December 2013

COMING SOON

Our final meeting dates and events for 2013! For more information about INN meetings, membership, or services please contact: Maria Helling Svanøe at [email protected] or Solveig Holm at solveig@ bergen-chamber.no

December INN Bergen Monthly Meeting

Thursday, December 5th, 2013, 4.50 PM Topic: at Øvre-Eide farm (in cooperation with The University of Bergen) Meeting Point: Musèplass square at 4.50 PM Info: http://www.bergen-chamber.no/activity/2924/inn-club-christmas-at-the- barn-

December INN Bergen Spouse Club Meeting If you would like to add your name to our Spouse Club email list, or if you have questions, contact Michelle Radmanovich: [email protected]

Thursday, December 12th, 2013, 16:00 Place: Frille/Dyvekes Vinkjelleren, Hollendergaten 7 Map: http://goo.gl/maps/G6Tfz

December InterNations Get Together, Bergen

Visit http://www.internations.org/bergen-expats for details, meeting dates, and to sign up for InterNations! Join them for monthly get togethers where you can meet others from the international community in Bergen. They are also interest groups where individuals meet to explore & discuss a variety of topics.

IMPORTANT DATES & NOTICES

International School of Bergen Calendar  Thursday, December 19th - last day of school before holiday, noon dismissal  Monday, January 6th – first day back to school

Bergen Kommune Schools & Barnehager Skoleruter  Friday, December 20th - last day of school before juleferien  Thursday, January 2nd – Barnehager closed  Friday, January 3rd – first day back to school

On December 24th (Julaften), 25th (1. juledag), 26th (2. juledag), 31st (Nyttårsaften) and January 1st (Nyttårsdag) be sure to check local shops and centers for specific holiday hours as well holiday bus service schedules. http://www.skyss.no/StartSide.aspx

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS

Bergen Næringsråd (Bergen Chamber of Commerce) hosts more than 100 meetings and events on a variety of topics each year. Check the meeting list often for events as they are added! http://www.bergen-chamber.no/page/80/moteoversikt-liste

 Thursday, December 4th - Klima og miljø 2014 – det grønne skiftet til Bergen! (Climate and environment 2014 – the green shift to Bergen)  Monday, December 9th - Utsiktene for norsk og internasjonal økonomi (Prospects for Norwegian and international economy)  Thursday, December 12th - Julelunsj: Møt Bergens nye førstedame (Christmas Lunch: Meet Bergen's new first lady)  Wednesday, December 18th - Nettverk U37: Julelunsj (Christmas lunch)  Tuesday, January 14th - Bergenskonferansen 2014: Bergensregionen 2030 - planlegge eller løpe etter? Bergensregionen 2030 - plan ahead or run after?

NEWS

The Foreigner http://theforeigner.no/ The Local http://www.thelocal.no/ The Nordic Page http://www.tnp.no/ The Post http://www.norwaypost.no/ Thor News http://thornews.com/ Views & News http://www.newsinenglish.no/

FOCUS ON: NORWEIGIAN HOLIDAY TRADITIONS & CELEBRATIONS

Juletid & Julebord The holiday season (“Juletid”) in Bergen begins early with Christmas parties called “julebord”. Companies, work colleagues, clubs, schools and other organizations hold their Christmas parties throughout November and early December. This is when Norwegians take the opportunity to dress up and get into the spirit of the season!

Julemat (Traditional Holiday Food) The main dishes served at “Julebord” and “Juleaften” () vary according to region and custom but you will often find...

Pinnekjøtt a main course dinner dish of lamb or mutton. It is a festive dish typical in Western Norway, served with pureed swede and potatoes, beer and aquavit. This dish is largely associated with the celebration of Christmas, and is rapidly gaining popularity in other regions as well. Around 31 % of Norwegians say they serve “pinnekjøtt” for .

Ribbe is very popular in eastern Norway but you also find it in Bergen. It is baked with very crispy skin that tastes like bacon and has juicy meat. It is served with sausages (made with nutmeg and milk), sauerkraut and boiled potatoes with gravy, although some prefer to eat it with “tyttebær ” (cranberry) sauce. Most will agree that beer and aquavit go well with the rich food!

