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Tag: christmas

How to prepare for a vegetarian guest during Christmas

“It can quickly become a lot of hassle,” a food researcher believes. “It’s much easier to have a vegetarian visit than many think," a vegetarian says.

How Norwegians expressed resistance against Nazi occupation using Christmas cards

After red Santa hats were banned in Norway during World War II, many creative Christmas cards appeared.

Christmas stress in the past and now: “We complain much more than my mother's generation”

We have it easier today than before, one researcher believes. Christmas is still demanding and complicated, believes another.

The social gift system is suitable for psychopaths according to researcher

Consider this before accepting an expensive gift.

No gifts, no society: “It's strange how little people know about why we give each other gifts.”

“The exchange of gifts is the glue that holds society together,” one researcher says.

The typical person who loves buying Christmas gifts is an extroverted, self-confident Christian woman who's bad at planning

Who actually enjoys buying Christmas presents?

How cloves from Indonesia and dates from the Middle East became part of Norwegian Christmas food

Cloves, cinnamon, ginger and figs were already being consumed in Norway during the Middle Ages. But these exotic goods probably only became a Christmas tradition at the end of the 19th century.

How drunk are you planning to get at this year's Christmas party?

OPINION: Another round? Find your Christmas party alcohol level before it's too late.

These days we indulge. But in the past, you had to wear ragged clothes and eat bad food in the run-up to Christmas

Even after fasting stopped being a part of the run-up, the idea was still to not treat yourself before Christmas Eve.

In the old days, people used rune staffs like this to count down to Christmas

The rune staff had no dates. Nevertheless, it kept track of many important days throughout the year, especially at Christmastime.

Christmas cards haven't always been cute. Rowdy, drunk Christmas gnomes were a popular motif back in the day.

“Some of the early Christmas cards are quite a bit darker than what we’re used to today,” says research librarian at the National Library in Norway.

Here's how Vikings celebrated Christmas

They drank, and they ate horse meat.

Christmas gift trends: Less jewellery, and ethical gifts not gaining ground

Despite society’s increasing focus on the environment, the tradition of giving each other gifts for Christmas remains deeply embedded in our culture. It’s still rare to give ethical Christmas presents. Granted, jewellery is less likely to glitter under the Christmas tree, while food and drink have become more popular as gifts.