Cultural Slideshow
Cultural Map
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/2/1/38212721/3173682.jpg?515)
This map shows the various winter resorts throughout Scandinavia. A large part of the population in Norway report participating in sporting activities. Winter sports, more specifically that of skiing, is one of the most popular. Reference: Roto, J. (Designer). (2009, July 16). Major Winter Resorts in Scandinavia [Web Map]. Retrieved from http://www.nordregio.se/en/Maps--Graphs/09-Other/Major-winter-resorts-in-Scandinavia/
Cultural Resources
Www.visitnorway.com is a travel website packed full of information on the country of Norway. Although it is a travel website it still offers a great deal of information on Norwegian culture. Additionally, if you are ever so luck to get to travel there, it offers wonderful information on places to go and sights to see!
A Bunad is a traditional Norwegian costume. Bunad costume designs vary by regions and are worn only for special occasions and celebrations. The link provided here from My Little Norway presents a great deal of information on these beautiful costumes. http://mylittlenorway.com/2009/05/bunad-norwegian-traditional-costumes/
A Bunad is a traditional Norwegian costume. Bunad costume designs vary by regions and are worn only for special occasions and celebrations. The link provided here from My Little Norway presents a great deal of information on these beautiful costumes. http://mylittlenorway.com/2009/05/bunad-norwegian-traditional-costumes/
Vital and Social Characteristics
Gapminder and Norway's Development
The Human Development Index measures a countries achievements
in three dimensions. These dimensions
include health level, education level and a countries standard of living. Norway has had steady rise in its HDI index from
the year 1980 through 2008. In fact,
Norway topped all other countries with a .943 HDI Index as can be seen below in
figure 1. Gapminder.org allows us to
further investigate what elements may have contributed to this increase. The charts depicted in figure 2 and figure 3
take into consideration the educational element. Figure 2 displays the average amount of years
men aged 25 – 34 spent in school. In
1979, the number of school years was 11.
By 2008, that number had increased to 14. Figure 3 displays the mean amount of years
women aged 25 – 34 spent in school. Once
again the country of Norway shows a steady increase. In the year 1979, the average amount of time
women spent in school was 10. By the
year 2008, women in this age category spent an average of 15 years in school. In the final chart displayed below, the
amount of doctors per 1,000 people is depicted.
Figure 4 shows that in the year 1980 the amount of medical doctors in
Norway was 2 per 1,000 people. By the
year 2008 that number had increased to 4.08 per 1,000 people. Both the health and educational elements
displayed in the charts below can help explain Norway’s rise in its Human
Development Index. With the increase in
the years spent in school depicted by the 28 year time span shown below, one can assume that Norway has become a more educated population. In addition, based on the increased
availability of doctors by the year 2008, one can surmise that this would greatly
impact the countries health level as well. Combining the health and educational dimensions displayed below one could conclude that this would lead to a higher standard of living. These three elements would then explain the steady increase in
Norway’s HDI between the years 1980 – 2008.
Religion
The early inhabitants of Norway were polytheistic, believing in many gods, and the roots of their religious beliefs and practices emerged from Norse Mythology. Around the year 1000 AD, Norse Mythology began metamorphosing into Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church, which was the dominate practice up until the reformation, squelched the religious practice, and it was prohibited until the year 1843.
During the Viking Age, religious practices did not play a major role in the social development or culture of Norway, and it flourished in spite of its lack of influence. Vikings were renowned for being fierce and fearless warriors, disregarding religion in general and pillaging churches in various other countries. It was through these invasions that they came into contact with Christianity. Currently, while 86% of Norway’s population report they are members of the Church of Norway, the states church, only 12% claim that they attend church more than once a month. As a result of this historic phenomenon, on any given Sunday, you are more likely to find a modern Norwegian hiking or skiing than sitting in a church pew.
It wasn’t until Christianity was culturally accepted that sacred religious sites were established in Norway. A sacred burial site in Nidelven in Trondheim entombs the remains of Olav Haraldsson, who died in the Battle of Stiklestad in the year 1030 AD. He is remembered as St. Olav, Norway’s most influential saint, and at his burial site a cathedral was erected and has become a sacred designation for devout pilgrims.
Norway’s constitution vehemently protects religious freedom and as a result, the country has become increasingly secular and religious freedoms have expanded, resulting in a plethora of religious conflicts. In response, those who violate an individual’s religious freedoms or discriminate on the basis of religion can expect an immediate and severe response from a governmental level.
When being tasked with researching a country’s religious history, one anticipates a rich and complicated story. Norway, however, was quite the opposite. In the beginning, Norway’s religious history was based on mythology and it wasn’t until the end of the Viking Era that Christianity was even adopted. Today, while only a small population of Norwegians attend church, there are a vast number of recognized religions. Norway is a country that not only adamantly defends religious freedoms, but also exemplifies religious tolerance.
