Norway Society & Culture Complete Report An All-In... - (Pages 1 To 10)

NORWAY
Copyright © 2010. World Trade Press. All rights reserved.
World, Trade Press. Norway Society & Culture Complete Report : An All-Inclusive Profile Combining All of Our Society and Culture Reports, World Trade Press, 2010. ProQuest
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NORWAY
Society and Culture
Gift Giving ..................................................................... 1
Greetings and Courtesies................................................. 2
Holidays and Festivals..................................................... 3
Lifecycles ...................................................................... 8
Religion......................................................................... 12
Sports........................................................................... 14
Stereotypes ................................................................... 19
Superstitions and Folklore ............................................... 21
Time and Punctuality ...................................................... 23
Women in Business ........................................................ 24
Women in Culture........................................................... 25
International Standard Book Number

ISBN 10: 1-60780-407-7 • ISBN 13: 978-1-60780-407-9
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World, Trade Press. Norway Society & Culture Complete Report : An All-Inclusive Profile Combining All of Our Society and Culture Reports, World Trade Press, 2010. ProQuest
Society and Culture Norway
NORWAY
Society and Culture
Gift Giving
General
Norwegians do not have a strong gift-giving culture, but they are courteous and do exchange small gifts as a friendly gesture. Gifts
are generally opened in public and smaller gifts are opened right away.
Personal and Family Gifts

Norwegians exchange gifts of modest value on birthdays, weddings, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Typical gifts include sweaters,
electrical household items, electronic diaries, mobile phones, glassware, crystal, and candles. Norwegians celebrate weddings in a
grand manner over several days. Practical and tasteful gifts such as silver tableware, glassware, chinaware, and table linen all make
appropriate for weddings.
Traditional gifts for Christmas include Christmas decorations, cookies, and cakes. Gifts should be wrapped in good quality paper since
presentation is considered an important aspect of seasonal gift giving.
Business Gifts
Norwegian business culture views gift giving with suspicion. Gifts should never be given at a first meeting. At the successful
completion of negotiations, small items like bottles of quality brandy or whiskey, electronic diaries, mobile phones, and small
souvenirs from the visitor’s home country can be exchanged as business gifts. All gifts should be inexpensive to avoid the perception
of bribery.
A fair amount of importance is given to presentation, so wrap any gifts in fine, quality paper. You can expect your gift to be opened at
the time of presentation and reciprocated quickly.
Hospitality Gifts
If a Norwegian invites you home, remember to bring small, tastefully wrapped, gifts for the hostess. The best gifts include a bouquet of
flowers, a potted plant (a favored gift in the winter months), a box of chocolates, or a bottle of wine or liquor (expensive in Norway but
still a welcome gift).
Taboo Gifts
Norwegians dislike personal gifts like clothing. Avoid gifts of carnations, lilies, or any white flowers (associated with funerals), and
make sure to give an odd number of items (even numbers are considered unlucky). Wreaths are never given as gifts, even at
Christmas.
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Greetings and Courtesies

Be prepared for a tight grip when shaking hands with your Norwegian associates, both
men and women. Upon initially meeting, use titles followed by the family name. In most
cases, you'll quickly be asked to use first names, perhaps even nicknames, as formal
address is not the custom in either business or social settings. Titles are seldom used,
but remain attentive to how Norwegian coworkers address one another, and follow their
lead. Be sure to stand when being introduced.
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Holidays and Festivals

Largely Recognized Holidays Calendar
Shaded items indicate Bank/Government Holiday
Holidays, Festivals, and

2009 2010 2011 Affected*
Events
New Year’s Day Jan 1 Jan 1 Jan 1 g, b, o, r
Jan 13 Jan 13 Jan 13

Tyvendedagen none
Fastelavn (Shrovetide) Sunday Feb 22 Feb 14 March 6 none
Apr 17 g, b, o, some
Palm Sunday Apr 5 Mar 28
r (Sunday)
Skjaetorsdag (Maundy Thursday) Apr 9 Apr 21 g, b, o, some

Apr 1
r
Apr 22
Apr 10 Apr 2 g, b, o, some
Langfredag (Good Friday)
r
Apr 24
Paskedag (Easter Sunday)
r (Sunday)
Apr 25
Easter Monday
r
Labor Day May 1 May 1 May 1 g, b, o, r
May 17 g, b, o, some
Constitution Day May 17 May 17
r
Kristi Himmelfartsdag (Ascension June 2 g, b, o, some

