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NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS

Six signs that spring has arrived in Norway 

There are several signs that Norway has emerged from its long winter hibernation and that spring has arrived. 

Published: 7 March 2024 13:23 CET
Pictured is a lamb.
There are a number of signs that Spring has arrived in Norway. Pictured is a lamb. Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

People begin talking about their first utepils of the year 

The first utepils of the year is a treasured milestone that many look forward to and then savour once it arrives. 

An utepils (literally meaning outdoor beer) typically only qualifies if drank in the sunshine while out on a trip, in a beer garden, or the outdoor seating section of a bar or restaurant, or in one’s own garden. 

If you have to sip your utepils through chattering teeth or are soaked through with rain, then it probably doesn’t count. 

Apparently, it also doesn’t count if you don’t tell anyone, either. So be sure to tell everyone when, where, and how you managed to get your first utepils of the season in. 

It’s time to eat outside again, too 

In the spring, drinks are not the only thing taken al-fresco in Norway. People also begin eating outside again.

Whether at restaurants (with the help of outdoor heaters), parks (with the classic disposable grills), or on balconies or gardens. 

Hot dogs are obviously one of the most popular things to grill in the spring (and summer and winter). However, as temperatures continue to rise, you can also expect the locals to begin enjoying all kinds of food out in the fresh air. 

Bikes (and e-scooters) return to the cities 

Some dedicated cyclists stick to two wheels during the winter, probably to the detriment of their bike, too, when you consider the harm the moisture and grit probably does to it. 

Cycle lines soon begin to be repopulated as the snow and ice recede and cyclists decide it’s time to return to pedal power. 

E-scooters are a more recent addition to Norway’s transport ecosystem. Initially starting life as a scourge, regulations and users figuring out how to use them responsibly mean you can also expect them to fill up the cities. 

The cities feel a lot busier 

You’ll be forgiven for finding Norway’s cities to be ghost towns during the winter. Once the worst of the cold weather is over and a few rays of sunshine arrive, you can expect it to feel as if urban areas have been repopulated. 

Parks will fill back up, shopping streets will see plenty of footfall, and there will generally be many more people milling about rather than trying to stay indoors as much as possible. 

Football makes a return to parks and stadiums 

Football is a summer sport in Norway, and while there are still opportunities to play indoors during the winter, spring is when you’ll expect things to start back up. 

The professional leagues begin at the end of March and the beginning of April. Amateur players will make a slightly earlier return. 

More casual pick-up games on free pitches and in parks will also start cropping up. 

Flowers start popping up 

A season of renewal and new energy wouldn’t be the same without the sight of little flowers poking their heads out of the ground. 

Blåveis, gullstjerne, hestehov, hvitveis, tusenfryd, vårkål are all common and popular spring flowers in Norway. Another thing to look out for is the sight of gåsunger (meaning goslings and referring to catkins). 

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For members

WORKING IN NORWAY

Why do Norwegians take such long summer holidays?

Summer in Norway sees offices nationwide come to a standstill as workers head out on three-week-long holidays. Have you ever wondered how summer holidays of at least three weeks became so popular?

Published: 5 July 2024 11:48 CEST
Why do Norwegians take such long summer holidays?

Offices, cafes, shops, salons, and plenty of other business close for a few weeks in July, with other things such as public services becoming much harder to reach until the end of the month or beginning of August.

This is referred to as “fellesferie” or the “joint” or “collective” holiday when translated into English. Given how many take the holidays, large parts of Norway can feel surprisingly empty during the summer.

Syden is the affectionate Norwegian term to describe the Mediterranean destinations that are typically popular, although many will also choose to holiday in Sweden, Denmark, or a cabin in rural parts of Norway.

READ ALSO: How to enjoy summer in Norway like a Norwegian

When did Norwegians start taking such long holidays?

The practice dates back to the interwar years in Norway when employers and employee organisations agreed on a three-week collective holiday period.

This ended up being a win/win situation for both parties. For the companies, it was more practical and profitable to let all the workers take holidays at the same time and close their operations down completely.

The workers were allowed to enjoy time off when Norway typically expects (but doesn’t always get) its best weather.

The scheme made its way into other industries through collective bargaining agreements. Collective bargaining agreements have played a massive role in developing workers’ rights in Norway and continue to play an important role today.

Three-week-long holidays written into law

Workers’ rights in Norway are best described as a result of tripartite cooperation where employers, employee organisations and the government work together on matters regarding employment in the country. This is also referred to as the ‘Norwegian Model’.

This model has led to high levels of union membership in the country. Furthermore, the model has filled in gaps where there aren’t laws. For example, there is no universal minimum wage in Norway, the law only covers minimum wages in a handful of sectors.

Instead, unions strike collective bargaining agreements that cover minimum wages, working hours and conditions, and salary increases on behalf of members. Some non-members can also benefit from these to ensure that non-members don’t undercut workers in unions.

Sometimes, collective bargaining agreements covering working rights can lead to legislation later down the light. The right to annual leave in Norway began to develop around 1900, through union deals, but later through law.

Norway has its own Holiday Act these days. Under the law, workers in Norway have the right to at least 25 days of holiday per year. Some workers are entitled to more through their collective bargaining agreement.

Much like the initial right to holiday, the law was updated to allow more workers to enjoy a summer holiday. The Holiday Act means employees can demand up to three consecutive weeks off between the start of June and the end of September.

This means that even companies that do not shut up shop for the summer holidays will see large parts of the workforce disappear.

The other ten days of the year can be taken whenever you wish and can be used up in blocks or used individually.

Employers also have rights during fellesferie and can require employees to take a holiday during this period if the business reduces or closes operations during the “main holiday period.”

Workers can only refuse to take a holiday during this period if the holiday pay they have earned so far will not cover the loss of income during the holiday.

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