Christmas is a holiday that stands strong in Norway. But what came first of the Christmas beer and Santa? Did you know that the Norwegian Santa is actually mean? And why is fish so important at Christmas? Christmas curator at the Norwegian Folk Museum Geir Thomas Risåsen gives us the answer. Geir Thomas Risåsen during the rehearsals for “Kvelden before Kvelden”. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Christmas beer It is actually the Christmas beer that takes the top spot among Norway’s oldest Christmas traditions. It is over 1000 years old! In the Norwegian farming community, in both the city and the countryside, it was common to brew beer all year round. On a daily basis, both children and adults drank what they called “thin beer” (light beer), but at Christmas and other holidays they went for stronger cases. – Christmas was such a special holiday that you should only have the finest. For Christmas, we should therefore have so-called “good beer”, says Risåsen. “Good beer” had a higher alcohol percentage than the thin beer. Christmas beer is a tradition we have had for over 1,000 years. Photo: Birger Meland / news Legally obliged to brew beer But it wasn’t just for the sake of the taste that people brewed “good beer”. It was simply required by law. – It was laid down in Gulatinget in the 9th century. The law stated that the husband and wife were to brew the same amount each, so that it would last through the Christmas season, underlines the Christmas conservator. If you broke the law, you were punished. – Then you had to pay fines to the bishop. If you continue to break the law, you could be deprived of your land and land. That’s how serious it was not to brew beer for Christmas and other holidays in old Norway, says Risåsen. Beer was the number one thirst quencher And there was usually a lot of beer. Because in the old days the food was so salty that people were constantly thirsty. Although it is no longer legal to brew beer for Christmas, many people still do it. – There are many who keep the tradition alive, and those who brew beer for Christmas today are the last link in a tradition that is over 1,000 years old, says Risåsen. Many people like to drink Christmas beer at Christmas. Photo: Scanpix Santa When you hear the word Santa, do you perhaps think of the big Santa with a red suit, beard and gifts in tow? Maybe you’re also thinking of that weasel in the barn who wants his Christmas porridge in peace, and who can become a real hothead if he doesn’t get what he wants? The last one is closest to what the Norwegian urnis is. He was a small, gray-clad creature with a red top hat. The first time we hear about the goblin as a creature is in Iceland already in the 9th century. According to Risåsen, in Norway we have always had a strong relationship with Santa, and he has been just as common in the city as in the countryside. – Norwegians and gnomes have lived side by side in all ages, says Risåsen. – Nissen was one of the most important helpers on the farm. He looked after the animals and made sure everything was in order. Did you know that the word gnome is a relatively young word? It came into use in the 17th-18th centuries, and comes from the Danish word Nils. Photo: The National Library Smørauge i grauten Precisely because he was so connected to us, and felt that he was doing an important task, he also wanted to be appreciated. And it was supposed to happen on Christmas Eve. Many therefore set out a glass of beer for Santa, or food on a garden pile or by a tundra tree. But the most common, and the one we know best today, was to set out porridge for Santa. – It shouldn’t just be porridge. It was supposed to be porridge with the butter eye, because butter was also exclusive in the old days. It was party food, says Risåsen. If you didn’t give Santa what he expected, he could get really angry. Evil, naughty and cunning According to Risåsen, there are many stories where things click for the goblin. One story tells about the waitress who doesn’t give Santa a butter eye in his porridge. Then the goblin grabs her, and she almost dances to death during the night. When he releases the maid she is more dead than alive. – The goblin could be malicious and cunning. You weren’t kidding anyone. It was someone you stuck with. But when did Santa actually become Santa Claus? – When the Christmas tree arrived, so did the gifts. Then someone needed to deliver the gifts. In this way, Santa becomes a kind of seasonal worker linked to Christmas, says Risåsen. The elf gradually became Santa Claus, who brought gifts to all kind children out there. Photo: The National Library Hundred thousand Norwegians looked ugly The generous Santa is based on the saint Nicholas. He was, according to the legends, a very generous man who was keen to help the poor. – The Santa we think of in Norway today is an amalgamation of many creatures, including the weasel, Norwegian urn and the generous Santa. In Norway today, there are between 300-350,000 people who sent cereal to Santa Claus. – I think it’s incredibly great, because it shows that an old tradition is being maintained, says Risåsen. Did you put out porridge for Santa? Yes, every Christmas No, never Show result Fish Are you among them as a fish on Christmas Eve? Then you start what is the third oldest Christmas tradition in this country. It is a legacy we have from when we were a Catholic country, which lasted until the Reformation in the middle of the 16th century. – Advent was Lent in Catholic tradition, and the last evening of Lent was Christmas Eve. And fish is fasting food, explains Risåsen. Those who lived along the coast in Norway had access to fresh fish. In Southern Norway it was common to eat cod, while halibut was common in Northern Norway. Those who lived inland had to make do with preserved fish, such as rakefish and lutefisk. These dishes can be traced all the way back to the 15th century, but are probably much older than that. Photo: Norwegian Seafood Council – The interesting thing is that even though there aren’t that many people who have it as dinner on Christmas Eve anymore, it’s still a tradition we tie up with Christmas dinner, explains the Christmas conservator. Rakefish in the nest Artist Ingebjørg Bratland is among those who cannot do without fish, more specifically crayfish, at Christmas. – There will be no Advent or Christmas food without it! Her father actually cooks shaved fish, and for her it is an important part of December. The artist was so fond of crayfish when she was little that she even had it as a side dish at school. – It was not as popular among the classmates. When rakfisk and kneipp bread have been in a lunch box for several hours, it is clear that it smells a bit when you open the lid, she says. Ingebjørg Bratland shows off her sweater during the rehearsals for “Kvelden before evening”. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news According to Risåsen, it is difficult to say which of the crayfish and lutefish is the oldest, but: – The lutefish has been the dominant Christmas dinner in Norway until well into the 20th century, he says. Raked fish on flatbread with sour cream, chives, red onions and potatoes. Crayfish is also commonly eaten on lefse. Lutefish with bacon, potato and pea stew is common for many families to eat at Christmas. Despite the fact that ribs and meat from the stick have dominated the dinner plate in recent decades, there are still many families like a fish. – They are still the ones who hold on to tradition, but they have gone from being in the majority to being in the minority. What did you eat on Christmas Eve? Ribs Chopsticks Fish Grandiosa Show result Fish soup and aure on Christmas Eve Ingebjørg and her family are among those who still have fish on the menu on Christmas Eve. The starter is fish soup consisting of fish stock and vegetables. For the main course, there is aure (which has been pulled to strength), served with hard bread, kling (leaves down butter and sugar) and roll. – If I had the choice between ribs, pork chops and fish, I would have chosen fish, concludes Bratland. Vegard Harm, Ingebjørg Bratland and Lisa Tønne during the rehearsals for “The evening before evening”. Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / news Hear the whole story from Geir Thomas Risåsen in “Kvelden before evening” on news 1 Friday.
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