Whenever someone mentions Vikings, the general picture painted in the mind’s eye is of burly blonde dudes with horn-winged helmets hopping out of a boat, sword, and axe in hand, ready to burn, plunder, and do all sorts of nasty things to whoever crosses their path.

The truth of the matter, however, is that these acts of raiding really only took up a fraction of the time people spent during the Viking Age.

Relatively few people took part in these expeditions, with the majority staying at home to work the land.

In fact, the word ‘Viking' was reserved for those few warriors who set sail in search of trade or new lands, rather than to describe everyone who lived in the Scandinavian lands during the time period.

Some of those who stayed at home would later join the Vikings in new settlements, for example in Iceland or Scotland.

Working the farms

For the most part, the Norse people in the Viking Age were farmers. The majority of the crops they grew were things such as oats, barley, and wheat, with a number of vegetables taking root here and there.

Much like Norway today, there was plenty of livestock scattered across the countryside: pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, chickens, all the basics of European farms.

Plenty of other trades were alive and well at the time. Boat builders and wood craftsmen, blacksmiths, leather workers, fishers, even merchants were not uncommon occupations for people like Ragnar or Rollo.

Many people in the Viking Age would do some of the above, but as time went on and larger settlements came to be, there began to be some Norsemen who specialised in one or two particular trades.

Animal-based clothing

When it came to clothing themselves, Vikings were particularly fond of wool and lots of animal skins. Viking women were very skilled weavers, able to make beautiful patterns from wool dyed with plants.

For men’s fashion, it was pretty standard with pants and shirts of varying lengths. For women, the standard fashion was long woolen dresses.

There is plenty of debate on what the styles of the Vikings really were, as not much of their clothing has survived the battle with time.

Having said that, it can generally be assumed that the styles you see on television and in films are probably not historically accurate representations.

For one thing, the Vikings loved bling. Men and women were likely bedecked in rings, bracelets, necklaces, armbands, and so on. Beautifully crafted metals have survived well, and jewelry made from leather, bone, and wood was not uncommon either.

Simple living spaces

After a long day toiling in the fields, or at the end of a long voyage to haul back loot, plunder, and slaves, there was nothing better for a Viking than to kick up their feet at home.

One common misconception was that ‘Vikings' were one people. We often speak of them as a collective. But although the vast majority of Vikings were Norse, the reality was that they lived in many small, disparate communities.

In Norway, these would have been along fjords or on narrow sounds that would provide shelter, good fishing opportunities, and strategic defensive positions. For the chief enemies at the time were other Viking communities!

Viking longhouses were built of wood, mud, stone, or a collage of all the above. The home was generally shaped rectangular-ish and with a sweet hole in the roof to let out the smoke of the probably always burning fire.

Viking homes didn’t differ much from other structures around Europe of that time period, though they were much less grand than how they are often depicted, and perhaps with better methods of insulating the space to keep in the heat during those long, dark, and cold Nordic winters.

Food from the ocean and the farms

What did people eat? Unsurprisingly, fish made up a large portion of the Viking diet. They also had plenty of other proteins to choose from. Pork was the most popular, while horse meat kebabs likely graced many a table.

The main mealtime would often consist of a stew that had been simmering for most of the day, perhaps even longer. It would have been common for the stew to be in a state of constant renewal, lasting several days and topped up with whatever meat and vegetables were available.

Bread was made from the different grains they grew on their farms. Added to that were the fruits, berries, and nuts that could be foraged from around the farms and the mountains.

The only nuts that we believe the Norse obtained locally were hazelnuts. Walnuts seemed to form part of the diet, but these would have come from trading abroad.

Norse people kept cattle primarily for the milk. Aside from drinking the fresh milk, they made dairy products including butter and soft cheeses.

Still popular in Iceland today is , a yoghurt-like, sweet and sour soft curd cheese. It was a well-loved product in the Viking Age, highly regarded because of its ability to preserve protein for six months or longer.

Apart from milk and water, people in the Viking Age were fond of beer and mead. Norse beer would have been weak by modern standards, while mead is a form of honey wine.

Fun through competitive games

Like many other archaic societies, a lot of the entertainment came from sports such as wrestling, racing, and fighting games.

Vikings even had board games to occupy their time. Researchers suggest that the famous Isle of Lewis Chessmen were created right here in Trondheim before ending up off the coast of Scotland, although these are dated to be from the very tail end of the time of Vikings.

It can be assumed that these were grown out of a longer history of tabletop games. The best known ‘tafl game' (table game) in Scandinavia was ‘Hnefatafl.' It’s likely this is the game they played with the Viking Age gaming piece .

Lindisfarne was of course the location of the raid that most researchers take as defining the beginning of the Viking Age. Researchers believe the game piece (a small glass ‘crown’) is a rare archaeological link to early Norse raiders.

Warrior poets seem to have been commonplace as well. On many days the towns, the farm, or the great halls were filled with music, poetry, and storytelling. And, of course, the Vikings loved skiing and drinking mead!

Women in the Viking Age

Modern depictions of the era in popular TV and movie dramas have blurred our understanding of the role women playing during the Viking Age.

Recent archaeological discoveries have raised new questions, but the common belief is that despite a surprising amount of gender equality, the influence of women was mainly domestic. They were unlikely to join men in battle, although unlikely doesn't mean it never happened.

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The story of one American’s attempt and failure to make a life in Norway.