Bibliography
1. Religion in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.visitnorway.com/us/about-norway/history/religion-in-norway/
2. Religious Freedom in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/religious-freedom-in-norway
3. Religions and Ethics in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.samfunnskunnskap.no/?page_id=360&lang=en
4. Williams, G. (2011, February 17). Viking Religion. Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_01.shtml
During the Viking Age, religious practices did not play a major role in the social development or culture of Norway, and it flourished in spite of its lack of influence. Vikings were renowned for being fierce and fearless warriors, disregarding religion in general and pillaging churches in various other countries. It was through these invasions that they came into contact with Christianity. Currently, while 86% of Norway’s population report they are members of the Church of Norway, the states church, only 12% claim that they attend church more than once a month. As a result of this historic phenomenon, on any given Sunday, you are more likely to find a modern Norwegian hiking or skiing than sitting in a church pew.
It wasn’t until Christianity was culturally accepted that sacred religious sites were established in Norway. A sacred burial site in Nidelven in Trondheim entombs the remains of Olav Haraldsson, who died in the Battle of Stiklestad in the year 1030 AD. He is remembered as St. Olav, Norway’s most influential saint, and at his burial site a cathedral was erected and has become a sacred designation for devout pilgrims.
Norway’s constitution vehemently protects religious freedom and as a result, the country has become increasingly secular and religious freedoms have expanded, resulting in a plethora of religious conflicts. In response, those who violate an individual’s religious freedoms or discriminate on the basis of religion can expect an immediate and severe response from a governmental level.
When being tasked with researching a country’s religious history, one anticipates a rich and complicated story. Norway, however, was quite the opposite. In the beginning, Norway’s religious history was based on mythology and it wasn’t until the end of the Viking Era that Christianity was even adopted. Today, while only a small population of Norwegians attend church, there are a vast number of recognized religions. Norway is a country that not only adamantly defends religious freedoms, but also exemplifies religious tolerance.
Bibliography
1. Religion in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.visitnorway.com/us/about-norway/history/religion-in-norway/
2. Religious Freedom in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/religious-freedom-in-norway
3. Religions and Ethics in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.samfunnskunnskap.no/?page_id=360&lang=en
4. Williams, G. (2011, February 17). Viking Religion. Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_01.shtml
Changes in Cultural Diversity
This paper will explore the cultural diversity of the European country, Norway. It will provide a brief description and history of its indigenous people while also addressing the years of oppression and forced assimilation. Furthermore, it will investigate the recent changes the government has made to protect the rights and culture of the Sami people.
The Sami’s are an indigenous group of people living in the Nordic region of Europe. They reside in the Northern part of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and in Kola Peninsula of Russia known collectively as the Sapmi region. Nearly two-thirds of the population of Sami’s, approximately 40,000 people live within the country of Norway. Evidence points to the Sami’s being one of Europe’s oldest ethnic groups, residing in the area since prehistoric times. They lived a nomadic lifestyle, following the seasonal migration of wild reindeer, and survived by hunting and fishing. There are nine different Sami languages, six with individual written forms, while the other three have no written form and very few remaining speakers. The Northern Sami, Lule Sami and Southern Sami are the three different languages of those residing in Norway.
By the approximately the ninth century other peoples and cultures began to move into Norway and the Sami’s homeland, claiming their resources and land. During the 17th and 19th century various governments began offering incentives to colonize the Sami territory. Their history has been compared by many scholars to that of the Native Americans during the colonial ages in America. They were moved off their lands and forced to assimilate. Their religion, in which they practiced shamanistic spirituality, was seen as pagan. As a result, churches were built throughout the region as an attempt to convert them to Christianity. Secretly, however, many of the Sami’s continued to speak their own language and practice their cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs.
In the 1960’s there appeared to be a major political step forward with the official recognition of the Sami’s right to preserve and develop their own culture. Unfortunately, however there continued to be a push towards assimilation into mainstream Norwegian culture at the time. Some began to move out of the fjords where they farmed and fished, quit speaking their native languages and sought a more traditional form of education. Lars Andreassen, the director at Arran, a Lule Sami cultural education center described the experience:
“And you can imagine how difficult it must be for those generations which are now from the 60s to the 70s, there are those who took the choices, the choices not to speak Sámi to their kids, to move out of the fjords, trying to get an education, [now] experiencing their kids’ generation, that is my generation, who are protesting against those choices they made, and saying why did you do it? Ok we understand, but still we want some changes today, a lot of those from that generation want to go back, you say, we want the language back. It’s not dead, it’s not dead, it’s quite alive, but we want it to be more used, we want it to be more alive. . . .” (Earthducation Project, 2011)
During the 1970’s relations with the Norwegian government and the Sami people came to a rather dramatic climax with the proposal of the Alta hydroelectric project. The proposal was to build a dam right in the heart of the Sami homeland. As a result of its construction it would flood established Sami communities and reindeer pastures. This led to outrage and protests throughout the community. They unified as a culture and declared their indigenous rights. While the dam was eventually built anyway in 1987, it provided the foundation for a rejuvenated culture. In 1989, the Sami Parliament known as the Samediggi, was established. This political body is elected regionally by strictly Sami people. While it cannot create laws, it can provide a voice to the people. Its purpose is to establish language and culture alongside the Norwegian society.