May 21 May 13
Day) r
May 31, Jun June 12, 13

May 23, 24 g, b, o, some
Whit Sunday and Whit Monday 1 r (Sunday)
Jonsok (St. John’s Eve) Jun Jun Jun none
Olsok (St. Olaf’s Day) Jul 29 Jul 29 Jul 29 none
Ibsen Stage Festival Aug – Sep Aug - Sep Aug - Sep none
some o, some
Julaften (Christmas Eve) Dec 24 Dec 24 Dec 24 r
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Christmas Day Dec 25 Dec 25 Dec 25 g, b, o, r
Annen Juledag (Second Day of Dec 26 g, b, o, r

Dec 26 Dec 26
Christmas)
Dec 31 some o, some

New Year’s Eve Dec 31 Dec 31
r
* Key:
g = government offices and institutions
b = banks and financial institutions
o = non-retail businesses / offices
r = retail businesses
Special Seasons
Christmas Season: December 13 marks the official start of the Christmas season, but preparations begin as early as the first Sunday
of Advent when people decorate their homes and prepare biscuits and sweets. December 13 is St. Lucia Day, named after a Christian
martyred for her beliefs; it celebrates the traditional thanksgiving for the sun’s return. On the days leading up to Christmas, children
stroll around the neighborhood asking for treats. The season lasts until January 13, when everyone celebrates the last party of the
season and takes down their decorations.
National Holidays Description

New Year’s Day
Date: January 1
Closures: Government, Banks, Business Offices, Retail
Description: Celebrates the first day of the new year.
Background: Ancient civilizations marked their years with the seasons, celebrating the beginning of a new year at the time of the
vernal or autumnal equinox, or sometimes at the winter solstice. At one time, the Romans began their new year in the spring, but then
the emperors started making adjustments to the calendar. Julius Caesar finally revised the calendar to start the year on January 1,
and the Gregorian calendar we use today followed suit. Fittingly, the month of January is named after the two-faced Roman god
Janus, who could look forward to the new year and back at the old.
How Celebrated: The celebration on New Year’s Day is usually subdued after a night of revelry. In the morning, adults who spent the
night partying stay home to entertain visitors, while children dressed in colorful clothes take to the streets to sing holiday carols.
Neighbors treat the children to oranges and sweets. Many Norwegians make a traditional New Year’s rice pudding in which a whole
almond is hidden; the person who finds the almond is considered lucky.
Tyvendedagen
Date: January 13
Closures: None
Description: Occurs 20 days after Christmas and officially ends the Juletid (Yuletide) season in Norway.
Background: This festival originated from a tale of trolls who drove Christmas away. According to ancient belief, Kari-Tretten, a
female troll, led a race over a frozen countryside on the evening of January 13.
How Celebrated: To mark the official end of the Christmas season, Norwegians remove decorations and dismantle Christmas trees,
often chopping them up and burning them in fireplaces. In some areas, people race on sleds across frozen lakes to re-enact the
mythical race of the trolls.
Fastelavn (Shrovetide) Sunday

