The culture of Norway is firmly connected with the history and geographical position of the country. The roots of Norwegian culture date back to the traditions of the Vikings , the medieval "era of greatness" and the sagas . Although usually Norwegian masters of culture were influenced by Western European art and absorbed many of its styles and plots, nevertheless, traditional folk culture is reflected in their work. The unique peasant culture, preserved to this day, arose due to the scarcity of natural resources due to the cold climate and mountainous landscape, but it was also largely influenced by medieval Scandinavian laws . Poverty, the struggle for independence, the admiration for nature - all these motifs are manifested in Norwegian music, literature and painting (including decorative). Nature still plays an important role in folk culture, this is evidenced by the unusual Norwegian addiction to sports and life in the lap of nature. Heather (Norwegian røsslyng) - the national flower of Norway.
Content
Overview
The influence of other cultures
The greatest influence on the culture of Norway had Denmark and Sweden . In the Middle Ages, German culture with Lutheranism was of great importance, in the 18th century , France was replaced by France , then in the 19th century Germany again took the leading position, and after World War II, Norway began to focus on English-speaking countries. Over the past 30 years, the country has turned from ethnically homogeneous to multicultural due to the large number of blacks . Especially in the capital of Norway, Oslo , where about a quarter of the population are foreigners, a multicultural society is noticeable.
General principles
Norwegian culture is built on the principles of egalitarianism (equality of all people), any manifestations of elitism are strongly criticized by society. Norwegians are one of the most tolerant of same-sex relations of nations, Norway has become the sixth country to allow same-sex marriage on its territory. Among Norwegians, honesty and hard work are still valued. Environmental protection and animal welfare are also important. Norway is considered one of the most developed and prosperous countries in the world with a low crime rate .
Kitchen
Norwegian cuisine is primarily due to the cold Scandinavian climate and mountainous terrain, which make it difficult to grow crops and raise livestock . The main components of Norwegian cuisine are fish, seafood , game , dairy products , including cheeses , prepared in various ways. Due to the high prices of wheat (almost all grain is imported from warmer countries) thin stiff cakes made of yeast- free dough are traditional bread.
Performing Arts
Cinema
Unlike neighboring Sweden and Denmark, which had early established themselves with an international audience, Norwegian cinema began to develop only in the 1920s , starting with screen versions of literary works. The 1930s are considered the "golden age" of Norwegian cinema, when the directors began to shoot the Norwegian nature and scenes from the life of the rural population. After the Second World War, during which films were subjected to German censorship, a new generation of directors appeared, whose films are classics of Norwegian cinema. In the 1950s documentaries were very popular, the 1970s spawned the rebel, socially realistic genre of Norwegian cinema. In the 1980s, they began making films with a more exciting, " Hollywood " plot. In recent years, an increasing number of films shot in Norway, including short films and documentaries, have become popular worldwide and have won awards at film festivals .
Music and Dance
Norwegians do not forget the musical traditions of the country, which have developed from the traditions of the North Germanic peoples and Sami culture. Folk music and dances are still popular. Among traditional chants, yoyk can be distinguished, a hardangerfer is considered a folk musical instrument. Traditional rural dances are still performed during the holidays (weddings, funerals, religious holidays).
The musical culture of Norway began to develop actively only in the 1840s. The most prominent representative of the Norwegian classics is Edward Grieg , followed by Sinding . In the early 1990s, Norway became famous as the birthplace of black metal . Currently, most music groups known outside of Norway produce metal and jazz music , as well as electronic music .
Fine Art
Literature
The history of Norwegian literature originates from the collection of songs " Elder Edda " and skaldicheskoy poetry . Among the Scandinavian works, the works of Snorri Sturluson , as well as a collection of folk tales and legends collected by Asbjørnsen and Mu in the 19th century, should be especially noted. With the advent of Christianity , European medieval works had a great influence. From the 14th to the 19th centuries, Norwegian literature developed in conjunction with Danish .
In the XX century, Norway presented the world with three Nobel Prize winners in literature : Björnsterne Björnson (1903), Knut Gamsun (1920), Sigrid Unset (1928). The most significant figure in Norwegian literature is Ibsen with plays such as Per Gunt , The Doll House and Woman from the Sea . The novel of another Norwegian writer, Justin Gorder, “The World of Sofia ” was translated into 40 languages.
Architecture
The development of architecture in Norway reflects the development of the country's history. About a thousand years ago, small principalities on the territory of Norway were assembled into a single kingdom, which was then converted to Christianity. This was the beginning of the tradition of building stone, the main example of which was Nidaros Cathedral .
The tradition of building wood is rooted in the distant past and is primarily due to the harsh Scandinavian climate and the easy availability of wood. Houses of the poor have traditionally been built of wood. In the early Middle Ages throughout the country were built wooden bouquets , one of them included in the World Heritage List . Another example of wood construction is the Bruggen Shipyard in Bergen .
The architectural styles popular in Europe rarely reached the Scandinavian peninsula, but some of them still left their mark, such as the Baroque church in Kongsberg or the Rococo - style wooden mansion Damsgård. After the dissolution of the Union with Denmark in 1814, Christiania (now Oslo ) became the capital of the new state, where the buildings of the University of Oslo , the Stock Exchange and many other buildings and churches were built under the leadership of Christian Grosh . The 1930s with dominant functionalism became the heyday of Norwegian architecture. In recent decades, many Norwegian architects have gained recognition in the international arena.
Painting and Sculpture
For a long period of time, Norway adopted the traditions of painting from German and Dutch masters, as well as Danes. In the 19th century, the era of Norwegian art began, beginning with portraits and continuing with expressive landscapes. Among the artists of Norway, Juhan Dahl , Fritz Taulova and Kitty Kiland should be highlighted. One of Norway’s most famous artists is Expressionist Edward Munch with the famous Scream . In addition, symbolism was popular among Norwegian masters.
Gustav Vigeland is considered the national sculptor of Norway, having created a large number of sculptures reflecting human relations. Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo contains more than 200 sculptural groups that convey a specific set of emotions.
Holidays
Norway's main national holiday is Constitution Day , which is celebrated on May 17th . On this day, festive processions and parades take place.
Among religious holidays, the most important are Christmas ( Jul ), whose traditional character is Yulebukk , and Easter . Norwegians also celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist ( Jonsok ), which coincides with the summer solstice ( June 24 ). This day is the beginning of the summer holidays and is usually found by lighting bonfires on the night before. In the northern parts of the country, white nights are observed, while in the southern days only 17.5 hours are observed.
See also
- Norwegian Cultural Foundation
- Wikimedia Commons has media related to Norwegian Culture