By the time I moved to Norway, it was at the end of more than four years of planning, saving up money, and adapting plans to changing circumstances.

While my original plan didn’t necessarily pan out, nor did my second, and I’m not sure what happened to the third plan, but finally, the route I ended up taking was what I had always dreamed of doing.

Background

For as long as I could remember I’d wanted to live in Europe. I didn’t have any particular destination picked out until I discovered the mountains, fjords, and cities (and beautiful blonde girls) of Norway.

I ended up in Norway for the first time when I attended a folkehøgskole at the behest of one of my best friends at the time – a Norwegian exchange student I had met while I was in high school. I went the typical route for most Americans and stepped right into college after high school. Turns out it wasn’t really for me – not at the time anyway.

My friend told me about Folkehøgskole and, long story short, I applied and they let me join for some reason! It ended up being one of the best years of my life; I made great friends, had incredible experiences and gained a pretty good grasp of the Norwegian language

While attending FHS I discovered I have a penchant for blondes, one blonde in particular. I fell in love with a Norwegian girl, which just added another tally to the list of reasons why I wanted to move to Norway.

Back to the U.S. and with a goal in mind I dove straight into school, going fall, spring, and summer semesters to get it done as quickly as possible and get my ass across the Atlantic. My original plan was to study English, with an emphasis on teaching English as a second language, then entering into a master’s programme for something similar in Norway along with obtaining teaching certificate over there.

Turns out I don’t much like kids and crushing through a bachelor’s degree in less than three years made me feel pretty fatigued with the whole school thing. So I weighed my options and mapped out a route I could take to finally live in Norway. Less than two weeks after I graduated I was on a plane to Norway.

The Norwegian immigration process

The process of applying for visas in Norway seems to have a pretty mixed bag of reviews. For me, the process was pretty straightforward and relatively easy when it came to dealing with .

All visa types come with an easy to follow checklist of the materials you need to hand over to the Norwegian government, but for the applicant, this means paperwork a lot of paperwork – especially for anyone coming from .

This paperwork not only requires time and patience but a great deal of research and effort on the part of the applicant. After researching all my options time and time again, the requirements still ended up changing on several occasions before I got over to Norway – and even once in the handful of days I was there before I handed in my application.

With the applications, you set a date for a meeting to drop off all of your paperwork at either a police station or the special immigration centres if there is one in your city or municipality.

Overall I thought there would be more human interaction in terms of the applications. Everything was done online or by sending in your paperwork at the predetermined centres. I kind of thought they would want to meet with you, interview a bit maybe, but nope, the application does all the talking for you.

The ‘skilled job seeker' visa

My first step in starting life in Norway was to apply for the skilled job seeker visa. This visa is applicable for just about anyone with a degree from a university or more than a few years experience in a skilled trade.

This visa gives you six months to find a job in Norway. Generally, this is a great option for people who are completing Masters or Ph.D. studies in Norway and want to try to find a job in the country after their studies.

This visa also comes with a hefty monetary component. Besides the costs of applying for the visa it is necessary to demonstrate to the Norwegian government that you can afford to live in their country for the six months you’re there on the job hunt – which to them means have upwards of 120.000 Norwegian kroner in your bank account to be granted the visa. Hence the years of saving I did before making the move.

This visa requires that you find a job you are qualified for based on your education and/or work history. So no easy bar or restaurant jobs if you’re from outside the EU for most people.

Skilled job seeker visa: Expectations v reality

To be honest, I was completely terrified. I didn’t think I had much of a chance at finding employment that would fulfil the visa requirements. It kept me up at night for months before I even got on the plane for Norway.

With only six months to find gainful employment, I had to hit the ground running. I reached out to as many ex-pats as I could to ask for meetings and advice, and made a strict schedule for myself that I followed every day for applying to jobs, reaching out to companies, and dropping off my CV pretty much anywhere with an unlocked door.

Turns out my fears were pretty much spot on; a degree in English Writing isn’t in hot demand in Norway. It is possible that I might have had better luck in a bigger city like Oslo, but where I was I had limited options.

Being from outside of the EU/EEA is the real disadvantage, and the fact that I was a fresh-faced kid straight out of college with basically no professional experience didn’t help either.

Self-employed work permit

After six months of a few interviews, friendly meetings, gallons and gallons of coffee, but little luck I went with my backup plan: the Selvstendig næringsdrivende visum, or self-employed person visa.

Turns out the self-employed person visa is one of the most difficult visas to get, according to numerous people that had nothing to do with UDI told me.

The application did require an insane amount of paperwork. From a full business plan and budget to a copy of my University diploma and even a transcript showing the courses I took and the grades I received, amongst a whole host of other required items.

Luckily for me the business I planned on running, being a freelance writer, had essentially no overhead costs, inventory, or anything like that that would have required a lot more work to put together for the application This visa gives the applicant one year to run their business and meet a set pre-tax minimum income of NOK 240.000.

Self-employed work permit: Expectation v reality

I thought the services of a native English writer would be of some interest in Norway. While most Norwegians speak and can write well enough in English, it’s generally pretty easy to tell when someone with English as a second language is writing for a companies website, product, or what have you. I certainly wasn’t expecting to get rich but thought with enough tenacity I could make a living.

The thriving start-up scene in the city I resided in seemed like a perfect place to hone my focus and enjoy my work doing a bunch of different writing. There were also a number of other larger companies, and even a football team, that I thought could use my skills.

