Norway Holidays - 2008

New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1.Norway greets New Year with time-honored traditions, home parties and fireworks. Oslo is the place to be in to enjoy New Years Eve.Norwegians loves fireworks show at their homes backyard. The cool and wet December weather of Norway keeps people away from the streets and enjoy New Year festivities in their own private spaces.One of the significant New Year traditions in Norway is preparing rice pudding and hiding an almond within it. Rice pudding is a symbolic food eaten during New Year in Norway.Norwegian New Year is a spectacular time for the locals as well as the tourists who immerse themselves completely in the festive spirit and revel all night and day in the fun and cheer.

On Palm Sunday Christians celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection.

Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Black Friday, Great Friday, is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

It is the day before Good Friday and occurs during Holy Week. Maundy Thursday is a public holiday in Norway.Maundy Thursday is known as skjærtorsdag in Norway and is a day off for workers and students.

‘Easter’ in Norway is called ‘Påske’. In Norway, Easter holiday is longer as compared to many other European countries. The Easter holidays begin on Wednesday afternoon even before the Maundy Thursday, and wrap up on Tuesday morning after Easter Monday.One of the major Easter festive attractions in Norway is that huge carnivals are held before Lent arranged by different organizations and institutions in different parts of the country.A common Easter custom in Norway is the tradition of decorating Easter eggs and publishing of series of books as "Easter-Thrillers" or Påskekrimmen. Norwegians also decorate their houses with yellow chicken figurines as they consider it very auspicious.

Labor Day begins with the hoisting of the flag at the town town square or another public spot, followed by parades and speeches, often by prominent Labor Party politicians, and with the placing of a wreath at a war memorial or other monument.

Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter. It occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven according to Christian belief. Government offices, schools, banks and many businesses are closed.

The Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year.The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17 in the year 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent nation.The celebration of this day began spontaneously among students and others from early on.All over Norway, children's parades with an abundance of flags form the central elements of the celebration. Each elementary school district arranges its own parade[1] with marching bands between schools.In addition to flags, people typically wear red, white and blue ribbons.

Pentecost is the great festival that marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost means "fiftieth day" and is celebrated fifty days after Easter.It is public holiday in Norway.

Whit Monday, or Pentecost Monday, is a Christian holiday. It is the day after Pentecost which commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament of the Bible.There are a number of customs associated with Whit Monday.The day is celebrated as a public holiday in many countries, including Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Many workplaces are closed today in those countries and people take the day to enjoy recreational activities.

In Norway, Christmas is known as "Jul" and celebrated annually on December 25, like in many other places. For most Norwegians, the main celebration of Christmas is on 24 December (Christmas Eve). Traditionally, this is a day to be spent in the company of family members.On Christmas Day, most families have a big brunch at noon or dinner in the afternoon. People invite their friends and loved ones to have meal with them. Cakes and cookies are relished together and everyone is wished God Jul!(Merry Christmas).Everyone has either a spruce or a pine tree in their living room - decorated with white lights, Norwegian flags and other ornaments for Christmas.

St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint's day celebrated on 26 December.It commemorates St Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr.In the past bands of men rose before dawn and galloped from village to village singing folk songs about the saint. These robust performances awakened householders, who then refreshed Stephen’s men with ale or other alcoholic beverages.Many Norwegians spend the day visiting with friends and family members.