Norway is a country where people live very well. In fact, in the lists usually published by the World Health Organization (WHO) it is usually in the first 20 positions worldwide in terms of life expectancy.
That, in part, can be explained by knowing the most deeply rooted customs of a very advanced society committed to the environment. The latter is very true, since without going any further there the best-selling car of the month has become an electric car, something that could not happen at the moment in a country like Spain, where the market share of electric cars it does not even come close to 5% due to economic, social and structural issues.
Symbols
The flag , of course, is one of its main symbols. It has a red background and blue stripes with white edges that run from top to bottom. Not only do we see it waving in public buildings, but it is also common to see it in houses and other places, which suggests that Norwegians are very proud of their homeland.
The national anthem walks just in that direction. His lyrics extol both the country and the importance of home.
Christmas
Christmas is lived with great intensity in Norway, something that is not surprising if we consider that snow adds a lot of magic to any city in the country. They like to decorate the streets and that makes the stores sell more, but the restaurants also take the opportunity to make cash by offering typical Christmas dishes that are made with products of the nation, such as ribbe (pork ribs) and pinnekjøtt (rack of lamb).
Christmas, known as "Jul" in Norway, lasts longer than elsewhere. What’s more, there is the Casa de la Navidad located in the south of the country, where they never close to the delight of tourists who arrive in summer. Markets and fairs are also held with which it is clear that they are very important dates.
Houses
The fact that young people become emancipated very soon does not mean that there is not a feeling of family unity that lasts over the centuries. There is an important attachment to the region in which one has grown up and there is not only great respect for the house that each one has, but they also love nature, which is why they celebrate many outdoor activities.
Wooden churches
The wooden churches that can be seen in Norway are a true virguería. They are called Stavekirker and in the past they were located in different places in the northwest of medieval Europe. Today it could be said that they are almost exclusive to the country. There are several types, although they all share certain characteristics, such as their angular posts (stave). They exist in part thanks to the work that the Vikings did building wooden boats and houses, since with so much practice they managed to develop and perfect the technique of felling wood.
Kitchen room
Norwegian fish and shellfish are garnering compliments all over the world. In fact, Norwegian salmon is sold in many countries. In addition, it is also popular to eat lamb, cured meats, wild berries and other delicacies that make one not go hungry. The problem? That the standard of living there has nothing to do with that of other European countries, which prevents many tourists from going to lunch and dinner in a restaurant every day.
The Vikings
What would the country be without the Vikings? Although nowadays they are no longer the warriors and poets of yesteryear, this Nordic tradition is still breathed, which normally did not leave them in a very good place, since they were still pirates who did anything to steal. Of course, we must be fair and recognize that they were also good merchants and administrators, while behaving like authentic craftsmen of wood and metal producing jewelry and other products that we know thanks to the good state of conservation of most of them. If you want to feel like a Viking, nothing better than visiting the Lofotr Viking Museum.
marriage and family
It is estimated that 40% of Norwegians are married, which is not much. In any case, the most worrying thing is that the divorce rate has skyrocketed, although that is something that has happened in all European countries. The normal thing is that a Norwegian family does not have more than two children, and not because they cannot afford it financially …
The national costume
The traditional costume of Norway is the Bunad. It is used in celebrations of all kinds, even weddings. Its design was created more than 100 years ago and is based on the regional folk costumes of a good handful of years ago. There are many types of bunads, as each town has its own. With them it is impossible to go unnoticed because they are usually colorful and usually have many details.
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