I’ve never been much of a salesman, especially when it comes to trying to self-promote as a contractor and convince people that my skills are worth paying a not so paltry sum for.

Read more: The complete guide to moving to Norway

Beyond that, for a kid straight out of college, trying to start a business in a foreign country was incredibly tough. Figuring out how to pay taxes in another country, even dealing with the differences in professional and business expectations of another culture were all things that took time.

Don’t even get me started on trying to accomplish anything in Norway during July. Half the time I’d need to go grocery shopping during the summer I’d walk down the block only to find the doors locked and the lights off, some saint’s day or other that I wasn’t used to or prepared for.

The majority of my first year turned into more of a networking strategy as opposed to gaining clients. Some small jobs trickled in here and there, but I hardly made any money the first year. I was told that UDI would be pretty lenient on the first year of the business in regards to the income requirements, so I focused on making myself known in the business world in the hopes that these connections could turn into clients, or help me in finding clients, later on down the road.

My strategy paid off, kind of. The end of that first calendar year and the first few months of the next gave me some real hope. I had a couple of permanent basis clients that I did work for every month and had several short-term projects lined up with other companies.

I’d made more money in a month than I did in the previous year. Going into the renewal for my visa I thought this would show promise in my company and it would be easy to renew for another year.

The renewal process

That first year in Norway flew by. Before I knew it I was getting bank statements and all the other paperwork together to renew my self-employment work permit.

Renewing a visa is ����������ٱ�����simpler than the initial application. It required a lot of the same stuff used in the original application, just adding in a few things like invoices and bank statements to show your earnings, and writing a letter about your business expectations for the next year.

Based on what I’d heard from other people and online, I thought that UDI would be fairly lenient in regards to the monetary requirements of renewing the visa. Especially as I had proof that the coming year would be immensely more successful. So I went in nervous, but still with some hope.

Denied

Nobody likes rejection, even more so when it happens to be in regards to a visa and where you’re going to be living. When I got the letter from the UDI, I think I hid it behind some groceries and let it sit on my kitchen counter for a few days before I had the courage to open it.

The reason for the denial was that I didn’t reach the full income that was necessary for the first year, even though I was well on my way to making that number and showing great progress at the start of year number two.

I wasn’t happy with the decision, obviously. So I went through my options on what I could do to stay and get another chance. I could leave right away, or I could try and appeal the decision at the immigration court.

Appealing the decision

With just about any visa you have the a UDI decision. You do this by taking all the same paperwork you had for the initial application and then add a letter stating why you think the decision should be reversed.

In some cases, you can be asked to go in to speak with someone in person but for the most part its just another application process essentially.

I spent several days writing one of the most heartfelt and difficult pieces of writing I’ve ever had to do. Basically, I was begging UDI to let me stay in Norway. I even had a Norwegian friend help me write the letter in Norwegian and provided copies in both English and Norwegian to the court.

I was proud of that letter and really thought my words would have the desired effect of getting the government to give me another year in the country.

Tough luck

Well, shit. I’m sitting in my office one day and I receive a phone call. After I few years in the country, I did the Norwegian by letting the call go to voicemail and then searching up the number that called me on the internet.

Let me tell you all, it’s not a great feeling to have that number pop up as the local municipality’s police department. My heart dropped down to the floor.

I waited a few minutes, walked around the office a few times before I called the number back saying that I received a call from this number. The lady on the other end of the line sounded cheerful, I thought maybe everything would be ok.

Then she changed to short and direct.

“Your visa was denied. You have three weeks to leave the country. Send us a copy of your plane ticket.”

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A guide for any football fans interested in taking in some summer football in the land of the midnight sun.

Looking for something different from your football experience? Why not look to Norway…

The Eliteserien

The Norwegian Premier League, now called Eliteserien, recently rebranded from the Tippeligaen after the Norwegian Football Association decided to drop the sponsor name from the title of the league.

The origin story of the Norwegian league follows much of the same pattern as other leagues around Europe, starting with teams from the same neighbourhoods, workplaces, etc., and then having the league really begin to take form in the post-war period and gaining traction to become what it is today at the beginning of the 1990’s.

The Eliteserien takes place during the spring, summer, and early fall. Believe it or not, it is a bit difficult to play football during wintertime in Norway – outdoors anyways.

This creates an excellent opportunity for football fans that follow teams that play through the winter and have little else to do in-between May-August besides constantly refreshing websites to see the latest transfer and rumours.

How about that Ronaldo move, am I right?

Inside a Norwegian stadium

The majority of Norwegian football stadiums are not the massive coliseums that we see in the top leagues around Europe, but many of them are built in picturesque locations along fjords, in cities, and elsewhere.

For some reason, artificial turf is a big thing in Norway, currently, there are a few major grounds with the abomination covering their pitch – but the league is currently discussing a requirement for all grass pitches for the Eliteserien.

Attending a match

Don’t worry about performing some sort of ritual, booking your trip a decade in advance, or having to have been grandfathered into some sort of club membership, anyone can buy tickets to a football match in Norway.

It’s as easy as buying a ticket online with the option of picking out your seats or going to the stadium to purchase them in person.

Getting to the stadium is pretty easy as well; walk, bike, or hop on public transport (usually a bus). Apart from a few big games each year, don’t expect a lot of noise and excitement on your way to the stadium.

