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General cultural information
Norway has held fast to many of its cultural traditions and it's not uncommon to see elaborate folk costumes worn at weddings and other festive events. Traditional folk dancing, singing and storytelling (often featuring trolls) are also popular. The country has produced a wealth of artistic talent including the painter Edvard Munch, composer Edvard Grieg, sculptor Gustav Vigeland and playwright Henrik Ibsen. Norway has also produced three winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature: Bjornstjerne Bjornson, Sigrid Undset and Knut Hamsun.
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Do's and Don'ts
| Visits | When entering a norwegian home, be prepared to put off your shoes. Bring indoor shoes or walk around in your socks, unless the host specifically tell you to keep your shoes on. | | Waiters | Don't treat waitors in restaurants as servants. Imagine the waitor slightly more as your host for the evening. Be nice to him and you get tenfold back. There is a big difference between saying "Hey you, this steak is bad!" and "I am sorry, but this steak is not good." |
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Religion
Norway has an official Protestant State Church based on the Evangelical-Lutheran religion. Although there is no separation of Church and State, all inhabitants have the right to exercise their religion freely in accordance with a 1964 amendment to the Constitution. Nine out of ten ethnic Norwegians are members of the State Church of Norway.
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Cultural attractions
| Datum | Evenement | | 20-23 January | | Polar Jazz: The world's northernmost jazz festival, 400 miles from the North Pole. | | 26-30 January | | Northern lights festival: Along with the return of the sun, a distinguished selection of international musicians come to the Northern Light Festival. Music ranging from baroque to contemporary, from jazz to classical. | | 17 May | | The country's biggest holiday is Constitution Day (17 May), when many Norwegians take to the streets attired in traditional folk costumes. | | 23 June | | Another popular holiday is Midsummer's Eve, which is celebrated with bonfires on the beach. | | | |
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