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Kingdom of
2014
Norway
Kongeriket Norge
Norway is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun because from mid-May to the end of June, the sun never sets in
the north.
Norway is famous for its stave churches. Built by the Vikings a thousand years ago, stave churches are made
entirely of wood and have high, peaked roofs and intricate carvings.
The paper clip was invented in 1899 by Johan Vaaler, a Norwegian.
Norway is home to the deepest lake in Europe. Hornindalsvatnet is located in Nordfjord district and is 1,686 feet
(514 m) deep.
It is impolite in Norway to place your hands in your pockets when standing in front of a large group.
Women make up 45 percent of the workforce.
It is considered rude for guests to not eat the refreshments offered by their hosts.
Compared to other nations, Norway gives a high percentage of its wealth to help poorer countries.
Norway hosts the Nobel Peace Prize.
The cheese slicer (osthøvel) is a Norwegian invention.
Norway was one of the first countries to allow women to vote. Women are very involved in Norwegian politics.
Norwegians take their shoes off when entering a home.
Norway has thousands of lakes.
Flag
The flags of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland are similar; they all have
at least one cross, but on different-colored backgrounds.
National Image
The elk, or European moose, is the largest mammal in Norway and can be found
throughout most of the country.
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Norway
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 125,021
Area (sq. km.): 323,802
Norway is located on the northwest part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It shares a long
border with Sweden in the east and smaller borders with Finland and Russia in the
northeast. The country is very long and skinny, just larger than Poland or the state of
New Mexico. At its widest it is only 200 miles (320 km) across, while at its thinnest it is
only 40 miles (64 km) wide. Norway is a Viking word that means “northern way.” Almost
one-third of the country is located north of the Arctic Circle. The Scandinavian
Mountains stretch across large parts of Norway, and many areas are so rugged and
mountainous that people can’t live there. Lakes and glaciers dot the landscape. In fact,
Norway is home to more than 160,000 lakes. Along the coast are deep, sea-filled
canyons called fjords. Thousands of small islands surround Norway and help protect it
from Arctic storms.
For being located so far north, Norwegians enjoy surprisingly temperate weather. The
climate in coastal areas tends to be milder than inland, where winters are cold and
summers are warm. The average temperature in the summer on the west coast is 60°F
(16°C), while in the north it is 55°F (13°C). The warm waters of the Gulf Stream keep
Norway's many fjords and inlets ice free and create warm air currents that help keep
the climate mild.
Population
Population: 4,722,701
For its size, Norway has a very small population. The majority of Norwegians come
from Nordic (Scandinavian) ancestry. But Norway’s population includes a growing
number of immigrants from countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Also, a small group of
native Sami (pronounced “SAW-me”) live mainly in the north. Sami ancestors were the
first inhabitants of northern Norway, settling in the area several thousand years ago.
Most Norwegians live within 10 miles (16 km) of the sea. The capital city of Oslo has
more than 600,000 inhabitants and is the biggest and most populated city in the
country.
Language
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Norwegian, the official language, has two forms. Bokmål, or “book language,” is used in
most writing and is spoken by more than 80 percent of the people, especially those in
cities. It is also the main language of schools and the media. The other form is Nynorsk
(New Norwegian). Nynorsk combines a number of country dialects (ways of speaking or
pronouncing) and was formed in the 1800s. Most Norwegians understand both forms.
Major national newspapers are mostly published in Bokmål, while many regional and
local ones are published in Nynorsk. All government agencies support both written
forms. Norwegian is also a pitch accent language, which means people use rising or
falling tones to distinguish two-syllable words with the same pronunciation. This gives
Norwegian a unique sing-song quality. The Sami speak Sami (Lappish) but also learn
Norwegian in school. The Norwegian alphabet has three more vowels than English
does: å, œ, and ø. Norwegian students learn English as a second language beginning
at age six or seven.
Can You Say It in Norwegian?
Hello
Hallo
(ha-LO)
Good-bye
Ha det
(ha DUH)
Please
Vær så snill
(var soh SNILL)
Thank You
Takk
(tok)
Yes
Ja
(yah)
No
Nei
(nigh)
Religion
The Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran) is the country’s official state church. However, freedom of religion is
guaranteed, and many other Christian churches are active in the country. Among them are the Pentecostals, Roman
Catholics, and various Protestant groups. Because of immigration, the Muslim population is also growing. The majority
of Muslims come from Pakistan, Iraq, and Somalia. Although organized religion is important to some people, most
Norwegians attend church services only on special occasions like Christmas or other holidays.