Safe standing

A big topic of discussion in the UK for the past few years, Norwegian stadiums allow for Safe Standing. If you’re interested in checking out what Safe Standings is all about during a summer holiday, Norway has it and some of the clubs have a pretty decent Tifo culture as well.

Where to watch football in Norway

Like many other places around the world, in Norway, your club is the one nearby where you live/grew up. And many stick to their local clubs, perhaps reaching a little further away to follow a top-flight side.

For newcomers to the Eliteserien and for football fans visiting Norway, choosing a team to go and watch will probably depend on the location in Norway they are visiting – and this generally falls into a few specific cities.

Oslo

The main hub for visitors to Norway, Oslo has a handful of teams in the neighbourhood that you can pop over to for a match.

Having recently found a new home in a brand new stadium, ��å�������Բ��� is the only one of these clubs in Oslo proper.

Ever a wild card, ��å�������Բ��� brings the drama of European football to the pitch and business sides of the sport. Staring down the barrel of bankruptcy in the early 2000’s, the club was able to fight its way back and maintain itself in the top flight.

Some seasons see the Oslo club eyeing the prize; others are fights to stay alive.

Just outside of Oslo in the suburb of Bærum, ���ٲ���æ�� made the list for any Americans reading the article. Up until a few years ago, ���ٲ���æ�� was managed (coached) by one of your very own: Bob Bradley.

���ٲ���æ�� has some success in their stint in the Eliteserien, having won a title most recently in 2008. Though their time at the top as fluctuated drastically – much like their local rival ��å�������Բ��� – some seasons end towards the top of the table, and some are desperate attempts to avoid relegation.

Also not in Oslo but close enough, ������������ٰ�ø�� is another great option for visiting football fans.

������������ٰ�ø�� is one of the most supported clubs in Norway, and has the second biggest fan-club in Norway, as the official fan-club, Kanarifansen (The Canary Fans – because of the yellow colours of the club), has more than 5,000 members, publishes its own magazines and has its own collection of clothing.

������������ٰ�ø�� boasts a hat full of league titles, although none of them have come in this century. The most recent was a league title in 1989. 2017 saw the club win the Norwegian cup, however. But good news for fans of consistency: the club holds the Norwegian record for the most consecutive years without being relegated.

Bergen

Being the only top-flight football club in the area, Brann is a big deal in Bergen. The club is practically a religion for football fans in the far-flung fjord on the west coast.

Despite winning the league most recently in 2007, and that for the first time in decades, Brann always attracts passionate fans and media attention. They’ve come back to the Eliteserien with a vengeance after a season spent in the lower division, currently sitting a few points ahead in first place.

Brann is another club that is unpredictable with their finishes in the table; with final minute battles for the top spots, mid-table finishes, or battling away from the relegation zone.

Brann sits at the top of the table currently, and are many people’s favourites to take the title in 2018.

Trondheim

This lovely, big-little city now homes two clubs in the Eliteserien.

For the glory hunters, Rosenborg (RBK) is perhaps Norway’s biggest and most renowned football club, they been a driving force in the Norwegian League over the last few decades after dominating in the 1990’s and early 2000’s and have featured in both Champions League and Europa League competitions (plus a bunch of the other cup competitions that no longer exist today).

The most notable run led them to the quarterfinals, beating AC Milan to get there. Up until 2008, RBK held the record for most consecutive qualifications for the Champions League, until Manchester United upped the tally by one.

If you choose RBK as your Norwegian team, never stop talking about how they beat Real Madrid on a freezing cold night in Trondheim.

Although not a big club, Ranheim is a recently promoted side that has found extraordinary success in their first season in the top-flight for nigh on half a century.

Located just outside of Trondheim, Ranheim is very much a local supporters club. They are very community and family oriented. The ticket prices are a bit cheaper than RBK, but make sure to book them in advance as seats have been hard to come by recently!

The matches between Ranheim and Rosenborg can be called a derby, but the clubs consider themselves to be brothers, so there is little animosity on the pitch and in the stands when the two clubs meet.

�հ��dz���ø

�հ��dz���ø is the world’s northernmost top-flight football club in the world.

Pretty much a constant in the top flight, �հ��dz���ø has only been relegated a few times – and have won immediately won promotion the season after.

The club has also featured in the group stage of the Europa League one time, after a disqualification from Turkish side Beşiktaş.

Molde

Molde has one of the most beautiful locations for a stadium in all of Norway and a football legend at their helm – Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Constantly battling for the top of the table, Molde is a pretty good choice of club to support for those looking to have some hope for a title.

The rivalry between Molde and Rosenborg is a heated one, and it leads to some of the most exciting fan atmospheres in Norway when the two clubs face each other.

Both games will see an impressive away support section – something not often found in the Norwegian league.

Kristiansand

Start made the list for their location, in the southern, summer town of Kristiansand – a popular tourist destination for Norwegians and visitors alike.

Once again promoted to the Eliteserien after coming back from relegation, during which they had the longest run without winning a single game across any top division in Europe.

The downsides of watching football in Norway

How Norway became the happiest country in the world without being able to enjoy a pint at the stadium is a question that eludes academics, scientists, and spiritual advisors to this day.

That being said, there are plenty of pubs in and around stadiums in Norway that offer some pre-game enjoyment.