Furthermore, policy regarding the Sami’s has been adopted into the Norwegian Constitution and through the Act of the Sami People. Its purpose is to “facilitate safeguarding of Sami people to help them develop and maintain their own language, culture and social life.” (Mangset and Kleppe 2011) Additionally, schools within the Sami districts have established a Sami curriculum that is intended to teach students of their culture and language.
While the Sami’s have endured a difficult past, in 2000, the Norwegian government apologized to them for their previous treatment. The overall aim of the Norwegian government has now turned to “develop and complete a policy in accordance with international duties of Norway and duties found in the Norwegian laws and existing political resolutions.” (Council of Europe, 2014) While there have been changes in the cultural diversity landscape of Norway, rather than a loss of culture which it was at risk for, it moved towards a policy of support and acceptance.
The Sami’s are an indigenous group of people living in the Nordic region of Europe. They reside in the Northern part of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and in Kola Peninsula of Russia known collectively as the Sapmi region. Nearly two-thirds of the population of Sami’s, approximately 40,000 people live within the country of Norway. Evidence points to the Sami’s being one of Europe’s oldest ethnic groups, residing in the area since prehistoric times. They lived a nomadic lifestyle, following the seasonal migration of wild reindeer, and survived by hunting and fishing. There are nine different Sami languages, six with individual written forms, while the other three have no written form and very few remaining speakers. The Northern Sami, Lule Sami and Southern Sami are the three different languages of those residing in Norway.
By the approximately the ninth century other peoples and cultures began to move into Norway and the Sami’s homeland, claiming their resources and land. During the 17th and 19th century various governments began offering incentives to colonize the Sami territory. Their history has been compared by many scholars to that of the Native Americans during the colonial ages in America. They were moved off their lands and forced to assimilate. Their religion, in which they practiced shamanistic spirituality, was seen as pagan. As a result, churches were built throughout the region as an attempt to convert them to Christianity. Secretly, however, many of the Sami’s continued to speak their own language and practice their cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs.
In the 1960’s there appeared to be a major political step forward with the official recognition of the Sami’s right to preserve and develop their own culture. Unfortunately, however there continued to be a push towards assimilation into mainstream Norwegian culture at the time. Some began to move out of the fjords where they farmed and fished, quit speaking their native languages and sought a more traditional form of education. Lars Andreassen, the director at Arran, a Lule Sami cultural education center described the experience:
“And you can imagine how difficult it must be for those generations which are now from the 60s to the 70s, there are those who took the choices, the choices not to speak Sámi to their kids, to move out of the fjords, trying to get an education, [now] experiencing their kids’ generation, that is my generation, who are protesting against those choices they made, and saying why did you do it? Ok we understand, but still we want some changes today, a lot of those from that generation want to go back, you say, we want the language back. It’s not dead, it’s not dead, it’s quite alive, but we want it to be more used, we want it to be more alive. . . .” (Earthducation Project, 2011)
During the 1970’s relations with the Norwegian government and the Sami people came to a rather dramatic climax with the proposal of the Alta hydroelectric project. The proposal was to build a dam right in the heart of the Sami homeland. As a result of its construction it would flood established Sami communities and reindeer pastures. This led to outrage and protests throughout the community. They unified as a culture and declared their indigenous rights. While the dam was eventually built anyway in 1987, it provided the foundation for a rejuvenated culture. In 1989, the Sami Parliament known as the Samediggi, was established. This political body is elected regionally by strictly Sami people. While it cannot create laws, it can provide a voice to the people. Its purpose is to establish language and culture alongside the Norwegian society.
Furthermore, policy regarding the Sami’s has been adopted into the Norwegian Constitution and through the Act of the Sami People. Its purpose is to “facilitate safeguarding of Sami people to help them develop and maintain their own language, culture and social life.” (Mangset and Kleppe 2011) Additionally, schools within the Sami districts have established a Sami curriculum that is intended to teach students of their culture and language.
