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Norwegian
children always remember a little gnome, or Nisse at
Christmastime. He guards all the farm animals, and he plays
tricks on the children if they forget to place a bowl of
special porridge or risengrynsgrøt
for him on Christmas Eve. People also eat porridge on
December 23rd. It is called lillejulaften.
A single "magic" almond is placed in the porridge,
and the one who finds it wins a prize.
Norway has its gift-bearing
little gnome or elf, the Julebukk or "Christmas
buck." In the late afternoon between Christmas and
New Year's children julebukk, which
means they go from house to house, often singing Christmas
carols, asking for goodies . (It is a little like
trick or treating on Halloween here.)
The Norwegian Santa Claus,
julenisse, arrives with gifts on Christmas
Eve. Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration in Norway.
Families gather, carols are sung, and presents are shared.
On Christmas Day a lot of people
have a big brunch at noon or dinner in the afternoon for
friends and family.
Traditional cakes and cookies made at Christmas can be
julekake (with raisins), kryddekake, delfiakake, rosettes,
fattigmann, smultringer, goro, silkekaker, pepperkaker,
kokosmakroner. A favorite holiday cookie is called a sand
kager is made by mixing 2 cups of butter and sugar, 4 cups
of flour, and 1 cup of chopped almonds. This pressed into a
tin, baked until golden brown, and cut into squares.
God Jul! (Merry Christmas!)
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