Date: The Sunday before Ash Wednesday
Closures: None
Description: An ancient custom of celebrating the abundance of spring
Background: The origin of Fastelavn is traced to an ancient pagan custom of ushering in the spring. With the coming of Christianity,
it evolved into a celebration of Shrovetide, the three days before the fasting season of Lent.
How Celebrated: Early in the morning of the Fastelavn festival, children use a decorated birch branch to playfully strike anyone
caught sleeping in their beds. Every person who receives a smack is obliged to give the child a piece of a hot cross bun. Most of the
time, family members play along by feigning sleep. The fastelavnsris, or birch branches, used for striking are decorated with colored
papers, flowers, and other shiny materials. Some establishments celebrate this day by hosting games and other activities for families.
Palm Sunday
Date: The Sunday before Easter Sunday
Closures: Government, Banks, Business Offices, some Retail (Sunday)
Description: Commemorates Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
Background: When Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem riding upon a donkey, people rejoiced and scattered palm fronds in his path. In
ancient times, it was common to cover paths with palms when a person of great importance or stature passed by.
How Celebrated: Christian church services include the sharing of cut palm fronds and the blessing of palm leaves. Processions are
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held before the church services. Many people take vacation time after Palm Sunday to extend the Easter holidays.
Skjaetorsdag (Maundy Thursday)
Date: The Thursday before Easter Sunday
Closures: Government, Banks, Business Offices, some Retail
Description: Commemorates Jesus Christ’s last supper.
Background: The word Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment. Maundy pertains to the
commandment Christ preached to his disciples during his last supper: to love one another as he had loved them.
How Celebrated: The five-day Easter holiday in Norway is a time for rest and recreation. People use this time to visit cabins in the
mountains or the numerous lodges and ski resorts in the countryside. Reading crime novels and watching murder mysteries on
television during Easter has recently gained popularity and is fast becoming a tradition. These books and shows are aptly called
Easter Crime.
Langfredag (Good Friday)
Date: The Friday before Easter Sunday
Description: Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Since the days of the early church, Good Friday has been
observed by fasting and penance, and many churches hold mourning services from noon until 3p.m. to symbolize Jesus' last hours on
the cross.
Background: Jesus was put to death on the Friday before Easter Day. According to the Bible, His death was meant to atone for the
sins of the world and provide redemption for all believers. For many years, Good Friday had no association with Jesus' death, but was
simply another day of fasting. Since the late fourth century, it has been associated with the crucifixion.
How Celebrated: Churches sponsor religious services, processions, and other activities in commemoration of Christ’s passion and
death. Norway is a fairly secular country, however, and many Norwegians celebrate the five-day Easter holiday away from home in
resorts and cabins. Most restaurants and movie houses remain open.
Paskedag (Easter Sunday)
Date: Varies with the Christian calendar
Description: A Christian feast day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Background: The celebration of Christ’s resurrection is one of the most important feasts in Christianity. With its symbolism of new
life, the holiday combined with earlier pagan celebrations of spring and took its name from Eastre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility
and springtime whose symbol was the rabbit.
How Celebrated: Church services are held across the country in honor of Christ’s resurrection. Easter morning is also a delightful
time for children, as they participate in Easter-egg hunts. They draw pictures of yellow chickens, and plastic chickens adorn most
homes and shops.
Easter Monday
Date: The day after Easter Sunday
Closures:Government, Banks, Business Offices, some Retail
Description:A continuation of Easter celebrations.
Background:While Easter Sunday is one of the most important celebrations in Christianity, Easter Monday is more of a secular
occasion, a joyous time after the more reflective Lent and Holy Week.
How Celebrated:Easter Monday is usually a happy day when friends and family gather to share festive activities or return from their
holiday travels.
Labor Day
Date: May 1
Description: A day to honor the working class and their contributions to society.
Background: The celebration of Labor Day originated with “the eight-hour-day movement,” which advocated balance in a worker’s
day: eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. An 1886 labor rally in Chicago promoting the eight-hour
workday ended with the death of several demonstrators in the “Haymarket Riot.” The international socialist movement declared May 1
as the date to commemorate those who died for the cause and to celebrate the workers’ struggle.
How Celebrated: Norwegians consider this day a national day of rest. As part of the Labor Day celebrations, towns across the
country host demonstrations and parades; unions call for reforms, and politicians deliver speeches. Participation in the celebrations
has dwindled through the years due to Norway’s strong economy and progressive labor reforms.
Constitution Day
Date: May 17
Description: Celebrates Norway’s Constitution, which was signed in 1814
Background: Also known as Syttende Mai (May 17), Constitution Day celebrates the country’s liberation and independence. Norway
was under Denmark’s control for 400 years until early 1814, when the union was dissolved. On May 17, 1814, the Constitution was
signed at Eidsvold.
How Celebrated: In Oslo, the capital, children parade past the Royal Palace, War Memorial landmark, and homes of senior citizens,
waving flags and banners. Public processions are held before and after the children’s parade. In recent times, people celebrate