Lutefisk Traditional food in Norway doesn’t create much debate, but “Lutefisk” is one dish that Norwegians either love or hate. Its dried cod soaked in water, then prepared in potash lye (truly!) before being soaked again in water. It can be served in different ways but is usually eaten with creamed peas and fried bacon, or a white sauce. Lutefisk is also very popular in parts of the United States and Canada where high numbers of Norwegian immigrants settled in the later half of the 19th and the first part of the 20th century. It’s seen often enough for Andrew Zimmern of 'Bizarre Foods America’ to try it!

Drinks Nearly all Norwegian breweries produce a traditional beer - “juleøl” - which is darker, stronger and more flavorful than common Norwegian lagers. There is also a special soda - “julebrus” - which may be a red raspberry or orange flavored soft drink. Usually, both drinks are present at the “juleaften” feast table. The Norwegian Liquor “Aquavit” is also a must for many Norwegians during Christmas.

Cakes & Cookies Norway also has a great variety of Christmas cakes and biscuits (“julekaker ”). Traditionally, the woman of the house was expected to bake 7 different types of “julekaker ”! These are different in each region but some of the most common are “pepperkaker” (ginger snaps), “smultringer” (doughnuts), “sirupssnipper” (syrup snaps), “sandkaker” (sand cakes), “lefsekling” (griddle cake, filled with an icing of butter, sugar and cinnamon), “krumkaker” (“curl cakes”) and “Brune Pinner ” (“Brown Sticks”). Another tradition is to make a house. Norwegian Recipes To find recipes for these traditional Christmas dishes, visit: www.matprat.no. The site is maintained by the Information Office for eggs and meat “Opplysningskontoret for egg og kjøtt (OEK)”. The recipes (“oppskrifter”) are in Norwegian but they are easily translated using Google Translate or a good Norwegian dictionary. Searching food product websites such as Freia www.freiahjemmekonditori.no), Tine (www.tine.no) or Toro (www.toro.no/) are also good resources for holiday inspiration!

Lucia Celebration Lucia is the patron saint of light and is celebrated on December 13th. The modern way of celebrating Saint Lucia is originally a Swedish tradition adopted by Norwegians. Children dressed in white and holding candles sing the darkness away. Parents are often invited to the kindergartens in the morning, to watch their loved ones sing and to eat “lussekatter ”, a special bun with raisins.

Christmas Trees The tradition in Norway is fairly new, and the first tree is said to have been decorated in 1822 at Bogstad Gård (Manor), an aristocratic estate in Oslo. Many Norwegians decorate their Christmas tree with small Norwegian flags, a custom probably originating from Norway’s independence, in 1905. It’s also common to use white instead of colored ones. On December 23rd the tree is brought into the house and decorated. Once children are in bed, parents put the presents under the tree to be opened the following evening. If you happen to be in Olso over the holidays visit Bogstad Manor to see their sumptuously decorated 19th century style tree. Every December, the city of Oslo sends an enormous Christmas tree to which stands in Trafalgar Square in London. The tree is offered as a token of peace and friendship to thank Britain for their support during the Second World War.

The Norwegian “” The Norwegian ”Nisse” differs from his American relative and from St. Nicholas. The name ”Nisse” probably derives from St. Nicholas, but ”nisser ” - elves (or gnomes) - existed long before the birth of Christ. There are several types of ”nisser ” in Norway. The most famous is probably the ”Fjøsnisse”, which takes care of farm animals. He is very short, often bearded, lives in a barn or stable and wears wool clothes and a red knitted hat. He often plays tricks and scares people by blowing out the lights in the barn or scaring the farm dog at night. He is friendly with the people living on the farm, as long as they don’t forget to give him a large portion of porridge on Christmas Eve. If they do forget, he will play tricks on them, like moving the animals around or braiding the horses’ mane and tail. Of course, there is also a Christmas nisse (“julenissen”) which is more or less identical to Santa Claus. The ”Julenisse” brings presents to all the nice children on Christmas Eve. He’s not as shy as the traditional Santa Claus, since he delivers the gifts himself and does not come down the chimney in the middle of the night.