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Time Line
Thousands of years ago the nomadic Sami people inhabit what is now
Norway, fishing, trapping, and following herds of reindeer
AD 700
AD 700s–1050
The Vikings conquer parts of Scandinavia and Europe
872
Harald the Fairhair becomes the first king of Norway
995
Christianity is brought to Norway by Olav I
1000
1000
Leif Eriksson sails to North America
1048
Oslo is founded
1217
Haakon IV becomes king; Norway’s Golden Age begins
1300
1349–50
A plague called the Black Death kills almost half of all Norwegians
1381–1814
Denmark controls Norway
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1500
As the reindeer population decreases, many Sami settle along the
coastline among the many fjords and inlets
1536
Lutheranism becomes the official religion of Norway
1800
1814
Norway becomes part of Sweden; the constitution is adopted
1854
The first railroad is completed
1900
1905
Norwegians vote to become independent of Sweden; Haakon VII
becomes king
1913
Women gain the right to vote
1914–18
Norway remains neutral during World War I
1940–45
Germany occupies Norway during World War II
1969
A big oil find in the North Sea starts a new era for the Norwegian
economy and export industry
1991
Harald V becomes king
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Norway
Lillehammer hosts the Winter Olympics
2000
2004
The government introduces a nationwide ban on smoking in
restaurants, bars, and cafés
2005
Norway celebrates one hundred years of independence
2011
Dozens of people are killed in a shooting at an island retreat shortly
after a bomb went off at the prime minister's office in Oslo
PRESENT
Age of the Vikings
The Vikings were one of the earliest and most famous groups to live in Norway.
Beginning in the eighth century, the Vikings set out across the ocean in their speedy
ships to find treasure and new land. They attacked various communities in present-day
England, Ireland, and other parts of Europe, stealing their wealth and taking slaves.
The Vikings were known for being ferocious warriors. They also sailed westward,
exploring and settling in places such as Iceland, Greenland, and even North America.
These raids continued for almost three hundred years. Viking leader Harald the
Fairhead became supreme leader over a unified kingdom in what is now Norway
around 872.
Black Death
Beginning in 1217, when King Haakon IV came to power, a time of peace and
prosperity came to Norway. He helped bring the nation together, established the first
capital city at Bergen, and brought Greenland and Iceland under Norwegian control.
This time was known as the golden age of medieval Norway.
But in 1349 and 1350, the bubonic plague (a deadly, infectious disease), or Black
Death, swept up from southern Europe to Norway. This terrible disease killed almost
half of Norway’s population. As the land and its people struggled to recover, Norway
came under Danish control and remained that way for more than 400 years. In later
years, Norwegians referred to this period as the 400-Year Night.
Independence
For many years, Norway was controlled by governments from other countries. Denmark
ruled Norway from 1381 to 1814 before Norway was given to Sweden after the
Napoleonic Wars. But many Norwegians didn’t like being governed by others. On 17
May 1814, Norway declared its independence and wrote a new constitution based
partly on the constitutions of the United States and France. However, Sweden would
not accept Norwegian independence at first. It wasn’t until 1905 that Norway finally
broke away from Swedish rule. A Danish prince who became known as Haakon VII
became the constitutional monarch of the independent Kingdom of Norway.
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Norway and the World Wars
When World War I broke out in 1914, Norway, along with Sweden and Denmark,
declared neutrality, deciding not to take sides in the war. However, Norwegian
merchant ships did help Great Britain by delivering much-needed supplies in exchange
for coal. The country became known as the Neutral Ally for this service.
Norway tried to stay out of World War II as well, but Germany attacked the country in
April 1940 and remained there until 1945. The king and most of the government
escaped safely to England, where they organized a resistance movement to secretly
fight against the Germans. Many Norwegians risked their lives in order to regain their
country’s freedom. In one instance, nine Norwegians skied past German troops without
being caught and blew up a factory where the Germans were making the ingredients to
build an atomic bomb. Resistance fighters also smuggled people in and out of Norway
via the Shetland Bus. This was the nickname of a special operations group that sailed
between German-occupied Norway and Shetland, Scotland. The ships were disguised
as normal fishing vessels and the crew as fishermen. They sailed under cover of night,
transferring agents, supplies, and Norwegian refugees.
Norway Today
Norway recovered well after World War II. The country joined the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) in 1949, and oil resources were discovered in the Ekofisk field, in
the North Sea, in 1969. A healthy economy combined with the profits from oil
production have made Norway a prosperous land. Norwegians have twice voted
against joining the European Union (EU), preferring not to give up any control to the EU
leaders, as they are confident in their nation's resources and economy. The United
Nations consistently ranks Norway as having the highest standard of living in the world.
As a people, Norwegians are well-educated, earn high incomes, and have long life
expectancies.
Games and Sports
Many Norwegians can ski (cross-country skiing is especially popular), and children
learn at a very young age. A popular saying is that Norwegians are born with skis on
their feet. Ice-skating and fishing are also popular. People enjoy playing soccer,
swimming, biking, and hiking during the summer months. They also like to go boating
when the frozen lakes thaw. Most Norwegian kids participate in sports at community
clubs rather than at school. Winning isn’t emphasized as much as participating.
Because of the cold climate in the winter months, most activities are held indoors.
Holidays
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Christmas is a favorite holiday. On Christmas Eve (Julaften), bells ring and families
gather to share a big meal, sing around the Christmas tree, and give gifts. Unlike
Americans, Norwegians exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, and parents tell children
stories of Julenisse (Father Christmas). Christmas parties continue until the New Year.