wearing the colors of the flag (red, white, and blue) or the traditional Norwegian costume called Bunad. After the parade, children and
parents participate in games and enjoy free hotdogs, ice cream, and soft drinks.
Kristi Himmelfartsdag (Ascension Day)
Date: The 40th day after Easter
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Description: This day commemorates the departure of Jesus from earth, as related in the Gospels of the Bible. It is a major day in
the calendar of most Christian churches. The feast falls on Thursday, and is one of the most solemn in the year.
Background: According to the Gospels, Jesus returned to walk among his disciples after his crucifixion and resurrection, and after 40
days ascended to heaven to prepare for the redemption of all believers.
How Celebrated: Churches hold special services during this day to celebrate Christ’s ascension to heaven. Ascension Day always
falls on a Thursday and many Norwegians take the opportunity to enjoy a long holiday weekend.
Whit Sunday and Whit Monday
Date: Whit Sunday is celebrated the 50th day after Easter, and the 10th day after Ascension Thursday, with the holiday extended
through Whit Monday.
Description: One of the major feasts of the church year, Whit Sunday (Pentecost) commemorates the visitation of the Holy Spirit
upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus after his ascent into heaven.
Background: According to the Book of Acts, the disciples of Jesus were visited by the Holy Spirit in the form of flames that appeared
over their heads. Thereafter, they were enabled to speak in tongues, presaging their commitment to spread the word of the gospel
throughout the world.
How Celebrated: Pentecost is celebrated on Sunday and Monday. Religious services are held in many churches, while many
Norwegians choose to spend the long weekend in the countryside.
Jonsok (St. John’s Eve)
Date: On the eve of June 23
Closures: None
Description: Celebrates Midsummer’s Eve and the summer solstice, the longest day of the year
Background: The Jonsok (Johanne’s Wake) celebration is considered important in Scandinavia. This was originally a fertility festival
intended to celebrate the coming of autumn, but when Scandinavia was evangelized, the festival became associated with the Feast
Day of St. John the Baptist.
How Celebrated: Norwegians spend the summer solstice on beaches and small islands singing and dancing around bonfires. In the
past, the pagans believed that bonfires protected them from witches and evil spirits. Made from logs and tar-soaked barrels, these
bonfires, called Sankthansbil or Saint John’s bonfires, stay alight the whole night. Besides enjoying the fires, people head out on the
water in boats decorated with flowers. In some regions, children join a procession and choose a girl as the Midsummer Queen. Boys
and girls wearing native costumes participate in the procession that is led by a fiddler playing a wedding march.
Olsok (Saint Olaf’s Day)
Date: July 29
Closures: None
Description: In honor of Norway’s patron saint, Saint Olaf
Background: The son of King Harald, Olaf was a pagan prince who became a Christian in 1010 and went to England to offer his
services to the king. Upon his return to Norway, he embarked on a mission to spread Christianity with the help of English
missionaries. He also went to war against the Danes and Swedes to free Norway from their control and ruled the country from 1015 to
1029. Though most Norwegians loved and respected him, many noblemen opposed his rule and, in 1029, the rebel nobles defeated
Olaf and forced him out of Norway. He returned but was killed on July 29, 1031, in the Battle of Stiklestad. He was canonized in 1164.
How Celebrated: Annual vesper services in his honor are held at the Trondheim Cathedral and other venues. During recent years, an
open-air pageant representing the Battle of Stiklestad and King Olaf's death has been held in Stiklestad on this day.
Julaften (Christmas Eve)
Date: December 24
Closures: Some Business Offices, some Retail
Description: The day before Christmas
Background: In many Western and Christian countries, the celebration of Christmas commences on December 24. Often, the
celebration begins in the afternoon or evening with a traditional church service followed by a large Christmas meal.
How Celebrated: In Norway, most of the festivities are held on December 24. While it is not a public holiday, many shops and offices
close by noon to give Norwegians time to prepare for the night’s feast. The pealing of the bells at 4:00 in the afternoon signals the
start of Christmas Mass, after which Norwegians traditionally eat a bowl of porridge mixed with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. It is quite
common to see this dish left outside for the nisse (gnomes) who are believed to protect people and animals from harm. At night,
tables are laden with dishes like pork, spiced cabbage, fish, sausages, and cakes. Dishes vary from district to district, and people
dress up for the occasion. After the meal, adults place gifts under the Christmas tree for children and other family members.
Christmas Day
Date: December 25
Description: A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Also a time for sharing traditions and gifts with family and
friends.
Background: Long before the birth of Christ, Europeans celebrated the dark days of December with festivities and fire symbolizing
hope for spring and the return of longer days. Although no one is sure exactly when Jesus Christ was born, the 4th-century Pope
Julius I declared that December 25 would be the official date to celebrate Christmas. In this way, he introduced a Christian element to
the mid-winter festivals.
How Celebrated: Largely due to the Christmas Eve festivities that last all night, Norwegians traditionally begin Christmas Day
celebrations around noon. Families and close friends gather for festive meals consisting of traditional julekake (Yule cakes) and seven
different types of cookies. In the past, Norwegians attended church services on Christmas morning; however, because of changing
traditions, services are now held later in the day.
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Annen Juledag(Second Day of Christmas)

