Fastelavn means aften før fasten, or “the evening before the fast”, and was the original term used for Shrove Tuesday in Norway, the 40-day fast leading up to Easter. Like in other countries, Shrove ...

In the UK the tradition of Christmas trees began in the late C18th and was popularised during the reign of Queen Victoria. Each year Norway sends a huge fir tree to the UK to acknowledge support ...

Much like how cookies and milk are left for Santa in the U.S., children in Norway leave out risgrøt the night of Christmas Eve ... It's also tradition to hide an almond in the cold porridge ...

In Japan, it’s been a tradition since the 1970s ... the Yule Goat. In Norway, families are known to hide brooms and mops on Christmas Eve to keep witches from stealing them.

The tradition started in 1947 and is a gift ... in-exile was established in London. After the war, Norway began sending a Christmas tree to London every year as a way of saying thank you.