While the Sami’s have endured a difficult past, in 2000, the Norwegian government apologized to them for their previous treatment. The overall aim of the Norwegian government has now turned to “develop and complete a policy in accordance with international duties of Norway and duties found in the Norwegian laws and existing political resolutions.” (Council of Europe, 2014) While there have been changes in the cultural diversity landscape of Norway, rather than a loss of culture which it was at risk for, it moved towards a policy of support and acceptance.
References
1. Polidor, A. (2007, April 1). Lands of the Sami. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.sacredland.org/lands-of-the-sami/
2. Patten, R. (2014, November 25). LANGUAGE AND THE LAND: A visit to the indigenous Sami people’s Norway. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.themindfulword.org/2014/language-land-indigenous-sami-peoples-norway/
3. Martin, S. (2008). Sami. In Encyclopedia of race, Ethnicity, and society. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login?url=http://literati.credoreference.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/content/entry/sagerace/sami/0
4. Sami Culture. (2011, January 1). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://lt.umn.edu/earthducation/expedition2/sami-culture/
5. Helander, E. (n.d.). The sami of Norway. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.reisenett.no/norway/facts/culture_science/sami.html
6. Mangset, P., & Kleppe, B. (2011, April 8). Norway/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/norway.php?aid=424
7. Intercultural city: Oslo, Norway. (2014, January 1). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/culture/Cities/oslo_en.asp
1. Polidor, A. (2007, April 1). Lands of the Sami. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.sacredland.org/lands-of-the-sami/
2. Patten, R. (2014, November 25). LANGUAGE AND THE LAND: A visit to the indigenous Sami people’s Norway. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.themindfulword.org/2014/language-land-indigenous-sami-peoples-norway/
3. Martin, S. (2008). Sami. In Encyclopedia of race, Ethnicity, and society. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login?url=http://literati.credoreference.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/content/entry/sagerace/sami/0
4. Sami Culture. (2011, January 1). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://lt.umn.edu/earthducation/expedition2/sami-culture/
5. Helander, E. (n.d.). The sami of Norway. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.reisenett.no/norway/facts/culture_science/sami.html
6. Mangset, P., & Kleppe, B. (2011, April 8). Norway/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/norway.php?aid=424
7. Intercultural city: Oslo, Norway. (2014, January 1). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/culture/Cities/oslo_en.asp
Food and Food Production
Norwegian Recipe: Fiskesuppe (fish soup)
The Norwegian diet and food production has always heavily relied on the availability of foods locally. Since Norway is mostly surrounded by water, the majority of their diet consists of seafood. One very common dish you will find throughout the country is fiskesuppe, a creamy style fish stew. Wild game is another staple to the Norwegian diet and includes duck, goose, reindeer and moose. Reindeer sausage and steaks are more commonly found in the northern areas of Norway, where the Sami culture has long raised them for sources of milk and meat. Lingonberries can be found growing wild in the Norwegian mountainous and evergreen forested area. Due to the lack of agricultural land in the country, approximately 3.4% in 2000, Norway relies heavily on food imports. A variety of different cultural foods can now be found throughout the country to include Chinese and Italian.
Norway adopted Christianity after the Viking era and outside of their traditional Christmas and Easter dinner, there is not a lot of connection between religion and the foods they serve. However, there is one tradition that is still commonly practiced that dates back to Norse mythology, that of Nisse the gnome. On Christmas eve, Norwegian families will prepare a bowl of porridge for Nisse to keep him from playing tricks on them!
References:
Arnold, T. (n.d.). Traditional Food of Norway. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/traditional-food-norway-10910.html
Rogier, M. (n.d.). Food and Culture in Norway. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/food-culture-norway-18526.html
Culture of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Norway.html
Foods of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.norway-hei.com/foods-of-norway.html
Cohen, G. (n.d.). Typical Food in Norway. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/typical-food-norway-15093.html
Arable Land (% of land area) in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.tradingeconomics.com/norway/arable-land-percent-of-land-area-wb-data.html
Norway adopted Christianity after the Viking era and outside of their traditional Christmas and Easter dinner, there is not a lot of connection between religion and the foods they serve. However, there is one tradition that is still commonly practiced that dates back to Norse mythology, that of Nisse the gnome. On Christmas eve, Norwegian families will prepare a bowl of porridge for Nisse to keep him from playing tricks on them!
References:
Arnold, T. (n.d.). Traditional Food of Norway. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/traditional-food-norway-10910.html
Rogier, M. (n.d.). Food and Culture in Norway. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/food-culture-norway-18526.html
Culture of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Norway.html
Foods of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.norway-hei.com/foods-of-norway.html
Cohen, G. (n.d.). Typical Food in Norway. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/typical-food-norway-15093.html
Arable Land (% of land area) in Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.tradingeconomics.com/norway/arable-land-percent-of-land-area-wb-data.html