If you’re planning on attending an away match your chosen team, don’t expect a rowdy atmosphere from any of the fans in the away supporters section.

Norway is a pretty big country, with the teams being really spread out for the most part (it would take pretty much a full day of travel to head to �հ��dz���ø if you’re a fan of any other team) and because of all the fjords and mountains and whatever it can take a long time to travel even shorter distances by car, bus, or train.

One final tip

While in Norway, anytime you overhear anyone mention football, whenever you see a football, whenever you watch a match of any league/division/country, when reciting your wedding vows to your Norwegian partner – do not forget to mention the time that Norway beat Brazil 2-1 during the group stage of the 1998 World Cup.

The post Take a Football Trip to Norway appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Norway is in fact in the top ten countries in the world when it comes to guns owned per capita. the country sits in tenth place with about 31 guns per 100 residents.

The culture of firearms

Hunting and marksmanship have been a part of Norwegian culture pretty much since guns first arrived in Norway.

Hunting has always been an integral part of Norwegian culture and is reflected in today’s number of registered hunters – about half a million people, or around 10% of Norway’s total population.

Shooting is also a traditional sport; just look at the biathlon event, the sport that combines shooting and cross-country ski racing – humorously referred to as a ‘Norwegian drive-by’. Like any other Nordic skiing event, Norway leads in the number of medals awarded in biathlon events.

Despite a significant portion of the population owning and using firearms, they are rarely ever seen outside the settings of their uses, such as in marksmanship or biathlon meets or during hunting seasons.

Permits and requirements

Norway has some of the strictest gun control laws around today. It is only possible to obtain permission to own a weapon by having officially documented a use for the gun with the local police and taken extensive training relevant to the intended use of the weapon. Generally, this falls into two categories: hunting and sports shooting.

The first step to owning a firearm in Norway is to get a Våpenkort – a firearm permit that is specific to what you plan to use the firearm for.

Hunting in Norway

For hunters, it is required to complete a 30-hour course, and pass an exam that covers a variety of topics such as responsible gun handling, and the environmental impacts of hunting.

Once the course is completed and exam passed all that is left to do is to register with the government and receive a hunting license. This license needs to be renewed each year by paying a fee, and in some cases, spending a day at a certified firing range.

For a hunter that wishes to purchase a firearm, the hunting license is brought to the police station, where it is required to fill out an application to purchase the proper firearm for the type of hunting one wishes to do. After the application is evaluated and approved, the applicant can take the returned form to the store and make their purchase.

Sport and competitive shooting

The qualification for a permit can be considered slightly easier for sports shooting but requires more time and training.

Anyone interested in shooting competitively or recreationally as part of a gun club must enroll in a firearm safety course that lasts at least nine hours and pass an exam – although this differs than the exam hunters take as it primarily handles on firearm safety.

The passing of the test results in acceptance to the approved gun club, and a license for competition.

While the hunters can obtain their firearm relatively quickly, sports shooters must prove their intentions to compete by actively training or competing in the gun club of their choice. This means regular attendance (at least 15 times) at gun club training over the course of six months.

After six months, the applicant may apply for weapon ownership. The license and a written recommendation from the gun club president are brought to the police station, and the type of competition class is filled out on the application.

Types of guns owned in Norway

Because of the laws and the culture of firearms, there is a fairly limited variety of guns in Norway. Rifles and shotguns make up the bulk of civilian-owned weapons in Norway as they are used for hunting. Handguns can also be found in Norway, generally used by competitive and sports shooters that belong to gun clubs.

Fully automatic weapons, some semiautomatic weapons, and firearms disguised as other objects are banned under the law. Certain types of weapons not covered by the Firearms Act’s definition of firearms, such as stun guns, are also generally banned.

Storage and ammunition

The law for storage of firearms is also quite strict in Norway. For shotguns and rifles, it is required to have the firearm, or a vital part of the firearm, to be securely locked away in an approved gun safe, securely bolted to a non-removable part of the house.

The police are allowed to make a home inspection of the safe. An inspection must be announced more than 48 hours in advance, and the police are only allowed to see the safe and make sure it is legally installed.

Ammunition is only sold to persons with a valid weapon license. Unless given special dispensation, no more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition can be stored at a time.

New regulations

Norway plans to ban semi-automatic firearms as of 2021. The ban would require current owners of semi-automatic weapons to hand them over to the government, as well as prohibiting future sales.

It is estimated that this law change will affect some 2,000 gun-owners in the country of 5.3 million inhabitants. The bill allows for several exemptions, in particular for shooting sports.

The post Gun Ownership in Norway appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Introducing harrytur, or harryhandel. It's the great Norwegian habit of driving, riding, flying, sailing, or whatever else, to another country in order to buy goods, namely alcohol, tobacco, and bacon, at a slightly cheaper price.

(Relax; I know this isn’t only a Norwegian tradition. Most countries have their version of harrytur too)

You can witness a miniature version of harrytur at any Norwegian airport if you’re flying internationally.

As soon as you get through security or off the plane, you might see a little bit more hustle in the steps of the blonde haired people around you as they make a b-line straight for that glorious ‘Tax-Free’ zone for their candy, tobacco, and liquor needs.

Read more: Shopping in Norway

What does harrytur mean?

Directly translated Harrytur means Harry Trip. Harry is a term to generally describe something as unsophisticated, though it has a plethora of other definitions. But in the case of this article Harry means unsophisticated, of poor taste, less than classy, etc…

According to the Internet, the etymology of the word Harry comes from upper-class kids in Oslo calling their lower-class counterparts Harry.

