffodils, longer days and sunshine. With the arrival of spring comes Easter, a holiday that has a distinctly more wintery feel in Norway compared to the rest of Europe. But how exactly do Norwegians celebrate Easter ? https://www.thelocal.no/20210322/skiing-and-kvikk-lunsj-how-norwegians-celebrate-easter-in-normal-times Mon, 22 Mar 2021 12:37:54 +0100 skiing-and-kvikk-lunsj-how-norwegians-celebrate-easter-in-normal-times Nisser are beloved by Norwegians, with the magical creatures playing a huge part in the country's Christmas traditions – however that wasn't always the case. https://www.thelocal.no/20231215/nisser-norways-love-of-barn-elves-and-gnomes Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:11:30 +0100 nisser-norways-love-of-barn-elves-and-gnomes Rice porridge is a treasured Christmas Eve staple in Norway, but in recent years, more and more Norwegians have started eating porridge throughout the festive period. https://www.thelocal.no/20221215/why-norwegians-cant-get-enough-of-rice-porridge-in-december Thu, 15 Dec 2022 16:29:47 +0100 why-norwegians-cant-get-enough-of-rice-porridge-in-december Whether it's the food, games, approach to advent calendars or the weird dub of a Czech retelling of Cinderella, Norwegians have several traditions that seem strange from the outside looking in. https://www.thelocal.no/20231208/five-norwegian-christmas-traditions-foreigners-find-strange Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:57:10 +0100 five-norwegian-christmas-traditions-foreigners-find-strange The tradition of lighting candles during Advent in the Nordics has a rich history that stretches back centuries. https://www.thelocal.no/20231201/why-do-the-nordic-countries-have-the-tradition-of-lighting-candles-on-each-sunday-of-advent Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:29:22 +0100 why-do-the-nordic-countries-have-the-tradition-of-lighting-candles-on-each-sunday-of-advent Over the past few decades, Halloween has surged in popularity in Norway, with trick or treating, parties and dressing in costumes all becoming annual events. https://www.thelocal.no/20231030/halloween-how-norway-adopted-the-american-tradition Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:03:08 +0100 halloween-how-norway-adopted-the-american-tradition What's considered good house manners to Norwegian school kids decked out in jumpsuits and partying in the runup to their exams are among the culture shocks in Norway that foreigners told us about in a survey. https://www.thelocal.no/20230524/the-biggest-culture-shocks-for-foreigners-living-in-norway Wed, 24 May 2023 16:19:02 +0200 the-biggest-culture-shocks-for-foreigners-living-in-norway Norwegians are known to keep the secrets close to their chest but several have revealed to Mari Wachelke the best places to in the country to go for a "coolcation" this summer. https://www.thelocal.no/20250708/revealed-the-best-coolcation-spots-in-norway-according-to-the-locals Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:02:17 +0200 revealed-the-best-coolcation-spots-in-norway-according-to-the-locals Although Sankthans is technically on June 24th, Norwegians celebrate with bonfires marking the occasion the night before. https://www.thelocal.no/20210622/what-is-sankthans-how-norwegians-mark-the-middle-of-summer Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:34:33 +0200 what-is-sankthans-how-norwegians-mark-the-middle-of-summer Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday is a public holiday in Norway so you might need to plan ahead given not everything is open. https://www.thelocal.no/20250606/whats-open-and-whats-closed-in-norway-on-pentecost-monday Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:42:34 +0200 whats-open-and-whats-closed-in-norway-on-pentecost-monday Norway’s national day, May 17th, is a public holiday, meaning you’ll need to be organised to avoid being caught out. https://www.thelocal.no/20250514/whats-open-and-whats-closed-in-norway-over-the-may-17th-weekend Wed, 14 May 2025 14:47:06 +0200 whats-open-and-whats-closed-in-norway-over-the-may-17th-weekend Norway's Constitution Day, marked on May 17th, is the most widely celebrated day in the country. The festive atmosphere can be felt in every city and town in Norway, making it an exceptional experience. https://www.thelocal.no/20230516/why-does-norway-celebrate-may-17th Tue, 16 May 2023 15:25:57 +0200 why-does-norway-celebrate-may-17th British resident Alex Kronenberg feels wearing Norway's traditional "bunad" costume doesn't quite feel right. He explains how he launched a business to offer a compromise to other foreign residents and create a connection to Norway at the same time. https://www.thelocal.no/20241217/interview-its-about-showing-my-appreciation-and-connection-to-norway Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:26:34 +0100 interview-its-about-showing-my-appreciation-and-connection-to-norway