Juleaften (Christmas Eve) The major day of celebration in Norway is December 24th. Although legally it is a regular workday, most stores close early. Church bells toll announcing Christmas, and many people attend a religious service. The main Christmas meal is served in the evening. Common main dishes include “ribbe”, ”pinnekjøtt”, “lutefisk” or fresh, poached cod.

Rice porridge is also popular, often served for lunch on Christmas Eve. An almond is hidden in the porridge, and the person who finds it wins a treat or small gift, often a pig shaped marzipan. The leftovers of the porridge are used to make a popular dessert called “riskrem” (rice cream), served with a delicious raspberry sauce. In some parts of Norway it is also common to place porridge outside (in a barn, outhouse or even in the forest) to please “Fjøsnissen”.

Television programs can be an important part of Christmas Eve and many Norwegians do not get into the Christmas spirit until they have watched the Czech-German fairy tale “Tre nøtter til Askepott” (“Three Nuts for Cinderella”) or the Disney Christmas parade. Nearly all TV channels broadcast familiar Christmas related shows and movies, but there are also some that Norwegians consider essential such as Grevinnen og hovmesteren (1963), Reisen til julestjernen (1976), Jul i Skomakergata (1979), Flåklypa Grand Prix (1975), Tante Pose (1940), and Astrid Lindgrens Jul (1999). After Christmas dinner, if children have behaved well during the last year the “Julenissen” (Santa Claus) pays a visit. Otherwise, gifts are put under the Christmas tree.

Juledag (Christmas Day) & Romjulen December 25th is a very quiet and relaxed day and church services are often well attended. The old tradition of a very early service before breakfast, has been replaced in most areas by a service later in the morning. Afterwards, many families get together for a large typical Christmas meal. Others start the day with a very festive breakfast (“julefrokost”).

The time between and New Year’s Eve is called “romjul”. During this period, children in western Norway have the tradition of singing Christmas carols, asking for treats - “Julebukk (literally, “Christmas goat”). December 26th is yet another day of festivities. Cinemas, night clubs and bars are full, and there are lots of private gatherings and parties, where all kinds of traditional Christmas food, cakes and sweets are enjoyed. Rich, tasty dinners are also part of it!

Nyttårsaften (New Year’s Eve) Like in many other places, December 31st is celebrated all over the country. Until a few years ago Norway had no real tradition of public fireworks. This has been changing and there are now some spots where you can watch firework shows organized by the city of Bergen. Nonetheless, many still prefer going out into their backyards or a nearby open spot, launch a few rockets and head back inside. The result is absolutely spectacular, with fireworks shooting up at midnight from absolutely everywhere! Regulations (2012) for the use of fireworks in Bergen for can be found at: https://www.bergen.kommune.no/omkommunen/avdelinger/bergen-brannvesen/9505/article-102155

There are a lot of parties happening around the city for those spending New Year’s Eve in Bergen, while others opt for organizing their own private functions with food, music and dancing. Those last for several hours and everyone dresses up! Check for details about New Year’s Eve fireworks displays and events in Bergen by visiting www.visitbergen.com/en/, www.bt.no/bergenpuls/ “Det skjer” or www.bergensentrum.no in mid-December.

Juletrefester (Tree Parties) Many companies, organizations and other institutions throw parties for the children of their employees (or members) in early January. These parties are called “Christmas tree parties”, and even though it’s already past New Year, the theme of the party is always Christmas. The children are served hot-dogs and Christmas cakes, sing Christmas carols, play games, form large circles and walk around a giant Christmas tree. Afterwards, Santa arrives with sweets for everyone!

