Christmas in Norway

like the candles they are supposed to represent. Christmas trees

became common in Norway from around 1900. The custom of having Christmas trees is originally from Germany.

Eve is the time when presents are exchanged. The gifts

are sometimes brought by Santa Claus (called 'Julenissen' in Norway)

There are also hobgoblins (Nisse) decorations. Children pick up the

presents from under the Christmas Tree and read the cards on the presents out loud.

singing and most children do! Often children will dress up

as characters from the Christmas Story, such as the Shepherds and Wise Men, and go singing from house to house in their local neighbourhood. Sometimes they carry with paper stars on them.

light a candle every night from Christmas Eve to New

Year's Day.

when Christianity first came to the area. Before this people

celebrated jul or jòl in the middle of winter. It was a celebration of the harvest gone and a way of looking forward to the spring. Lots of beer (juleol) was brewed and drunk in honour of the old pagan scandinavian gods.

the Musevisa (The Mouse Song). The words were written in

1946 by Alf Prøysen. The tune is a traditional Norwegian folk tune. It tells the story of some mice getting ready for Christmas and the Mother and Father mice warning their children to stay away from mouse traps! It became popular very quickly and is now as popular as ever in Norway.