This came to be due to people in lower and middle classes giving their children English names, such as Harry, whereas upper-class kids got to be called Sven and stuff with more traditional Scandinavian names, with the occasional French or German name sprinkled here and there.

Where do you go?

Because of simple geography, Sweden is the most common destination for Norwegians on a harrytur. From many places in Norway, you can get to the border with Sweden in a relatively short time. Denmark isn’t out of the question either.

Conveniently located just a few meters across the Norway-Sweden border are large supermarkets filled with all the needs of the every day Norwegian. Imagine a warehouse-sized building filled with rows and rows of candy, and all around this building is a slew of state-run liquor stores, tobacco outlets, sporting goods and clothing stores.

You can find a few of these across the border from Oslo. There's even one across the border from Trondheim, albeit a little smaller.

How do you get there?

Harrytur can take many different forms. A large portion of people will jam into a car with close friends or family. Traveling by car gives the added benefit of marveling at the (slightly) higher speed limits and glorious wide highways that apparently start as soon as you cross the border.

A student’s version of harrytur might mean packing themselves onto one of the free buses that run from the universities. But don’t feel left out if you’re not a student, there are often busses that fulfill the same mission for us regular folk as well.

Given the amount of shopping a harrytur requires, taking a train across the border might be a little difficult, but if you’re just stocking up for a weekend, a harrytur by rail could still be a viable option.

Plenty of ferries make the trip from South-eastern Norway and on into Sweden. You can also make a holiday out of it by hopping on the Danskebåten for a pseudo-cruise weekend trip to Copenhagen.

Is it really that much cheaper?

Well, sort of. The majority of stuff will be marginally cheaper. Standard groceries such as meat and dairy products, and of course ����å���ǻ��, will also be a tad cheaper. Alcohol is significantly cheaper thanks to lower taxes. You can also save a pretty penny on some products such as tobacco.

But let's not forget that Norway is one of the most expensive countries on the planet. Spending money pretty much anywhere else makes it feel like you’re getting some great deals.

Tolls

Be wary all ye’ who go to Sweden and come back to Norway. There are laws that prescribe how much meat, dairy, alcohol, and tobacco you can bring back over the border.

Though these limits are still quite high, think twice before filling up the entire trunk of your car with spare ribs and beer. These limits are calculated per person. That's one of the reasons why there are so many full cars crossing the borders on weekends and before holidays.

Harrytur is a good time

While the end goal is to save a few kroner on things you are going to be purchasing anyway, the reason many people go on a harrytur is simply that it is fun. Often times the cost of petrol and lunch at the infamous Max Burger offset the actual savings on the trip!

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Norway gets a lot of attention for its Black Metal scene, and while there have been a number of Norwegian bands to rise through the ranks of metal and glam rock, there is a whole host of other genres represented by Norwegian artists.

Here is a list of artists representing a few different genres that rock out Norwegian style.

A note to everyone in the comments: This is a selection of artists designed to introduce people to Norwegian music. It's not intended to be a comprehensive list!!

First of all, we must talk about Sissel. The Norwegian is one of the world's finest soprano singers, yet she doesn't fit neatly into a category! Her genre-hopping career has encompassed everything from the Titanic soundtrack to Scandinavian Christmas songs.

Rising stars

Astrid S. Astrid Smeplass from Rennebu got her first breakthrough in music after winning the Norwegian televisions singing programme Idol.

She has toured throughout Europe and the US, has had her music included in the hit Norwegian television programme SKAM, and collaborated with American singer Katy Perry.

Aurora. One of the fastest rising stars in Norwegian music, this pop star from Os has toured the country extensively, and begun to make waves in international waters. Aurora has already won numerous awards since starting out in 2015.

Dagny. From the northern reaches of Norway, �հ��dz���ø to be exact, Dagny has enjoyed pop-success in Norway and abroad. An acoustic version of her son “Backbeat’ was even featured in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

Marcus & Martinus. The Gunnarsen brothers are claimed to be the biggest pop act in the Nordic region and they already have three albums under their belts despite being only 16 years old.

They first burst onto the scene in 2012 by winning the eleventh season of Melodi Grand Prix Junior, the children's version of the Eurovision Song Contest Norwegian selection competition which has launched many pop careers in Norway.

Sigrid. From Ålesund comes another pop sensation. A newcomer to the music scene, but already enjoying success, Sigrid has toured Europe, released several popular tracks, nominated for and won a number of different awards including the BBC Sound of 2018 award.

Pop

A-ha. Throughout their careers as Norwegian pop legends A-ha, Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar Savoy have sold more than 55 million records to become one of the world’s most popular pop music acts.

Despite announcing a hiatus in 1994 and a split in 2010, the band reformed in 2015 and continue to tour. “What a difference a break makes”, said a Guardian review of one of their comeback shows in 2016.

“Perhaps because a rest is as good as a change, the twice-reunited band have recovered their enthusiasm and sound thoroughly rejuvenated.

Unwilling pin-up Morten Harket looks much younger than his 56 years and the simple act of removing his aviator shades threatens to trigger a mass fainting.”

Anna of the North. This artist from Gjøvik has had her music stylized as ‘soft, soul-bearing electro-pop’. Together with New Zealand-born producer Brady Daniell-Smith, the duo has released 3 albums since 2014 and regularly tours the country.