DECEMBER EVENTS IN BERGEN

Visit Bergen: http://www.visitbergen.com/en/events/ or Bergen Tiende: Det Skjer (What’s On): http://bergenpuls.bt.no/

DECEMBER 2013 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Saturday, November 23rd to Tuesday, December 31st, Pepperkakebyen, DNBs banksal, Torgallmenning 2, Bergen Thanks to kindergartens, schools, businesses and thousands of individuals who have contributed, we welcome you to the world's biggest gingerbread town! http://www.pepperkakebyen.org http://www.facebook.com/Pepperkakebyen

 Regular Hours: Weekdays 9-21, Saturdays 9-20, Sundays 11-19  Christmas Eve (December 24th) 9-13  Christmas Day (December 25th) closed  Boxing Day (December 26th) 13-18  New Year's Eve (December 31st) 11-15

The Holydrug Couple Fjorden Baby Lilli Valentin Sissel

Aktive Studenters Forening (ASF) http://asf.uib.no Den Nationale Scene http://www.dns.no/program/ Bergen Realistforening (RF) http://rf.uib.no/arrangementer/  October 5th to December 7th - Robin Hoods Hjerte (Robin  Thursday, December 5th - The Holydrug Couple Hood’s Heart) th  Saturday, December 7 - Helhus: Emilie Nicolas, Margaret  November 9th to December 7th - Lilli Valentin Berger, Blak, Stein Urheim & Øyving Hegg Lunde  November 30th to December 14th - Diktatorfruer (Dictator Housewives) Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester, Greighallen, Bergen  January 11th - Reksten - Firmaets Mann http://www.harmonien.no/engprogram.aspx?pageId=116 th th  December 5 & 6 - Music from The Grieghallen  December 13th - The Oslo Philharmonic http://www.grieghallen.no/arrangement.aspx?menuid=-  December 14th - Musical Christmas Cards 99&pageId=6 th  December 18th, 19th, 20th - Christmas ballet - The  Wednesday, December 4 - Christer Sjögrens julekonsert Nutcracker  Thursday, December 5th – Julevorspeil Swinging  Friday, January 3rd - Bergens Tidende’s Concert Christmas! th  Thursday, January 9th - Mendelssohn’s Concert  Saturday, December 7 – Latter på latter with Hege Schøyen, Linn Skåber & Cecilie Steinmann Neess Bergen Jazzforum Concerts, Sardinen USF Verftet, Bergen  Sunday, December 8th - Frelsesarmeens Julekonsert http://www.bergenjazzforum.no/#/Velkommen_Til_Bergen_J  Tuesday, December 10th & Wednesday, December 11th - azzforum Sissels Jul  Wednesday, December 8th – Christmas Concert Bugge  Saturday, December 14th - Karoline Krüger og Sigvart Wesseltoft Dagsland th Bergen Live http://bergenlive.no/konsertkalender/  Sunday, December 15 - Oslo Gospel Choir & Anita  Friday, December 6th - Wolf People Skorgan st  Tuesday, December 10th - Fjorden Baby!  Saturday, December 21 - MGP Jr. Julekonsert  Thursday, December 12th - Bo Kaspers Orkester JassBox Bergen - Live music at Grand Selskapslokaler the last Friday of the month! Check their FaceBook page for dates and performers. http://www.facebook.com/JassboxBergen

Saturday, November 30th to Sunday, December 22nd, Lighting Candles and Santa fun (Nissemoro), Fløyen Each Sunday (1st, 8th and 15th of December) listen to beautiful music, and watch the lighting of the Advent candles. Afterwards, meet the Smånissene in the Nisseskogen, as well as Nissemor (Mother Christmas) and Nissefar () at the Nissehytten (Santa cabin)! http://www.floibanen.no/aktivitetskalender/

Saturday, November 30th to Sunday, December 15th, Reisen Til Julestjernen (Journey to the Christmas Star), Forum Scene Reisen Til Julestjernen is a great adventure story about little Gulltopp who disappeared into the forest to find the Christmas star. Her mother disappeared after her and never came back. Sonja comes back to the castle many years later and hear about King's grief. She offers to find the Christmas star for the King so that he can get his daughter back. http://www.forumscene.no

