Thread: Halloween in Norway?

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My nephew's family moved to southern Norway (Stavanger, I think) this year. They have a small child, but he said he didn't know of anywhere there that did anything (trick or treating, decorating, etc.) for Halloween. Does anyone know of somewhere near them that they could get some flavor for Halloween next year?

I think they will find it difficult, unless they're lucky enough to have some American ex-pats nearby.
With the possible exception of the UK, Europe as a whole is not overly big on Halloween celebrations as we know them. In particular, the Scandinavians tend to have their own take on things.

I'm not aware of any Norwegian members on the board, but there are a couple of members from Finland who may be able to provide a more accurate answer for you.

If your Nephew's family are near Stavanger, I know there used to be a large NATO base up in that neck of the woods...Not sure if there are any American forces still there, though.

Again, I have no experience of Scandavian Halloween, but a quick trawl through Google, would suggest that it hasn't yet caught on, especially in Norway. The articles concentrate more on 'trick 'r treating' rather than the decorating of houses, yards, etc. The articles also seem to suggest that Norwegian children (teenagers) put more emphasis on the tricking, rather than anything else.

Because of the emphasis on 'trick 'r treating', the holiday is viewed as a modern-day American import, rather than concentrating on its European/pagan origins.

If it were me, I would decorate the house using homemade decorations/props, but keep it low-key the first year, and see how it is received by the locals. If there is the interest, they will soon tell, and can expand further in following years. If the reception is not good, then perhaps keep it to internal decorating/parties, inviting Norwegian friends along for a themed party to spread the word.

Hopefully, they will be welcomed, and we can expect some new members from Scandanavia.

I saw a documentary on VH1, the compleat story of Heavy Metal.. or somesuch.

They showed some interesting characters, that weren't exactly the "Bachelor Farmers" that Garrison Keillor talks about. Norwegian Black Metal... There are a couple dozen guys who play in Black Metal bands. They represent their spirituality as straight up Satanic, and I believe them. They also seemed to have the impression that they consist of purer, more superior genetic material than anyone they will ever meet. A couple hundred people buy their records... and a couple of those want to play in a Black Metal band.

Going to Norway frightens me more than any prop I will ever build, and any haunt I might go and see. I have no problem with a Halloween party being held in a Church..... I happen to believe it is healthy for good people to dress up, and impersonate evil. {I like to keep things simple, that is what Halloween is about.} And if someone feels it is necessary to host a "Hell House", that's OK too. The last place on Earth I will consider being on Halloween night, is a Church in Norway. The chances of the primadonna lead singer of a Norwegian Black Metal band burning that church.. is better than average, and I dont like those chances.

If I lived in Norway, I would meet the hosts of a Halloween Party first, and be sure that the people hosting the party have the same general idea of Halloween as I do. Better yet, i would host the party just to make sure it is awesome.

Thanks for the replies. It looks like Uncle Demon Dog will need to send Halloween care packages to Norway next year. Hopefully they can take some trips to the UK next October for some Halloween fun, in case they can't link up with any Americans and Brits living near them.

As for the Black Metal bands, well every country has their nut cases. I wish mine was limited to only a couple hundred. My nephew says the population as a whole in Norway is friendly.

A business aquaintance tells me that there are some families in Germany that celebrate HW and the same is true for England.

Commercially, retailers try to promote it and each year a few more participate. However, that was prior to the downturn we are still in.

I've done a few NATO exercises with Norwegian troops and they are great guys, especially if you like a drink or two!!...

As I said previously, the scandinavians on the whole tend to have their own take on things.

They do not have the Celtic influence in their history, which is the root of Halloween.

Originally Posted by Baron Samedi

They do not have the Celtic influence in their history, which is the root of Halloween.

That might be a rationale for the reason HW is slow to take off in continental Europe also, but it doesn't explain why HW is much bigger in the US than in England or Ireland.

IMO, Halloween is very much an Americanized tradition that really got its feet due to the US boom after WWII. In the 1950's newly stay at home mothers bought or sewed costumes for their kids - clowns, tigers, bees, cowboys, etc - because they wanted their kids to have more fun than they had in the still-depression-plagued pre-war years in which they themselves grew up.

Europe completely missed this mood because their economy was still struggling as they were rebuilding from all the WWII destruction.

Even today, Europe is not the consumer driven economy that the US is, so a "new" opportunity to spend for a new commercialized holiday is not easily embraced - but it is making headway - JMHO