Constitution Day (17 May), which commemorates Norway’s independence, is
celebrated a lot like the Fourth of July in the United States, with parades, flags, and
family gatherings. Many people also dress up in bunad (traditional Norwegian
costumes) to celebrate. The day before (16 May), many children fill the streets to party.
Jonsok (St. John’s Day) is another popular holiday and occurs at midsummer, at the
start of summer vacation. It is traditional to light bonfires the night before to mark the
occasion, and some stay up late to watch the sun rise.
Food
For frokost (breakfast) and lunsj (lunch), Norwegians usually eat open-face cheese or
ham sandwiches and drink milk or coffee. A common middag (dinner) meal is meatballs
with potatoes and brown gravy, served with vegetables. Meatballs and game meat are
traditionally served with lingonberry jam on the side. Norwegian specialties include fish
balls served in a milk sauce, smoked salmon, lutefisk (boiled cod or coalfish), fårikål
(cabbage and mutton), smalahode (sheep’s head), and a variety of other dishes. Ice
cream and puddings are favorite desserts. Norwegians eat in the continental style,
meaning with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. Children enjoy
traditional foods as well as pasta, pizza, and other common western European dishes.
Schools
Adult Literacy: 100%
Norwegian children start school at age six. They go to primary (elementary) school first
for six years and then to secondary (high) school for three years. The school year lasts
from late August to mid-June of the next year. In addition to studying Norwegian, kids
learn English starting in the second grade. The amount of time the students spend in
school and the amount of homework they have increases as they get older. After 10th
grade, students choose a course of study and attend a specialized high school where
they prepare for a job or for university study. Most schools are run by the government,
but there are also quite a few private schools. Private schools are popular for students
who need extra help or who would benefit from other methods of learning that the
public school system cannot provide. Parents often help their kids with their homework
and make sure they are available when their kids need help or have questions. Most
students in Norway enjoy nine weeks of summer vacation.
Life as a Kid
Norwegian kids go to school, help with household chores, watch television, and play
with their friends. In their free time, they play with building blocks, dolls, and other toys.
They also like to play computer games. Some kids play a game called stikka, in which
they toss coins against a wall. The child whose coin is closest to the wall wins the other
coins. Norwegian children also like to spend time outdoors. Many children take part in
organized activities such as korps (marching bands) or speideren (scouting). Spare
time is very important to Norwegian families, so parents often take their kids with them
shopping and on weekend trips or vacations.
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Government
Capital: Oslo
Head of State: King Harald V
Head of Government: PM Jens Stoltenberg (outgoing)
Norway is a constitutional monarchy, which means that it has a monarch (king or
queen) and an elected government. Until 1990, the Norwegian monarchy passed to the
firstborn son. Now it is given to the oldest child, male or female. The person who
actually leads the government is the prime minister, who is the leader of the dominant
political party in parliament. Eighteen ministers also help run the country. Norway’s
parliament (called the Storting) makes the laws. Its 169 members are elected every four
years. The king appoints judges who are nominated by the Ministry of Justice. All
citizens may vote starting at age 18. Norway is divided into 19 fylker (counties).
Money and Economy
Currency: Norwegian krone
Compared to people in the rest of the world, Norwegians are well-to-do and live
comfortably. Norway is one of the world’s largest oil and seafood exporters, but the
government is trying to branch out so it is not too dependent on the oil industry.
Norwegian companies also build ships and make paper products, metals, and
chemicals. Raising livestock, fishing, and farming are important to the economy, too.
Even though it has chosen not to join the European Union (EU), Norway's economy has
not suffered at all. Workers enjoy some of the highest hourly wages in the world, and
the nation enjoys a very low unemployment rate.
Getting Around
Norwegians rely mainly on cars to get around since people are very spread out. But
they pay one of the highest prices in the world for gasoline—about nine dollars per
gallon! Trains, buses, and airplanes also connect many cities and towns. To get across
the many fjords in Norway, people often use ferries. Oslo has a subway system. Trams
operate in the three biggest cities. Oslo’s international airport, Gardermoen, is linked to
all the major European cities and is served by many of the largest airlines in the world.
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Skiing
The history of skiing goes back thousands of years. There are even cave drawings that
show people skiing. Early on, people didn’t ski for fun; it was just a way to get around in
the snow. Norwegians helped make skiing a popular sport. They invented different
skiing techniques, and ski jumping started in Norway. Norwegians organized some of
the first ski competitions and clubs. They helped teach people in other countries how to
ski. Skiing has definitely become a favorite Norwegian pastime. Norway is one of the
world’s centers for skiing, both Alpine (downhill) and Nordic (cross-country). The city of
Lillehammer was the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Learn More
Contact the Royal Norwegian Embassy, 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202) 333-6000; web
site www.norway.org. Or contact the Norwegian Tourist Board, phone (212) 885-9700; web site www.visitnorway.com.
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