Norwegian Holiday Traditions....

As I'm going through some papers, I am coming across all sorts of different things... among some are talks and presentations from Church activities...
Like this one;

Christmas in Norway is associated with white snow, candles, Santa Claus, decorations in red, green and gold, and the smell of homemade cookies. 

Christmas is definitely the number one family holiday in Norway. Half the 24th all of the 25th, 26th, 31st and half of the 30th as well as New Years Day, are all holidays in Norway. The schools have a lot longer vacation, usually lasting two weeks.

Santa Clause 

in Norway ...is called “Julenissen” and looks very much like the santas found elsewhere in the world. However there exists another character whose name ends with “Nisse” in the Norwegian folklore - a peculiar figure named the “Fjøsnisse” (the barn “nisse”). For a long time, when most Norwegians were farmers, this Nisse was believed to be a secret helper in the barn. If the family on the farm was nice to him and left him a bowl of porridge every Christmas eve, he would be kind to them and help them the next year. If they didn’t they could expect accidents, sick animals and mysterious noises.

This superstition eventually mixed with the commercial Santa Claus, leaving the Norwegians with one name covering both figures and the mutations in between them - “Nissen”. Today one may often see Christmas displays where there is one head Santa (Julenissen) surrounded by many other, smaller santas (versions of the fjøsnisse), or even entire Santa families.

Advent 

Every year in Bergen (where I'm from), in December, the inhabitants are invited to participate in the making of the world’s biggest gingerbread city. Schools, kindergartens, anyone who wants to can make a gingerbread house and bring it to the shops downtown, where they have an area especially set apart for this display. All the ginger houses, ginger boats, schools, churches, people and decorations are put on display and for many years it has been officially the worlds largest Gingerbread City Display (in accordance with Guinness World Records). The admission is low if not free.

The Norwegian children typically have Advent calendars with 24 flaps/windows. They open one door in the calendar each day from the first of December and open the last on Christmas Eve. That day is also the day Norwegians open their presents and have their big Christmas meal.

Behind each door in the Advent Calendar is a small chocolate or toy, or if it is a homemade calendar, something else like a pencil or other type of little gifts.

The national tv station NRK has since the late 70s sent a special daily “Advent Series”, for children. The later years the station has produced the series itself and these series are said to be some of the more expensive productions. Each series is normally about 30 minutes long. And often the religious messages are toned down to make it more including. Usually, in combination with the tv shows, are there calendars and other toys made as well. Many times the family will gather and watch together.

Christmas Preparations...

The shops start putting up their Christmas decorations in mid November, but the big rush to buy presents does not start until mid-December.

...At home 

As the times get closer to Christmas Eve, many families bake cookies. The tradition is that there must be at least seven kinds of cookies on the table Christmas Eve. Making marzipan and marzipan figures dipped in melted chocolate is also a popular way to prepare the holiday season.

...In schools 

Many schools arrange Christmas workshops some days before the holidays start. This kind of activity is found in grades 1-7 almost without exception. 

Before the school’s Christmas vacation starts, the students in grade 2-7th will put on a play for the parents. The play is a version of the Christmas story. The show also typically include some Christmas carols, and usually ends with the everyone being served cookies and juice.