Thread by @Thomashornall

I’m Scottish.

And I’m moving to Norway.

13 Norwegian oddities I can’t wrap my head around:

1) Weird National Cuisines

Whale meat. Fermented fish. Smoked sheep’s head

Fermentation, salting, and drying meat, were critical to survive long winters. Wastage wasn't an option.

These acquired tastes persist as a way to connect with heritage.

2) Unbelievably Beautiful People

Shelf-stackers and cashiers are way prettier than the best-looking girls in the UK.

One theory is Norwegians are so attractive because the Vikings kidnapped beautiful women from the lands they raided. (Thank god I bagged one)

3) Counting Weeks Not Months

Norwegians refer to dates by week number.

E.g: "Let's meet in week 32" instead of “Early August”

This level of precision is crazy to me.

But it reflects a culture that values planning and punctuality

4) Strong, Unspoken Social Norms

“Janteloven” rules daily interactions.

It emphasises humility, equality, and not boasting about achievements.

Norwegians still play “status games” of course - it’s just more subtle

The nail that sticks out gets hammered.

5) Mandatory Volunteering (Dugnad)

Neighbourhoods come together to paint fences, clear litter, plant flowers etc.

Everyone's expected to sacrifice free time for the “greater good”.

(Annoying having to knock doors for Doctor’s Without Borders when the Arsenal game’s on though)

6) Sky-High “Sin Taxes”

• Pint in a pub £10-13.
• Pack of cigarettes around £15+
• Gambling’s also monopolised by the state.

These taxes are meant to discourage consumption and fund public health. It’s part of the country’s “Big Mother” attitude.

7) Fierce brand loyalty/ monopolies

Take Zalo, the ubiquitous green dish soap.

Adorning every kitchen sink from Oslo to Tromsø.
Inevitable in households rich or poor.

In the UK there’s tons of options, but in Norway it's Zalo or bust.

(Same with Tine, the national dairy cooperative)

It faces little domestic competition, protected by import tariffs and domestic agriculture subsidies.

In 2022 it had 80%+ market share in products like milk, butter and cheese.

(Tine’s faced criticism when shortages occur)

8) State Monopoly On Alcohol

Shops can sell drinks only up to 4.7%.

Want wine or spirits? You need the state-owned “Vinmonopolet”

Fewer stores. Limited hours. Less advertising.

(Closed for like 4-5 days around Christmas too - in Scotland there would be riots)

9) State Monopoly on Gambling

Norsk Tipping & Norsk Rikstoto have exclusive gambling rights in Norway.

All profits are reinvested in society each year.

- Emergency services
- Sports development
- Culture and arts funding
- Or to emergency orgs like the Red Cross

10) Crazy Wealth

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund holds $1.7 trillion - the world’s biggest.

That’s roughly $307,000 per Norwegian citizen.

It’s in large part thanks to the country’s 78% tax on oil revenues.

This fund is key as the country prepares for a post-oil future (2021 graphic)

11) Closed on Sundays

Most shops shut on Sundays, even in cities. Sundays are for family, leisure, and relaxing.

The country’s Lutheran heritage, strong labour unions, and work-life balance emphasis contribute to this.

If you’re used to 24/7 convenience - it's a shock.

12) Cabin Culture

It's very common to have a “hytte” - a small cabin in the mountains.

Many have no electricity or running water.

These act as weekend getaways for hiking, skiing, or just escaping the city/town.

(This is ours)

13) Slow-Ass Speed Limits

Norway has noticeably slower speed limits than other European countries.

(Perhaps not surprising when highways are ice and snow most of the year tbf)

Fines for speeding in Norway are among the strictest in Europe

That's it!

Those were all I could think of today.

(Format shamelessly plundered from @oledoteth)