The European nation of Norway, celebrates its New Year on January 1st following the Georgian calendar system. New Year is a major festival of the year for the people of Norway, and therefore they make sure to celebrate it in a royal way, and also a ‘distinct’ way.
Fireworks on New Years Eve in Norway
The prominence of celebrations on New Years Eve in Norway relies upon the spectacular fireworks show. There are community organized fireworks shows, which last for few minutes after the arrival of New Year.
Other than that, most of the people make prior arrangements for having their own fireworks show in their backyards or neighborhood streets. They buy plentiful of firecrackers, and after having their dinner or feast, they move out to set off firecrackers. Everyone, but more prominently children and people of young age remain at the fore of firework activities.
This tradition can said to be a cause of the climate conditions in Norway at the time of New Year. Usually, its blistering cold and wet out there in Norway, and most of the people feel it to be a tough task to move out and travel to the major points of the town to watch the community organized fireworks show. They instead prefer to buy their own fireworks, and have comfortable time setting off them in their own backyards.
However, some of the complexes or streets restrict bursting firecrackers in a specified circle or range and in such cases, people either move to any other place closer to their place, or eventually head towards the community organized fireworks show.
There are certain regulations over the purchasing firecrackers. Only those older than an age of 18 years can buy them. Fireworks are available for sale on only two days prior to New Year, and that too in between the time of eight in the morning to eight in the night. Usually, they are available in the temporary cubicles placed in particularly for New Year time, or from the permanent shops in supermarkets and shopping centers. While buying them, people don’t mind getting overboard with the expenses involved, which is pretty much the cause of the prominence hold by New Years Eve.
Other Celebrations on New Years Eve in Norway
New Years Eve is a time usually reserved for family, friends, and relatives. Irrespective of the fact that if one chooses to be a part of the social celebrations or a private party in the house, spending quality and cheerful time with friends and family remains at the core of it. There is an unclear majority or minority of the people spending New Years Eve time on social or private celebrations.
However, it can be better called as a moderate blend of both. Some of the discotheques, pubs, and clubs do draw an adequate crowd on New Years Eve, which cannot be called as too intensive. Many people go for an altogether different option. They pack their families and bags to head to an exotic nearby place, preferably to a warm place, or a tourist destination within Norway. Music, dance, and drinking remains the most preferred way to pass on the last few time of Old Year, and thus all these parties have plenty of it in presence.
According to the traditions followed in Norway, people make sure to prepare dish of turkey, and lobster for their evening feast, or even a simple dinner. Eating Lutefisk is another traditional dish, which however is losing its grip over the taste buds of the Norwegians.
A fine wine or champagne for the evening is also considered to be an important part of New Years Eve, which is usually toast off at the moment of the arrival of New Year. As soon as that occurs, one starts cheering out loud and wishing everyone around with New Year wishes.