December in Oslo
December in Oslo, Norway is the month of Christmas and the Nobel Peace Prize.
Oct 27, 2006
December in Oslo, Norway is a jammed packed with festivities and events. Not only is the month of the Nobel Peace Prize prize ceremony held on December 10 in City Hall, but the city opens its doors to Christmas markets and holds back to back Christmas festivities. Karl Johan street becomes "Christmas Street" in December, with lights and decorations strung from every post and window. Like most shops in Scandinavia this time of year, Oslo shops will have extended holiday hours, including from 2-6:00pm on the last three Sundays before Christmas.
Oslo Christmas Markets
- The Christmas market at Youngstorget is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 – 7:00pm through December 23.The Christmas market at Blå open Saturdays and Sundays from noon – 5:00pm from December 2-12.
- Step back in time at Bærums Verk to 17th century buildings decorated for Christmas, cafes, galleries, and shops. Listen to storytellers spin yarns about the Christmas trolls. Sit back and relax on sleigh ride through the village or explore it on foot.
- The Norsk Folkemuseum, an open air museum with buildings from all over Norway, is the site of a large Christmas fair on the three Sundays prior to Christmas. Watch a folk dancing performance, music performance, or buy sweets and Christmas gifts. The little ones can help Santa in his workshop.
- Bogstad Gård (Manor) decorates Christmas trees from the manor's with ornaments from the 1930s and 1830s. Shop for Christmas presents or sample traditional baked goods at the fair. . The Oslo Philharmonic will be giving Christmas concerts in December (see their website for dates and tickets).
Oslo Holiday Music and Theater
Listen to Sissel Kyrkjebø sing Nordic Christmas songs at the Oslo Spektrum Arena on Saturdays from December 2-12. Or, see one of the many performances in the month of December of the Nutcracker at Den Norsk Opera.
Nobel Peace Center
If you start to feel "Christmassed-out" and all of the merrymaking does not make you feel relaxed and peaceful, consider visiting to the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, at Rådhusplassen (open every day except Mondays) to learn about the history of the Nobel Peace Prize and to see exhibitions highlighting global humanitarian and peace challenges.
