Traditional Christmas Greeting: "God Jul"
Location: Scandinavia
Tree Type: Traditional

Decorations:
- Stars
- National flags
- Rosemailed ornaments

Traditions:
Many celebrations throughout the month of December herald the approach of Christmas in Norway. Advent, a period of abstinence, begins about four weeks before Christmas Eve. Santa Lucia Day is celebrated on the 13th in some places with a candle lit procession to honor the martyr Saint Lucia. December 21st brings Saint Thomas' Day and specially baked cakes. When Li'l Christmas Eve ends on the 23rd, families are truly ready for Christmas.

Christmas is a magical time in Norway, a time when gnomes play pranks, witches fly through the night, and the next year's fortunes can be revealed. Norwegian tradition holds that anywhere from one to several nisser, elves or gnomes, are present during Christmas. One, often called Fjosnisse, lives in the family's barn and looks after the animals. Children must always remember to take him a share of the Christmas porridge, or he plays tricks on the family as revenge. To prevent malicious witches from wandering at night, many families hide their brooms before going to sleep. Others visit friends during the evening, sneaking up to houses and firing a shotgun to scare the witches away. The Christmas pudding in Norway always contains just one lucky almond. It's recipient is said to be the next one who will get married, or will have good luck during the coming year.

After church, families sit down to a lavish Christmas Eve dinner. Besides the special almond porridge, they usually eat pork or fish, potatoes, gingerbread, and cloudberry cream. After dinner, families perform a ritual called circling. Everyone holds hands and they walk in a circle around the lit Christmas tree singing Christmas carols. The tree itself is decorated with lights, candles, flags, and homemade ornaments. While children are admiring it, Julenissen, one of the holiday gnomes who now seems to share a wardrobe with Santa Claus, comes to the door to personally deliver presents. Full of food and content with gifts, Norwegian families retire on Christmas Eve looking forward to Christmas Day, which they usually spend visiting with family and friends.