Learn all about Boxing Week
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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 3 - Boxing week. In Norwegian, it’s called romjul. |
| Boxing Week in Norway lasts from December 27th to 31st, and it’s a time Norwegians associate with stillness, holidays, and julefred, meaning Christmas peace. Boxing Week can also be called “Christmas weekend” or “Middle Christmas.” |
| In this lesson, you’ll learn how Norwegians spend Boxing Week. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| Do you know what the term “romhelg”, which is used to refer to Christmas Weekend, really means? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| During Christmas week, the schools are off and a lot of employees have time off from work. Therefore, the Boxing Week is spent in much peace and quiet, with many families happily visiting their other family members, an event called familiebesøk. During Boxing Week, families invite each other over for lunch or dinner, because all the leftovers from Christmas Eve need to be consumed. |
| Nowadays in Norway, julebukk, which literally means Yule Goat, is a common tradition during Christmas Week. In the past, this tradition used to require people to slaughter a goat in order to bring luck for the new year. Children would dress up and walk around their towns wearing a goat's fur and a goat or horn mask. They would play, sing and dance, and people would give them Christmas treats. These days, we associate julebukk with children dressing up and going from neighbor to neighbor singing Christmas songs. After singing, they normally receive some kind of snack as a reward. |
| Boxing Week in Norway is not just for relaxing or eating, though. In recent times, many Norwegians have started choosing to travel to their cabins, go skiing, or in Norwegian gå på ski, or go ice skating or gå på skøyter. There are also those who prefer to spend Boxing Week exchanging Christmas gifts or going shopping in the sales. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know what the term “romhelg” really means? |
| Romhelg originates from Old Norse and means “what is not needed to be kept strictly holy.” That is a perfect example of what Norwegians do at Christmas – relax, and don’t take all the holy things too seriously. |
| What did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| What do you usually do over Boxing Week? |
| Leave us your comments on NorwegianClass101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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