Advent Sundays (December 1st, December 8th, December 15th), Søndagsskulen (Sunday School), Litteraturhus Advent is a time of waiting. Søndagsskulen at the Litteraturhus has asked four writers to share their interpretation of the word ”wait ” on Advent Sundays. They invite the lighting of candles and the cultivation of this feeling in a busy time. http://www.litthusbergen.no/program/ukedager/soendag/soendagsskulen-adventskalender-1/

Sunday, December 1st to Sunday, December 22nd, Exhibition: The botany of Christmas, The Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Milde, Blondehuset Welcome to an exhibition at Blondehuset about the botany of Christmas. The exhibition is divided into four themes: 1) A taste of Christmas, a display of Christmas spices, 2) Nuts and fruits, the festive goodies of Christmas and their use, 3) , ones that are used in decorations, and 4) Winter greenery, the traditions of indoor and outdoor decorations. http://www.uib.no/arboretet/en/nyheter/2013/11/exhibition-the-botany-of-christmas

Reisen Til Julestjerne The botany of Christmas Jul på Vilvite Lucia Morgen

Sunday, December 1st to Sunday, December 22nd, Jul på Vilvite, Bergen In December, Vilvite hosts a variety of Christmas activities. http://www.vilvite.no  Geometric Christmas cards - play with shapes and colors when we make geometric christmas cards.  Chemical Christmas workshop - make your own cream. You even get to choose the scent and color!  Tiddelibom Christmas show - Get in the Christmas spirit with Tommy Sulen and Tron Jensen, snow, song and wonder!  Vilma Jul - Vilmer is a funny guy living in VilVite. In December he is in his element hosting a Christmas show for our guests.

December, Celebrating Norwegian Animation, Cinemateket, Bergen To celebrate Norwegian animation during the past 100 years, Cinemateket presents five different short film programs during the month of December. Each program includes films by different filmmakers, made with different techniques. http://cinemateket-usf.no

Wednesday, December 4th, Matpraten (Talking about food), Bymuseet Historieverkstaden and Hordamuseet invite you to Matpraten every first Wednesday of the month talk about food to help preserve food traditions. Recipes are discussed and tested with practical exercises in the use of equipment in the traditional style. December focuses on Pepperkaker (gingerbread) and homemade bread. http://www.bymuseet.no/index.php?vis=1088

Thursday, December 5th, Lyktevandring i Japanhagen (Lantern Tour), The Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Milde Lighting is important element in Japanese gardens. The Japanhagen (Japanese Garden) at Milde contains eight stone lanterns of five different types. We start lighting the torches and as darkness falls, enjoy the nice atmosphere in the garden. http://www.uib.no/arboretet/arrangement/2013/02/lyktevandring-i-japanhagen

Friday, December 6th, Fantorangen Julekonsert, Oseana This year Fantorangen comes to Oseana! Fantorangen is known from Kids TV, and this year invites everyone young and old to a pleasant before Christmas concert in collaboration with Youth Symphony and Os kulturskule. http://www.oseana.no/fantorangens-julekonsert

December 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, Bondens Marked, Fisketorget, Bergen At the Farmer's Market in Bergen you can find producers from and Sogn og Fjordane. They offer meat, cheese, drinks, jams, baked goods, fruits and berries. Welcome to a pleasant and tasteful shopping experience! http://www.bondensmarked.no/lokallag/bergen/

December 7th, December 8th, December 21st, December 22nd, Åsane Julemarked (), Åsatun, Åsane At the Åsane julemarked find lots of exciting crafts, knits, quilts, paintings, art, woodworking, skin care products, jewelry, books, antiques, Christmas gifts and much much more! https://www.facebook.com/events/193331004176935/?fref=ts

Friday, December 13th, Lucia Morgen, Bergen Domkirke, Bergen Bergen Girls' Choir and Octavia fill Domkirke with beautiful singing and candlelight. http://www.kirkemusikkibergen.no/arrangement/2013/12/13/luciamorgen/

WEATHER Find it at www.yr.no or at www.storm.no

Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year! the INN Club team