Highasakite. Trondheim in 2011 was where this band began its formation when Vocalist Ingrid Håvik and drummer Trond Bersu met while Bersu was studying at the Trondheim Jazz Conservatory.

Since then the 5-man band has released 3 albums, won several awards, and toured Norway relentlessly. They have begun attracting attention in the international spotlight.

��2��.��This Norwegian pop-duo comprising of Marit Larsen and Marion Raven formed in Lørenskog, just east of Oslo.

The two started their careers early, releasing a first album (albeit a children’s album) before either of them had turned 13. Their success continued throughout the 1990’s and into the new millennium.

Susanne Sundfør. Born and raised in Haugesund, pop-artist Susanne Sundfør has released some of the best selling albums in Norway. Her most recent album Ten Love Songs for People in Trouble has garnered Sundfør a substantial international following.

Electro and similar genres

Alan Walker. Born in England but raised in Bergen, Alan Walker is a music producer and DJ.

At just 20 years old, Walker has already sealed a spot on the international stage, he regularly releases music online, with listeners and viewers of his videos numbering in the millions and even billions.

Datarock. Created in Bergen and known worldwide, Datarock is one the biggest bands from Norway. The band has received widespread acclaim, and their music is hard to miss having been featured in everything from video games, to TV adverts and series.

Kygo. Another Bergen born boy, Kygo has put Norway on the map for music listeners around the world. His music really took off in 2014 when he received more than 50 million views on one of his music videos.

Since then Kygo has won and been nominated for a vast amount of awards, collaborated with several other big-time artists, and toured several continents.

Lemaitre. This indie duo hailing from Oslo has been creating music together since they were school kids.

In that time they have release numerous albums and EPS, and had several of their tracks featured in mainstream media adverts like Google Pixel and Apple. They have also spent time touring Europe.

Matoma. One more rising star, Matoma comes straight out of Åsnes. Some of the first tracks he released flew to the tops of the charts in Scandinavia, Finland, and even New Zealand.

He has continued to release music and has an extensive catalogue online. In 2017 Matoma was nominated for Newcomer of the Year and Song of the Year at the Norwegian Music Awards.

��ö�����DZ��. The cold north of �հ��dz���ø is the home to this famous duo. Since their 1998 debut, the duo has gained critical acclaim and popular success around the world.

They have won 7 Spellmannprisen and are one of the few Norwegian musicians that have been nominated for a Grammy Award.

Rock

BigBang. Describes as Norway’s best live band, this trio (which has altered numerous times), has consistently been at the top of the music charts in Norway.

With lyrics mostly in English, BigBang has seen widespread success across the globe as well. The band has released 10 studio albums since 1995 and as many EP’s and Live recordings.

Raga Rockers. A rock band from Oslo, Raga Rockers is a cultural institution in Norway. In 2017 they were inducted in the Norwegian Music Hall of Fame at Rockheim, Norway's national contemporary music museum in Trondheim.

Since 1983 the band has put out an impressive 12 albums, even with the 7-year hiatus they took. Raga Rockers are still playing shows in Norway.

Seigmen. This alt-rock band came into the spotlight during the 1990’s. At the end of the decade the band decided to lay their instruments down, but only a few years later played a reunion show and enjoyed it so much they decided to keep the party going.

Formed in Tønsberg, Seigmen has continuously evolved their music, released a dozen albums, and continue to play live shows in Norway.

Skambankt. Hard rockers from Klepp, just south of Stavanger, Skambankt were founded in 1994 when a band that was going to play at a concert couldn't make it.

They took the challenge to step in for the cancelled act, and wrote nine songs the same day and performed them later that evening.

The band put their instruments down after a year, but reunited again a decade later. They continued to release albums and even opened up for AC/DC at their show in Oslo.

Backstreet Girls. Started in 1984 this band has toured throughout Europe and released 14 albums. They still play shows in Norway today.

Honningbarna. This punk group from Kristiansand made their debut in 2010 with their self-titled EP. They’ve won several prizes in Norway and regularly tour the country.

Oslo Ess. Hailing from Moss, Oslo Ess has taken Norway by storm. In 2011 they were nominated as ‘best rock group’ at the Norwegian music awards (Spellmannprisen) and have gone on to release four albums, two of which reached the top of the charts in Norway.

����ø�ٴڲ�����.&�Բ�����;Formerly known (and still pronounced) as Slutface, this band from Stavanger has been gaining international acclaim. The band is known for feminist and political lyrics often voicing support for causes such as protecting the environment, and gender equality.

Turbonegro. Initially formed in 1988 this group’s long career has given them international recognition. They describe their own, unique style of music as ‘deathpunk’.

Black metal

Mayhem. Formed in 1984 in Oslo, Mayhem epitomise the black metal scene more than any other band. They were a major part of the scene's creation, and their music strongly influenced many others. They were also centre to many of the genre's more controversial moments of the years.

Dimmu Borgir. Born out of the same scene as Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir have become more progressive and symphonic as time has gone on. The genre's elitists can't stand them, but their commercial intent has brought great success. A notable point about the band is the high number of renowned metal musicians that have passed through the ranks over the years.

Folk

Mari Boine. Her jock-influenced folk songs have transformed the image of Sami culture in Norway, and a recent album full of English language songs has only increased her appeal outside of the country.

