New Year's Eve in Norway

Like any other country in Europe, Norway has its own distinctness when it comes to celebrating New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve in Norway is both a social and family occasion. The day is reserved for quality time spending with family members and close friends. Norwegians prefer a judicious mixture of time spent indoors and outdoors during the holiday season. However, some of the young Norwegians prefer spending the end of the year in other warmer climes of other seaside countries.

New Year's Eve in Norway is pretty traditional. The evening sees a customary Norwegian meal in many households. Lutefisk, though losing its popularity is still a delicacy taken on this day. It is raw dried cod fish treated with caustic soda to make it palatable. The conventional lutefisk meal is complete with mashed green peas, bacon, mustard and boiled potatoes. The young and the old alike, meet in places like hotels and discotheques to have a good time. Private parties also see an en masse turnout, with dancing, music and heavy drinking. Norway is famous for the fireworks display.

As midnight approaches, it is difficult to see any person in the house, as everybody go outdoors to witness the fireworks. The variety of fireworks is mind boggling, the sky is lit up with a thousand colors. The toasting of the New Year starts, the moment the clock turns 12 and wishing the family, friends and neighbors starts.