Learn all about All Saints' Eve
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Norway Series at NorwegianClass101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Norwegian holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 16 - All Saints' Eve. In Norwegian, it’s called allehelgensaften. |
| In Norway All Saints' Eve is celebrated the first Sunday in November, and is usually called Halloween. |
| In this lesson you will learn all about Halloween in Norway. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| On All Saints' Eve some Norwegians say it is possible for a young girl to see the face of the man they will one day marry. Do you know how? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| All Saints' Eve was originally a celebration of all the saints and martyrs, or martyrer, who did not have their own designated day on the calendar. In 1770, All Saints' Eve was delisted as a public holiday in Norway, and is celebrated on the first Sunday of November instead of October 31. |
| A long time ago, Norwegians had many strange customs, or rare tradisjoner, associated with All Saints' Eve or the following day. This day was considered a milestone, especially when it came to the weather. If it rained on All Saints' Eve, it was a sign that rain would follow for the next seven weeks. |
| All Saints' Eve, or the newer Halloween celebration, did not become commonplace in Norway until the 2000s. Halloween is now viewed as a scary, or skummel night, and many Norwegian children dress up as witches, ghosts and other scary characters. They then go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood to gather candy from friendly neighbors. Since Halloween is a new celebration in Norway, it’s relatively innocent and mischievous tricks are a rare occurrence. |
| A long time ago, many superstitious Norwegians also believed that it was possible to see the future in their dreams on All Saints' Eve. If you wanted to dream about what was going to happen, you had to sleep in a room that had never been slept in before. You also had to place an unused broom under the bed, and use a turnip, or nepe, as a pillow. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| On All Saints' Eve, how is it possible for a young girl to see the person she will marry? |
| To see the one she will marry, a girl must walk down a flight of stairs backwards, holding a mirror in front of her face. At the bottom, she will then see the future groom in the mirror! Of course, it is probably just superstition, but you too can try out this spooky custom in Norway and see if it works for you! |
| So listeners, what did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| How do you celebrate Halloween in your country? |
| Leave us your comments at NorwegianClass101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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