Norway’s infamous “russ” season, normally a time when many high school students celebrate graduation with wild mass partying and bizarre rituals, has been postponed by the Corona crisis. While more than a few Norwegians can look forward to sleep better at night this spring, some reckon that the time is ripe to finally end the […]
Army joins schools’ friendship dance
VIDEO: It started with school children and spread all over Norway this year: Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK)’s annual friendship dance. Even the Army has since joined in, claiming that the dance’s promotion of integration and inclusion meets its own motto of “Respect, responsibility and courage.” The project, which is also part of an anti-bullying campaign, resulted […]
Trøndelag merger strikes a chord
SEE THE VIDEO: At a time when tempers are flaring and conflicts abound over state-ordered county and municipal mergers, at least one has proceeded with a fair degree of harmony. So much harmony, in fact, that county officials in the newly merged Trøndelag invested in a new song and video aimed at stirring up a […]
Sights and sounds at a patriotic party
SEE THE VIDEO: Song, music and brass bands led to lots of festive sights and sounds on the 17th of May in one of Norway’s leading coastal communities, despite its relatively small population of less than 40,000 residents. See and listen to the experience as a vast majority of them seemed to be out on […]
Party at the palace, and for the people
SEE THE VIDEO: An estimated 3,000 Norwegians streamed to the Royal Palace in Oslo on Tuesday evening, to pay tribute to King Harald and Queen Sonja as they began official celebrations of their 80th birthdays. Those defying chilly temperatures and the threat of rain on the palace grounds also got a glimpse of royals from all […]
Pipeline protests reach Parliament
SEE THE VIDEO: Protests in Norway against construction of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline in the US have not subsided. Scores of protesters gathered in front of the Norwegian Parliament Thursday evening, shortly after Greenpeace Norway presented a demand backed by 420 organizations in 50 countries that Norway’s biggest bank and many others immediately suspend funding for the […]
Sights and sounds of the 17th of May
SEE THE VIDEO: The 17th of May in Norway’s northern city of Kirkenes offered some refreshing differences from the country’s larger celebrations in cities like Oslo or Bergen. Its children’s parade marched through residential areas instead of the city center, for example, and it was extra colourful with all the Sami celebrants wearing their formal […]