Christmas in Norway is like a two-month long Hallmark movie, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the seasonal cheer leading up to the Holidays. The streets are decorated with various types of lights that range from chandeliers to greenery swags with illuminated hearts. Even some street cars have strings of lights cascading over the sides. Storefronts showcase paper Christmas trees, ceramic Santas, and little trolls with advent calendars in a variety of size, shape, and theme. Even buildings are decked out in Advent numbers!

While candles are sold in grocery stores year-round, purple candles for Advent and seasonal candles have been out in full force since October. Christmas candles, napkins and pepperkakke (gingerbread) cookies in plastic tins fill the ends of grocery store aisles. Christmas candies are displayed in cardboard displays featuring chocolates, marzipan, marshmallow Santas, and sugared sweets. It doesn’t end there.

Christmas labels appear on ordinary foods and menus are posted in advance of the holiday season. Essential meat items, pinnekjøtt (dried lamb), ribbe (pork belly), lutefisk (fish soaked in lye), and Julepolse (Christmas sausage) are heavily marketed as special Christmas delicacies. Fancy holiday clothes are on display for formal family gatherings.

Jul in Norwegian refers to Christmas, so God Yul is ‘Merry Christmas,’ and it seems like everything transforms into a Christmas version of itself for this time of the year. There is Julevin (Christmas wine) and Juleøl (Christmas beer) and JuleAqavit (Christmas Aqavit), Julekaffee (Christmas coffee) and Julete (Christmas tea). The beloved brunost (brown cheese) even has a Christmas version. Yes, you guessed it, Julebrunost (brown cheese with a hint of cardamom).

When I first started my ungdomsskole visits, I always tried to ask questions or share tidbits that might appeal to teenagers and increase their engagement. For example, I might tell them that students in the US don’t wear pajamas every day to school. To which there would be gasps, looks of surprise, and quiet whispers. However, since November, students have been asking me if I’d tried Julebrus (Christmas soda). I quickly recognized that Julebrus was an essential component of Christmas culture in Norway, so I started asking them about their favorite Julebrus. This was a very effective strategy to engage the students because they definitely have their Julebrus favorites!

Grocery store selection of Julebrus in Arendal.

There are soooo many different kinds of Christmas soda, that I liken it to the local beers of Germany. Different regions have their own Julebrus, some are red and some are brown, and there’s even one that’s purple. Some of the more popular brands include Oscar Sylte from Molde, Hamar from Hamar, Arendal from Arendal, and Aass from Drammen. Generally speaking, students in the northern regions seemed to prefer brown Julebrus and students in the southern regions of Norway prefer the red Julebrus. There certainly is a lot of pride in the holiday beverage, but I’ve not tried any yet. I purchased Julebrus brands recommended by students and available in the regions I visited and will have a ‘tasting party’ with my family.

Ready for a family Julebrus tasting party.

Students also asked me if Christmas in the US was like the movies, with over-the-top Christmas lights and parties. To which I often respond that yes, some neighborhoods may look like scenes from the movies, but I believe that Norway actually takes Christmas to a new level. The Christmas food and drinks, the holiday labels on everything, the lights, the decorations, and the overall excitement for Christmastime are really quite incredible. However, perhaps the feeling of more Christmas celebration is actually just reaction to celebrating Christmas in a new way. Future Christmas seasons in Minnesota will be missing the Norwegian Julebrus and Julebrunost, so I’m simply going to savor all the newness and Jule-everything in Norway this season.

Jul Alt (Christmas Everything)

Planning & Patience