Happy Holidays from Stavanger Expats! We hope that you have found the site useful and taken some information along with you. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Below are a collection of articles about Christmas and New Years in Norway.
Christmas in Norway
This article is going to cover the traditional elements of Christmas in Norway. Please keep in mind that every family will celebrate differently, so while these should be the basics of every family – if the Norwegian family you know or are celebrating with don’t partake, you will at least know about them. Read More…
Christmas traditions in Norway
In ancient times, Christmas was a mid-winter sacrificial feast – a festival of lights marking the transition from the dark winter to spring and summer. Christmas was a time for celebrating the harvest, fertility, birth and death. In the 900s King Haakon I decided that the heathen custom of drinking Jul (Yule) was to be moved to December 25th, in honour of the birth of Jesus Christ. Read More…
Julebord in Norway
The Christmas season is a unique time of year in Norway and filled with many heartfelt and highly anticipated activities. For some, the most highly anticipated event of the work-life social calendar is the annual company Christmas party, better known as the company julebord. This is the event where company employees share Christmas cheer with each other julefryd and salute a productive year together. The event often times includes pre-drinks, dinner and dessert and some form of entertainment. Speeches by employees in the company are also quite usual. Read More…
Norwegian Christmas Food
Christmas time in Norway is one time of year that really shines as far as Norwegian culture and tradition. If you are attending a Christmas dinner in a Norwegian house, consider yourself in for a special treat. If not, don’t be intimidated to treat yourself and try preparing some of Norway’s Christmas dishes. Read More…
Merry Christmas and Half-Tax!
It’s December and welcome to the month of gift-giving! The Norwegian Government is not one to be left out. In December, Norwegians receive a tax-break of 50% to encourage holiday shopping, a very important part of the Norwegian Christmas. Read More…
Shopping In Stavanger
It may come as no surprise that Stavanger, the third largest city in Norway, often referred to as «Petroleum City» has a wealth of hidden niche shops and boutiques. With Christmas just around the corner, I’ll try to introduce you to all those shops that you might not have known about before and what to look, for whether you’re looking for a special gift or just out shopping for yourself! Read More…
Byrkjedalstunet – A True Norwegian Experience
Byrkjedalstunet hotel is a unique, cozy and intimate hotel where history is in the center. Natural, beautiful buildings, food, wine and comfort are bound together in a beautiful harmony. Byrkjedalstunet hotel is surrounded by Rogaland’s finest scenery and an excellent base for fine outdoor experiences for example: Lysefjord, Pulpit Rock, Kjerag, Månafossen, Gloppedalsura and the magnificent Jæren. We are known for good, traditional Norwegian food and serves everything from peasant fare to the finest food. Read More…
Celebrating the New Year in Norway
New Year’s in Norway is a family and social event. I would like to remind everyone also that how the holiday is celebrated will differ from family to family – this is just the general consensus. Norwegians love to bring in the New Year in high spirits of joy and happiness. You will find the Norwegians dressed in their best to bring in the New Year as well. Read More…
Now that December is here, the shops in the city centre and shopping malls are having longer opening hours. In addition, some even open on Sundays! All hours go back to normal the 26th of December.
Kvadrat
Mondays to Fridays: 10-22
Saturdays: 10-18
Sundays: 14-19
22nd December: 10-24
Kilden
From 12th to 23rd December, Mondays to Fridays: 10-22
Saturdays: 10-18
Sundays: 14-19
(December 4, 11, 18) Post office and Vinmonopolet not open Sundays.
24th December: 10-13
25th and 26th December : Closed
New Year’s Eve: 10-15
Arkaden Torgterrassen (Formerly Stavanger Storsenter)
From 5th December, Mondays to Fridays: 10-21
Saturdays: 10-18
Sundays: 14-19
23rd December: 10-21
24th December: 10-13
25th and 26th December : Closed
Romjul (27-30): 10 – 20
New Year’s Eve: 10-15
Magasin Blaa
Until the 23rd Mondays to Fridays: 10-21
Saturdays: 10-18
Sundays 11 and 18 December: 14-19
24th December: 10-13
25th and 26th December : Closed
New Year’s Eve: 10-15
Straen Senteret
From 12th to 23rd December, Mondays to Fridays: 10-21
Saturdays 10th and 17th December: 10-18
Sundays 11th and 18th December: 14-18
24th December: 10-13
25th and 26th December : Closed
New Year’s Eve: 10-15
Tvedt Senteret
From 5th to 23rd December, Mondays to Fridays: 10-22
Saturdays 11th and 18th December: 10-18
Sundays 4th, 11th and 18th December: 14-19
24th, 25th and 26th December : Closed
New Year’s Eve: 10-15
Christmas trees
Christmas trees are now available. There are many locations around town with them, if you know of one or know where the farms are leave a comment – as we do not know all the locations. Most notably are Kvadrat and Kilden, they have tree’s for sale in the surrounding parking lots. The average tree starts at 400,kr-.
Remember that when you purchase a tree that has been out in the cold you can shock it bringing it into your warm house. It is recommended to bring it into a basement or non heated room for a hour or more until bringing it into the warm house. Make sure that the tree has enough water too!
See the Christmas Events here!
Do you know of any Christmas time events, please share them with us!
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About Fonda LaShay
Fonda is an American who has been living in Stavanger since July of 2008 with her Norwegian samboer. She enjoys tea, visiting with friends, music, taking photos and traveling. She loves the rain, but really dislikes when her feet get wet - this is always challenging since it rains so often in Stavanger. Follow Fonda LaShay on Google+ Fonda is a design blogger - blogging about design, architecture, photography, and music. Check out her blog!
