Norwegian christmas food

There are many cultural phenomena tied to Christmas in Norway. Norwegian christmas food and adults alike take pleasure in these traditions, bringing generations together in the name of this beloved holiday.

But not everything is geared towards the kids! That may be changing slightly, as you’ll read below, but the parties are still fan favorites for the crowd that likes a good beer or two with their food. So what is Christmas really all about in Norway? Let’s take a deep dive into why this time of year is so unique in the far north. What to eat during Christmas in Norway?

In the months before Christmas, you gather together with friends, colleagues or family to eat all day and night. If you find yourself in certain parts of western Norway, you may be served smalahove, a dish made of an entire sheep’s head. Pinnekjøtt is lamb or mutton and the preparation can be a really long process. Curing, drying and sometimes smoking is done before the meat is soaked in water and steamed on birch sticks over water in a large saucepan. The rømmegrøt is similar to Danish risengrød or Ris a l’Amande. It’s a sweetened porridge topped with a knob of butter and cinnamon, and is eaten hot. Norwegians love it, and with ingredients like that it’s easy to see why!

What do Norwegians eat on Christmas Eve? Julekaker Julekaker is a general term for Christmas sweets. A bread-like cake spiced with cardamom and cinnamon that has raisins, almonds, and candied fruits. These are a staple during Norwegian Christmas, and occasionally have almond slivers mixed into the dough.