Date: December 26
Description: Annen Juledag is a national holiday enjoyed as an extension of Christmas Day celebrations.
Background: Annen Juledag literally means the Second Day of Christmas. The northern part of Norway is literally the “Land of the
Midnight Sun,” as it is north of the Arctic Circle, and the warmth and light of festivities are welcome at this time of year.
How Celebrated: Though this day was intended for rest and relaxation after a night of merrymaking, it is also the day when many
offices hold Christmas parties for their employees. People usually get together with friends or family during the day.
New Year’s Eve
Date: December 31
Closures: Some Business Offices, some Retail
Description: The day before the start of the new year
Background: The last day of the year, Norwegians have a separate celebration for this festive occasion. Often, people attend parties
or light firecrackers as a symbolic act of welcoming the new year.
How Celebrated: Most Norwegians still observe traditional practices in welcoming the new year. The day before New Year’s is quality
time spent with family and friends. People attend church services to receive blessings for the coming year. At dinnertime, families
share traditional New Year’s Eve delicacies like Koldt Bord and Lutefisk (raw cod) with holiday drinks or wine. As midnight
approaches, people go outside to watch firework displays, and celebrations usually continue into the night.
Festivals Description
International Ibsen Stage Festival
Date: August to September
Closures: None
Description: The festival takes place in Oslo and presents productions of Henrik Ibsen’s works from around the world.
Background: Every year, from the last week of August until early September, actors from around the world gather in Norway to take
part in this festival. Since the festival’s inception in 1990, many A-list theater actors from across the globe come to Oslo in order to
convey how Henrik Ibsen’s works transformed traditional theater.
How Celebrated: Aside from the showcase of Ibsen productions held at the National Theatre, the festival also includes exhibits,
concerts, and symposiums dedicated to the Norwegian playwright.
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Lifecycles
Introduction
Norwegians live in an affluent, equitable, and smoothly functioning society that has been in the vanguard of such transformations in
Western society as the recognition of women’s and children’s rights, the legal recognition of same-sex marriages, and the
establishment of a new family order based on cohabitation rather than marriage. Progressive government family policies have also
assured that the increased participation of women in the labor force has not led to a decline in birth rates. In old age, individuals can
receive assistance from the state for professionalized paid care, which has begun to replace the unpaid care that was once the
backbone of the traditional family system. The state’s “cradle to grave” approach is thus a powerful driver of society and an integral
part of every citizen’s life experience.
Birth
As in many other industrialized nations, Norway has had a low population growth rate (0.38 percent) since the 1970s. This is
attributable mainly to the increase in the level of women’s education, the increased participation of women in the labor force, and the
broader acceptance of cohabitation.
The liberalization of abortion laws in Norway came close on the heels of the women’s liberation movement. Abortion is permitted on
request during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Despite a positive attitude toward sexuality and the easy availability and wide use
of all kinds of contraceptives, Norway has one of highest rates of teenage abortions in Europe. Nearly half of all pregnancies for
women under the age of 20 end in abortion, often because women don’t want to interrupt their educations. Abortions are also
commonly used to space births.
The government provides a generous family policy program to increase birth rates that includes birth grants, paternity and maternity
leave of up to one year with full or 80 percent pay, and state-sponsored daycare facilities. Single parents are also entitled to these
benefits. Coupled with steady economic growth since the 1990s, these policies have had a positive effect on Norway’s birth rates,
which currently stand at 1.8 children per woman, much higher than that of many other European countries and close to the population
replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.
Infants are swaddled, kept close to the mother, carried in a sling, or, more commonly, taken around in baby carriages. Norway has the
highest breast-feeding rates in Europe, and working mothers in Norway are entitled to a two-hour break for nursing their babies.
Although children between the ages of one and six are usually left in day-care facilities, parents do not commonly leave infants in
institutional care.
Nearly all births in Norway are attended by skilled personnel, and a mother can actually choose to give birth in her own home with the
assistance of a midwife from the local hospital. The father (or anyone chosen by the woman giving birth) is permitted to stay through
the labor and, according to Norwegian custom, the baby is usually placed on the mother’s breast while the father cuts the umbilical
cord.
Although Norwegians are not that religious, life cycle stages are almost always marked by religious ceremonies. Nearly all babies, for
instance, are baptized in church, at home, or at the hospital.
Norwegians celebrate their birthdays with a party for relatives and friends. They decorate the house with colored streamers and
balloons, and in an expression of patriotism, they display the national flag outside the house. Chocolate birthday cake with chocolate
frosting has become more popular than the traditional cream cake with marzipan topping. Children also take great delight in traditional
birthday customs such as going for little treasure hunts or “fishing” for small gifts. At school, the child celebrating his birthday is
allowed to have a little dance with one of his friends and the whole class sings “Gratulerer med magen” (“Happy birthday to you”).
Older children and adults also celebrate their birthdays with theme parties and revelry.
Childhood
Traditionally, children in the countryside were brought up by their parents. In the cities, the father worked outside the home, while the
mother stayed at home and took care of the children. Today, new family structures have evolved as a result of industrialization, and
children are now exposed to an entirely different family situation. Both parents work outside the home, and fathers of small children
are the group that works the most overtime. For most parents, time spent with the children is budgeted very tightly, and many children
miss the closeness and supporting presence of parents. Hotlines established for children by the Red Cross and Save the Children
receive calls from many Norwegian children saying how lonely they are and that their parents, especially fathers, have little time for
them.
Increased opportunities in the labor market have also led to greater family mobility, and many families have moved out of their
hometowns. Such moves often deprive children of close contact with their grandparents, who would otherwise have provided much-
needed emotional support besides passing down the country’s traditional culture.
Norwegian children start schooling at the age of six. Primary and early secondary education is compulsory and free from the age of
six to 16. Children spend long hours at school, and after-school activities are common for children of working parents. Many parents
enroll their children in organized activities like athletics or musical clubs to occupy their children’s afternoons and holidays. Sixty-nine
percent of children are a part of an athletic organization, twenty-seven percent participate in a choir or orchestra, and eighty percent
play an instrument.
Since both parents work in the majority of families, children are trained to be independent, make decisions, and to help with light
household chores like doing the dishes, shopping for groceries, or feeding pets. Rural children help their parents on the family farm or
on their fishing boats. Norwegians pride themselves as being the best nation in the world in terms of gender equality, and there is
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NORWAY

