Opening hours during Christmas and New Year 2009:
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The Gingerbread Town
Bergen is famous for its Gingerbread Town that is created very year on Torgalmenningen Square. Kindergartens, schools and private individuals send in their gingerbread houses for this miniature version of Bergen. You can visit the exhibition throughout December.
For further information, see www.bergensentrum.no
Festival of Light: Saturday 28th November:
The newspaper Bergens Tidende invites the whole city to a concert, torchlight procession, Christmas carols, illumination of the Christmas tree lights and a fireworks display in the city centre. The Festival starts at 16.00 at Lille Lungegårdsvann lake.
Christmas illuminations:
This year, the Christmas illuminations in Strandgaten in the city centre open on 28th November. The lights are switched on and the Christmas entertainment starts, with sleigh rides and special offers. The lights on the Christmas tree on Torgalmenningen Square are lit on the first day of Advent.
Advent candles on Mount Fløyen:
It is a tradition to light giant Advent "candles" on Mount Fløyen. The candles light up at 13.00 every Sunday in Advent. There is singing, activities and lots of pre-Christmas fun for both adults and children on Mount Fløyen and the Fløien Folkerestaurant is open.
Sledging on Mount Fløyen:
If you like high-speed excitement, then we recommend sledging on Mount Fløyen. You can buy a sledge in toy shops and sports shops. The Fløibanen funicular sells "sledging passes" for NOK 140 for adults and NOK 70 for children. The pass is valid from early morning till late in the evening. The roads and paths down from Mount Fløyen are floodlit in the evenings.
Christmas at VilVite - Bergen Science Centre:
Bring your homemade christmas star and get a free entry to VilVite. Applies to children between 3-12 years during weekends from 28th November - 20th December. Tree lucky winners will receive a Annual card to VilVite.
All year Christmas shop:
Christmas House (Audhild Vikens Vevstove) is open all year and sells a large assortment of Santa Claus figures/Christmas pixies and other Christmas decorations. The Christmas shop is located at Holmedalsgården 1 at Bryggen.
Local Christmas traditions
The Christmas tree is decorated on the evening 23 December. When decorated, all parcels are placed under the tree. On Christmas Eve before dinner, one usually visits former family members’ graves, placing flowers and candles.
The presents are to be opened on Christmas Eve, after dinner. Santa Claus is also a part of our Christmas traditions. He is a jolly, fat old man with white hair and beard, wearing a red suit and big black boots. He rides a sleigh pulled by reindeers and slides down chimneys to deliver presents on the night 23 December.
We also have a goblin ("fjøsnisse") as part of our older tradition. He is a very small (almost dwarfish) man who looks quite like Santa Claus. He lives in the barn where he gets porridge for Christmas dinner as thanks for looking after the barn and the animals.
"Pinnekjøtt" vs. "Svineribbe"
Christmas dinner in Bergen consist of "PINNEKJØTT", which is dried ribs of lamb served with potatoes and rutabaga. The ribs are to be put in water the previous night and steamed for approx. 4 hours. In the Eastern parts of Norway they serve "SVINERIBBE" which is ribs of pork served with potatoes and sauerkraut. The meat is to be baked in the oven for a few hours until the fat is crispy.
In older times people in the Bergen area ate "PERSETORSK", a special course with cod as main ingredient.
For information on other events in the Cultural City of Bergen please click here