|
 |
| Norway
Social Profile |
 |
|
Food
& Drink
Breakfasts are
often enormous with a variety of fish, meat, cheese and bread
served from a cold buffet with coffee and boiled eggs.
Lunch served in many hotels and restaurants
includes a koldtbord (cold table), with smoked
salmon, fresh lobster, shrimp and hot dishes. Open sandwiches
are topped with meat, fish, cheese and some salad. Other dishes
include roast venison, ptarmigan in cream sauce, wild cranberries,
multer (a berry with a unique flavour), lutefisk (a hot, highly
flavoured cod fish) and herring prepared in different ways.
Aquavit (schnapps) is a very popular
drink, but in general alcohol is limited and quite expensive,
although beer and wine are generally served in the restaurants.
Bars have table and counter service. Licensing laws
are strict and alcohol is sold only by the State
through special monopoly and Licensing hours are also enforced.
Nightlife
Several hotels and restaurants in Oslo stage
cabaret programmes and floor shows. Venues change so it is
best to check in the local newspaper for more details. Theatres,
cinemas, nightclubs and discos are
located in the major centres. Resorts have dance music, and
folk dancing is very popular.
Shopping
Most towns and resorts have a shop where typical Norwegian
handicrafts are on sale.
Silversmiths
and potteries are numerous and worth a visit.
Traditional items include furs, printed textiles,
woven articles, knitwear, woodcarving, silver, enamel, pewter,
glass and porcelain.
Tax-free cheques can be obtained from any of the 2500 shops
carrying the sticker ‘Tax free for tourists’.
These shops save visitors 11 to 18 per cent of the price paid
by the residents. VAT refunds are paid in cash
at airports, ferries, cruise ships and border crossings.
Shopping hours
Monday-Wednesday and Friday 0900-1700/1800 hrs, Thursday
0900-2000 hrs, Saturday 0900-1300/1500 hrs.
Special
Events
For a full list, contact the Norwegian
Tourist Board. The following is a selection of special
events occurring in Norway during 2005: |
|
|
January 13th-16th |
International
Film Festival, Tromsø |
| January 20th-23rd
|
Polarjazz |
| January 26th-30th
|
Northern Lights Festival,
Tromsø. |
| February 10th-13th |
Winter Arts Festival (music,
theatre, art exhibitions), Narvik. |
| February 15th-19th
|
Rorosmartnan. |
| March 5th-12th
|
Finnmarkslopet. |
| March 12th-13th
|
Holmenkollen Ski Festival |
| March 13th-20th
|
Borealis - Bergen Contemporary
Music Festival. |
| March 20th-28th
|
Easter Festival. |
| April 4th-10th
|
Snowjam |
| April 30th |
Svalbard Ski Marathon. |
| May 25th-June
|
5 Bergen International Festival |
| June 3rd-13th
|
Oslo Festival |
| June 4th |
Norwegian Mountain Marathon |
| June 8th-11th
|
The Great Norwegian Humor
Festival |
| June 8th - 12th
|
Viking Festival |
| June 17th-20th
|
Norwegian Wood, music festival |
| June 18th
|
Midnight Sun Marathon, Tromsø.
|
| July 29th |
20 Cherry Festival.
|
| August 4th-14th
|
Peer Gynt Festival, Vinstra/Gala |
| August 5th-14th
|
Nordland Music Festival. |
| August 11th-14th
|
Mandal Seafood Festival.
|
| August 15th-21st
|
Oslo Jazz Festival |
| August 18th-26th
|
Norwegian International Film
Festival. |
| August 24th-27th
|
Norwegian Food Festival
|
| December 22nd-31st
|
Christmas in Lillehammer
|
|
|
Social Conventions
Normal courtesies should be observed in Norway and it is customary
for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host toasts
their health.
Casual dress is quite normal.
Lunch
generally takes place between 1200 and 1300 hrs and dinner
usually takes place at 1700 hrs. It is customary for an invited
guest to offer gifts to the host/hostess of the meal and punctuality
is expected if invited out for dinner.
Smoking
is prohibited in most public buildings and on public transport
(although there are often special spaces for smokers to indulge
in cafes, bars and restaurants.
Tipping
It is not customary to tip the taxi drivers. Waiters expect
a tip of no more than 5 per cent of the total bill. The porters
at airports and railway stations charge per piece of luggage.
Hotel porters are tipped NOK5-10 according to the amount of
luggage. |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
