In Norway, Christmas festivities start on the last Sunday in November, or the last Sunday that ends up the 4th Sunday before the 24th.
Almost everyone has a four armed chandelier with 4 candles in it. Every Sunday a candle is lit, while they say a little verse as they light it. This is what really gets Norwegians into the Christmas spirit early.
From December 1st to the 24th, there are Christmas calendars on the t.v. These shows have 24 episodes, and there are shows for both children and adults. Every day leading up to Christmas, another space in the calendar is opened as another episode airs. The finale happens on December 24th, Christmas day.
On the 23rd, the Christmas tree is brought in and gets decorated. The presents are then put in front of the tree for opening the following day. A stocking is hung up for the kids as they wake up on the 24th, and usually they also get one small present on Christmas morning.
Many people go to church early on the 24th, and there are children's choirs and schools singing and playing instruments. Then lunch is usually served, the menu varies as to where in Norway you are from.
Some people have porridge with an almond in it; whoever gets the almond in their portion gets a marzipan pig as a prize. Others have a traditional dish called "Molje", served only at this time of the year. As the meat is cooked and prepared for Christmas, all the broth is kept. When the 24th comes, this broth is salted and added with allspice. It's always served with traditional flat bread, a very thin, crispy bread that gets crumbled in the plate before adding the "Molje" over it. Additional allspice is added for taste.
A must, is the Norwegian liquor, Aquavit. This liquor is extremely strong. Christmas wouldn't be the same without it. A couple of shots of Aquavit are a necessity for every meal on Christmas (it's not shot straight down, only sipped during the meals).
In between lunch and dinner, the table gets filled with cookies. Norwegians usually make 7 different sorts of cookies and pastries for the holidays, so there are plenty of sweets to go around. Most of these cookies are very traditional, such as the "poor man", a cookie that is very cheap to make and has a history of being the only cake poor people could afford in the old days. The recipes of these traditional pastries are well kept until this day.
Around 6 p.m., dinner is served. On the menu is pork, with lots of crispy fat on the top, potatoes, sausages and meatballs. This dinner usually takes a few hours, and of course more drinking of Aquavit.
After dinner, it's time to open presents. Most children have gone the whole day, just waiting for this moment. It's time for happiness for the whole family, or possibly stress for those not so interested in what someone receives. After presents, it's time for coffee and more cookies, and the evening lasts long into the night.
The next morning, on December 25th, there's a big Christmas breakfst. There will be large amount of food, and leftovers from the night before. Since the 25th and 26th are national holidays in Norway, families usually gather together to celebrate and rejoice for the holiday.
Christmas ends on the 13th day after Christmas, that is also when the tree is taken down. By that time most people are more than happy to see the tree and Santas go. And are well fed with all of the cookies and the Aquavit that they had to drink!
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