Episode 36: The Winter Solstice – Light, Darkness, and Norwegian Christmas Traditions

In this episode, Anne and Steph step slightly away from the needles and dive deep into Norwegian culture and history.

While knitting is always close by, this conversation is less about stitches and techniques, and more about the traditions, beliefs, and seasonal rhythms that have shaped Norwegian life for centuries.

Together, they explore the Winter Solstice – the moment when the sun turns and the light slowly begins its return – and how people in Norway have marked this turning point through fire, candles, stories, and quiet rituals, long before modern Christmas took shape.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What the Winter Solstice means in Norway – “when the sun turns”
  
• Living with very little daylight, and why light matters so deeply
  
• Norwegian valleys that use mirrors to reflect sunlight into town during the darkest weeks
  
• Viking Age solstice celebrations and the festival of Jul
  
• How pagan traditions blended into Christian and modern Christmas customs
  
• Why candles and stars fill Norwegian windows every December
  
• The Nisse – his origins, role, and common misunderstandings
  
• Norwegian Christmas Eve traditions and the slow rhythm of the season
  
• Why the weeks leading up to Christmas often matter more than Christmas Day itself
  
• A quiet Icelandic tradition of books, chocolate, and reading on Christmas Eve
  

This is a reflective, story-rich episode about culture, history, and the return of the light – with knitting as a quiet companion rather than the main focus.

Link to transcript and shownotes

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Anne's Norwegian Knitting Conversations
00:40 Introduction to the Episode: The Darkness
01:06 Winter Solstice in Norway
01:45 The Concept of 'Don' and Heavy Water
03:14 The Story of Heavy Water Sabotage
05:24 Mirrors Reflecting Sunlight in Norwegian Valleys
07:11 Understanding Winter Solstice
08:15 Worldwide Winter Solstice Traditions
08:55 Viking Age Winter Solstice Celebrations
11:33 Christianity and Modern Norwegian Christmas Traditions
11:58 Norwegian Christmas Lights and Decorations
15:56 Christianity's Influence on Viking Traditions
16:17 The Origins and Characteristics of the Nisa
17:13 Nisa's Role on the Farm and Winter Solstice Traditions
18:35 Modern Interpretations and Misconceptions of the Nisa
21:49 Norwegian Christmas Traditions and Observations
23:49 Christmas Eve Celebrations in Norway
27:32 The Joy of Preparing for Christmas
30:11 Icelandic Christmas Traditions and Final Thought