What's your favourite Norwegian band?

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Norway's most successful football club celebrated 100 years this season. We take a look back at their history.

After ��å�������Բ���'s centenary a few seasons ago, it's now the turn of Trondheim's Rosenborg to chalk up 100 years. Could the glory years be returning to Trondheim? After four years without winning the title, Rosenborg just secured their third consecutive league title. American writer Bradley Kurtz takes us on a whistle stop tour through the history of Norway's most successful football club.

In May of 1917 a new football team was started in Trondheim, Norway. The group of twelve local boys that founded the team christened it Sportsklubben Odd­ – as an hommage to their heroes and the champions of Norwegian football at the time: Odd of Skien.

Small beginnings

The early years of the club were spent playing games against other local teams, but the work to join the regional league was quickly begun in 1920.  The first go round Sportsklubben Odd was denied access because authorities thought that allowing these smaller “buddy” teams into the league would lead to a shortage of players for the larger organizations. The seasons continued to go by and the roster for the team in Trondheim changed as players became disillusioned with the mission of the club. In 1923 the team played just one match.

However, by 1926 a new generation of players had taken up the cause and set out to join the regional league once again, but as before they were blocked. This time it was due to having the same name as another team already competing in the league. In October of 1928 the name of Sportsklubben Odd was officially changed to Rosenborg Ballklub.

After the renaming, Rosenborg gained entrance to the regional league. The club moved up and down through the lower divisions in their first few years, but by 1931 their station became more consistent and had plans for a new home pitch at Lerkendal, a neighborhood in Trondheim.

The first trophy, a taste for more

With a heavy focus on youth development – which continues to this day – Rosenborg became a serious competitor in Norwegian football throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. In 1960 Rosenborg made it to the finals of the Norwegian Cup where they met Odd­– the team that derived the original namesake and colors of Rosenborg.

The game was fought out to a draw, but Rosenborg won the rematch to claim their first trophy. The following year Rosenborg was promoted from the regional league to the newly formed Group A league. After a tough two seasons in this league Rosenborg were relegated after finishing in the bottom half of the 16-team league.

For Rosenborg the 1963-1966 seasons were spent in the second division, but contained some bright moments such as winning the Norwegian Cup in 1964 and winning promotion once again to Group A during the 1966 season.

A golden era begins

What is considered to be the first golden era at Rosenborg began in 1967 when the club finished at the top of the tables of the main division. This season and the following few became a showcase for the talent developed at Rosenborg when players who’s names still carry weight today, such as Odd Iversen and Nils Arne Eggen, were awarded honors as top scorer and player of the year for the Norwegian league.

This period also saw the first appearances of Rosenborg on the European stage. As winners of the Norwegian Cup in 1964, the club debuted in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1965 and three years later Rosenborg entered the European Cup as winners of the Norwegian league.

The first half of the next decade were also very successful for Rosenborg; winning the double in 1971 and becoming a competitor for the top of the table, year after year. These glory days continued until the end of the 1977 season when Rosenborg were relegated by the difference of a few points.

It was a short duration in the Second Division as Rosenborg climbed their way back into the First Division after just one season. The next few years the club held on in league, but did not enjoy outstanding success until the mid 1980’s when a second golden era for the club would begin.

In 1985 the 14-year trophy drought in Trondheim came to an end in epic fashion; Rosenborg beating ������������ٰ�ø�� in the final match of the season to secure victory of the league by a single point. In 1988 Rosenborg secured major sponsors and became a fully professionalized football club. The 1988 and 1990 seasons ended with Rosenborg securing double titles, and the club became a dominating force in Norwegian football.

Adventures in Europe

From 1992 to 2004 Rosenborg finished in first place in the newly formed Norwegian Premier League­­– an outstanding thirteen seasons in a row. Also during this time the club won the Norwegian Cup five times and began its string of qualifications for the UEFA Champions League. Rosenborg held a Champions League record of qualifying eight years in a row for the group stages of the tournament.

Since the period of domination in the early 2000’s Rosenborg has had its trials and tribulations. The club has fought back from 10-point deficits to capture league titles, celebrated unchallenged wins, and even held on with white knuckles to avoid relegation. But it is undisputed that the club has continued to have an incredible impact of Norwegian football.

Today Rosenborg Ballklub is once again a force to be reckoned with. The 2015, 2016, and 2017 seasons ended with league titles and the team is focused on making headway on the European stage. Youth development and the cultivation of talent is still an important aspect at the club.

Records and record-breakers

Biggest win: The 17–0 win against Buvik in the 2003 Norwegian Cup is unlikely to be beaten for a while. Their biggest win in the league was 10-0 against Brann in 1996, while in the Champions League their record victory was 6-0 against Swedish side Helsingborg in 2000.

Roar Strand: Born in Trondheim, the Norwegian international midfielder spent his entire career – bar a short loan spell with Molde – at Rosenborg. He played for 21 seasons between 1989 and 2010, and his 644 appearances in the white shirt is a club record. Strand is one of only a handful of players in Champions League history to have made 100 appearances in the competition for the same club. Following his retirement, his number 6 shirt number was retired in his honour.

Harald Martin Brattbakk: Also born in Trondheim, the Norwegian international striker holds the record as RBK's all-time scorer with 254 goals over three spells with the club. He played together with Roar Strand for many seasons.

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