Although not technically a public holiday, Christmas Eve sees very few people at work, with the main family meal taking place in the evening. Held in Stavanger, leading international chefs serve as the guests of honor. For more than 30 years now, Nordlysfestivalen (Northern Lights Festival) is a celebration of music in all its forms, from opera to jazz, and from chamber music and symphonic orchestras to modern tunes. Near the water, the are some of the …, In the surroundings of the city, there are several natural sites where you can admire rare trees and other plants. Find out when the next public holidays are in Norway with our handy guide, updated every year. Norwegian Constitution Day. Unlike many other vacation days in Norway, these days always fall on the Thursday, Friday and Monday, guaranteeing a long weekend. Engelen is known as one of the most popular nightclubs of the city. Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. This festival reflects Norway’s historic coastal culture. Norway is proud of its artistic heritage, producing painters such as Edvard Munch, most famous for the Scream. Norway's national day starts with children's parades in every community. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Norway considers itself to be forward thinking when it comes to contemporary culture, which is evident in the amount of modern music and art events the country hosts, such as the Norwegian Wood Festival which attracts top talent from around the world. Celebrate Easter Like a Norwegian: Read a Crime Novel. So, that's 2019 done and dusted! Old and young, friends and family draw close together through several weeks of festivities. Easter in Norway means many things: time with family, a meal of lamb and potatoes, and a trip to a mountain cabin for some of late-season cross-country skiing accompanied by a Norwegian favorite, Kvikk Lunsj, a chocolate-covered wafer that’s become a traditional snack during hiking and skiing excursions. Of course, Norwegians, like most European nations, respect the tradition to celebrate Christmas and New Year and consider them the main family holidays, as it’s the time when all relatives gather under one roof near the fireplace to exchange presents and spend lovely time together. Among the most significant Norway's music festivals, the Hell Blues Festival has nothing to do with Lucifer. The country is magnificent, boasting incredible natural landscapes, world-famous sights, and rich history, but taking part in one of the famous Norwegian celebrations is among the most remarkable experiences you can get while traveling this wonderful country. There are a lot of ways to spice up your vacation and taking part in one of the main celebrations in Norway, be it the Summer Solstice or Christmas, is definitely among the most memorable ones! April 9–April 13: Easter weekend (Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday; closures), May 4–10: MaiJazz, Stavanger (international jazz festival), May 15: St. Hallvard's Day, Oslo (theater, concerts), May 17: Constitution Day (parades, closures), May 20–June 3: Bergen International Festival (concerts, ballet, opera, theater), May 29–31: Oslo Middelalderfestival (medieval festival), May 31–June 1: Pentecost and Whit Monday (closures), June 10–13: Bergenfest (rock, pop, hip hop, and folk music), June 23: St. John's Eve (Sankthansaften; midsummer festival), July 13–August 22 (likely): Grieg in Bergen (concert series), July 22–25: Gladmat, Stavanger (food festival), August 4–9: International Chamber Music Festival, Stavanger, August 14–22: Oslo Chamber Music Festival, September 10–19: Ultima Contemporary Music Festival, Oslo, December 10: Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony, Oslo, December 13: St. Lucia Day, across Norway (festival of lights, parade), December 24–25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (closures), ©2020 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Meet Firebird Tours and learn more about what we do, Read all about the specific advantages & benefits of our tours, Rated 9/10 on the Trustpilot review platform, Find out more about our awards & recognitions. The holidays there are truly special and promise a lot of fun and plenty of incredible memories. Basically, Olosk, the second name of St. Olaf’s day, is celebrated with festivals across the country when people commemorate Olaf by singing, dancing and organizing costume performances about the life and merits of this outstanding person. Since its inception in 1992, this modern music concert has gone on to be a firm event on the global festival calendar, hosting big name acts such as Alanis Morisette and the Foo Fighters. The winter Norway holiday calendar is dominated by Christmas, since Norway is a Christian country, but the celebrations take on a distinctive Scandinavian feel as you roam around the markets.