What's on in Norway: Six of the best events in December 2024
A good Christmas market can get even the biggest Grinch in the mood for the festive period.
There are too many good ones to list for just one article, but some of our favourites include the annual Christmas fair at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, the exceedingly popular Christmas market in Egersund, near Stavanger and the annual market in Bergen.
Thankfully, we have compiled a comprehensive article on ten of the best in all of Norway. And if you will be going to a Christmas market, then be sure to try out some traditional foods and drinks. We've also got an article with our picks for what you should try too.
Oslo's Christmas Tree Lighting, December 1st
An annual tradition in Oslo is the lighting of the large Christmas tree at Universitetsplassen. The lighting takes place at 5pm.
Given its proximity to the Winter Wonderland Christmas market in Oslo, you could spend a few hours before or after the lighting to soak up the atmosphere.
Torshov's live Christmas calendar
This event in the Torshov neighbourhood of Oslo puts a unique spin on the traditional advent calendar.
Every evening, there will be a live performance from the window of a local home or business.
The shows are put on for free, and anybody can come along to watch. Music performances, recitals from Norway's best-loved Christmas films, and choirs make up the bulk of the entertainment.
Following the organiser's social media accounts will let you know where each event is held.
Being a Christmas calendar, performances begin on December 1st.
Stand-up comedy in English
Sticking with Oslo, we thought we'd feature some non-Christmas events. There will be at least two stand-up comedy nights in English in the capital in December.
On December 5th, Nieu Scene in Torshov will host one of its regular comedy nights. Inia James will host it. Other performers have yet to be announced, but the shows tend to have a good mix of established comics and emerging acts.
Later on in the month, on December 21st, SALT will have an English language comedy night hosted by Pernille Haaland, which features acts such as Cécile Moroni, who we've recently spoken to about raising kids in Norway and how to make Norwegians laugh.
If you know of any other English-language comedy nights in Norway, please let us know in the comments so we can potentially include them in future roundups of the best events.
Nidaros Boys' and Nidaros Girls' Choirs
One of Norway's oldest boys' choirs will hold several concerts in December. Concerts will be held on December 13th, December 14th, and December 15th. Information on tickets is here. Trondheim Soloists and violinist Joakim Røbergshagen will join the choir.
A week later, on December 20th and December 21st, you will be able to see the Nidaros Cathedral's Girls' Choir. More information on tickets can be found here.
Santa Lucia, December 13th
Santa Lucia is a Christian tradition that celebrates Lucia, a Christian girl born in Sicily in 283. She dedicated her life to helping others and wore a candle on her head to keep her hands free while she handed out food.
Long before Norwegians heard of Lucia, Santa Lucia was called Lussinatten, and you were forbidden from working (unfortunately, that tradition has long since died out).
Across the country, Lucia processions will be held in schools, workplaces, retirement homes and hospitals.
Children dress in all-white costumes, with one child selected to be Lucia, and they sing songs with candles on their heads. If the singing isn't up your street, then luckily, the kids also hand out saffron buns called lussekatter.
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