Norway
-The Food
Stretching from south to north, Christmas food traditions in Norway can vary a lot. Dried ribs of lamb accompanied by puree of kohlrabi, baked pork rib with sauerkraut, red cabbage and variations of fish are served on Christmas Eve. Following dinner, we nibble on sweets, nuts, clementines and other treats.
Coming days the venues changes when friends and families are visited. Buffets of cold leftovers from Christmas dinner is served. A variety of herring, sourcream based salads, salted and dried lamb legs, hams, smoked and marinated salmon and much more is enjoyed together with dark and spicy Christmas beer and akvavit.
It has become more and more a tradition in Norway to end the big feast with a Turkey dinner on New year eve while many still enjoy the more traditional food.
Following Christmas, January 1st is a slow day in most households in Norway. It is perfectly OK to stay in your cosy pyjamas while watching the New Year concert from Vienna and the traditional ski jumping contest in Garmisch Partenkircken.