Cornerstones of Norwegian society

Important terms and concepts for understanding Norwegian society.

Bunad: the Norwegian national costume

The bunad is Norway’s traditional folk costume and one of the most recognizable cultural symbols. The bunad movement began in the 19th century as part of romantic nationalism, when Norwegians sought to strengthen their national identity by celebrating traditional crafts and clothing.

Wearing a bunad is a way to showcase heritage and cultural identity. Each region has its own unique style, often distinguished by embroidery, colors, silver jewelry, and tailoring. There are around 200 bunad types, and people are generally proud to explain where theirs comes from.

  • Around 80% of Norwegian women own a bunad, compared with about 20% of men.

  • Traditionally, most people wore a bunad from their home region, though today more people choose based on aesthetics.

  • Bunads are often given as confirmation gifts, and it can take up to a year to make one, since many are still hand-sewn.

The bunad is worn at weddings, baptisms, confirmations, Christmas, graduations, folk dances, and especially on Constitution Day (17 May), when thousands of Oslo residents participate in the festivities wearing bunads.

17th of May parade in Oslo
17th of May parade in Oslo (2022). Image: Nikolai Kobets Freund / Oslo kommune

Russ: celebrating high school graduation

From April until 17 May, high school seniors celebrate the end of their 13 years of schooling by becoming russ. You can recognize them by their red or blue overalls covered in badges and patches.

Traditions include:

  • Driving decorated buses or vans with loud music (rulling).

  • Handing out russekort (Russ cards), which children collect.

  • Taking part in pranks, dares, and parties.

The Russ tradition is often criticized for being rowdy, but it remains a rite of passage and an important bonding experience before students move on to the next phase of life.

These activities together make the Russ period one of the most recognizable—and debated—traditions in Norwegian youth culture.

Dugnad: pitching in for a common cause

Dugnad is a jointly performed, unpaid and voluntary work of importance to a community or an individual. This type of volunteer work is usually carried out in a local community (spring cleaning in a housing cooperative, construction of a barn, a boatyard, garden or a playground), as neighbourly assistance in various situations, but sometimes also at the regional or national level.

The term derives from Old Norse dugnaðr meaning "help, good deed, power, support". Although it has become less popular in recent years in urban areas, it is still very much alive and present in rural parts. When a dugnad is decided, everyone is invited to join and work is assigned when you show up. It is usually followed by a social gathering where the participants share coffee and cake.

Dugnad is not only about getting things done—it is also a social occasion where people get to know each other and build a sense of belonging.

Friluftsliv: a love for the outdoors, rain or shine

Where ever you are in Norway you're never far from great outdoor experiences, even in Oslo, the capital and largest city. Therefore, the concept of being in nature for purely recreational purposes is deeply rooted in Norwegian culture.

"Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær" is something you'll hear many Norwegians say when the weathers bad. It means: "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing" and is a good example of how Norwegians love nature, come rain or shine.

Participating in outdoor activities and experiencing nature is a great way for newcomers to get new friends, become included and understand Norwegian society. Greeting people you pass on the trail while you're out hiking is a typical Norwegian custom.

Pølsegrilling i skogen
Grilling sausages in the woods. Image: Thomas Ekström / Oslo kommune

Kos: make it cozy!

Koselig is a word which is close to pleasant or content, but in fact it depicts the feeling and experiencing something comfortable and enjoyable in a simple way. It is the surroundings and the simplicity of little things which make it "koselig": lighting the candles in the room, using the fireplace, warm blanket and tasty meal.

It is enjoying life or rather the present moment in a pleasant setting! There is no direct translation of it to English, but the closest would be coziness.

Trust: a building block of Norwegian society

Norway is based on a high level of trust. Norwegians not only trust each other, when you ask you will find that most of the population have a high level of trust to the Norwegian authorities. Thanks to very low corruption, well-functioning institutions and access to public education, social security and services the trust spreads into society.

Lost items are often returned and some places you will find stores and public libraries that work on the honour system. You can unlock the libraries outside of opening hours and let yourself in. Food and flowers are left outside the stores with the owner trusting that you'll pay for it. You have to admit that this is quite unique, at least in a big city.

Trolls: fearsome (but beloved) Norwegian figures

If you read stories with roots in Nordic folklore and folktales, you'll be sure to come across a troll or two. Trolls in Norwegian folk tales are often depicted as being unhelpful or unfriendly and come in all shapes and sizes, though often they are old, ugly and not very clever.

In the myths, trolls are usually found living in secluded places like forests, mountains, caves, or around lakes. In some stories the larger trolls are said to have grown into the forest with old age, becoming a part of nature. Who knows, If you venture out into the forests around Oslo, maybe you'll spot traces of trolls hiding nearby?

According to myth, trolls cannot not survive in direct sunlight and only come out at night. The ones who are not able to hide from the sun in time are said to turn into stone.

Trolls often appear in the most well-know Norwegian folktales, and many can be found in the fairy tales collected by Asbjørnsen and Moe, such as:

  • "The boy who had an eating match with a troll"
  • "Three billy goats gruff"
  • "Soria Moria castle"

Norwegian trolls in popular cinema:

These tales ensure that trolls remain a living part of Norwegian culture even today!

En skulptur av to troll som gir hverandre en klem.
Troll dolls. Image: Thea Pope / Oslo kommune

Janteloven: the unspoken "rules" of society

The law of Jante is deeply engraved in Scandinavian culture to focus on collective achievements rather than individual ones. Norwegians value being modest and humble. It is generally not perceived well to elaborate on topics like your own success or wealth.

In some instances where an individual stands out in a way that makes the society around them react negatively, the term Janteloven is referred to as a set of unspoken rules and norms, social code and the way of organizing the society . The term originates from a satirical book called A Fugitive Crosses his Tracks, which was written in 1933. The author, Aksel Sandemose, felt like an outsider, and that feeling inspired him to write stories about how society suppressed its individuals.

Janteloven is now an expression in the Nordic countries, and is particularly used in situations where someone is perceived to regard themselves as better then others.