Copyright © 2010. World Trade Press. All rights reserved.

Greetings and Courtesies................................................. 2

Holidays and Festivals..................................................... 3

Superstitions and Folklore ............................................... 21

Time and Punctuality ...................................................... 23

Women in Business ........................................................ 24

International Standard Book Number

ISBN 10: 1-60780-407-7 • ISBN 13: 978-1-60780-407-9

800 Lindberg Lane, Suite 190, Petaluma, California 94952 USA

Personal and Family Gifts

Greetings and Courtesies

Holidays and Festivals

Holidays, Festivals, and

New Year’s Day Jan 1 Jan 1 Jan 1 g, b, o, r

Jan 13 Jan 13 Jan 13

Fastelavn (Shrovetide) Sunday Feb 22 Feb 14 March 6 none

Skjaetorsdag (Maundy Thursday) Apr 9 Apr 21 g, b, o, some

Labor Day May 1 May 1 May 1 g, b, o, r

Kristi Himmelfartsdag (Ascension June 2 g, b, o, some

May 31, Jun June 12, 13

Jonsok (St. John’s Eve) Jun Jun Jun none

Olsok (St. Olaf’s Day) Jul 29 Jul 29 Jul 29 none

Christmas Day Dec 25 Dec 25 Dec 25 g, b, o, r

Annen Juledag (Second Day of Dec 26 g, b, o, r

Dec 31 some o, some

National Holidays Description

Fastelavn (Shrovetide) Sunday

Closures: Government, Banks, Business Offices, some Retail

Annen Juledag(Second Day of Christmas)

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