You probably have heard a lot of things about a country in northern Europe, Norway, and its a little over 5million inhabitants, but learning something new never hurts! We here at Bored Panda gathered some interesting facts about Norway, that you probably didn't know yet, well unless you're from Norwegian yourself. And if you are, don't forget to share some more interesting facts about your country in the comments.
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It is common for members of royal families to be required to only marry people of royal descent. However, King Harald of Norway vowed to never marry at all, if he wasn’t allowed to marry the love of his life, the daughter of a cloth merchant, Sonja Haraldsen. They later married with help of the Government of Norway and she became the Queen of Norway.
There's a king penguin, named Nils Olav residing in Edinburgh's Zoo who was presented the title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King's Guard by the king of Norway.
The world's most expensive gas is found in Norway. Norwegians pay $7.82 for a gallon of gas. In comparison, US citizens pay around $2.99. Norway has significant oil reserves but instead of subsidizing vehicle fuel, the country uses the money elsewhere. For example, to fund free college for its residents.
During the oil crisis in 1973, Norway's King Olav had no problem taking public transport to a ski resort on the car-free weekend and even paid for a ticket. Back then car-free weekends were introduced by the Norwegian government in an effort to make people save gas.
Every year since 1947 Norway's capital city Oslo, has donated a Christmas tree to the people of Britain as a token of gratitude for British support to Norway during the Second World War. The tree is prominently displayed in Trafalgar Square.
While sushi was invented by the Japanese, we only have salmon sushi thanks to Norwegians. In 1980, during an attempt to expand seafood exports, the Norwegian delegation suggested Japanese use salmon in preparing sushi. While it took some time for them to get used to eating raw salmon, the idea eventually stuck and turned into a popular sushi variation.
I LOVE sushi, all sushi. But every time I eat salmon sushi I will be reminded of this post. ~ Thank you Norway!!
Norwegians are among the happiest nations in the world. In 2017 Norway took first place in World Happiness report and the second place in 2018.
Well, technically, there are a few countries that are so close on the World Happiness Index that they keep shuffling among themselves each year - Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Switzerland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Canada...
It's common for Norwegians to leave their babies sleeping outside even if temperatures are as low as 23F (-5C). Parents often leave sleeping children in prams outside cafes as they drink coffee, or balconies because they believe that it's much healthier for them to sleep in the fresh air.
I appreciate the fresh air idea - and clearly there is confidence in knowing their babies stay safe while waiting. I couldn't imagine doing that here - in Canada even, it would be nerve wracking.
Agreed. I see far too often news stories of attempted abductions that are in my own town
Load More Replies...I believe it was a Norwegian tourist who tried that in NYC and people called the police
Yes, I remember; it was in the East Village. The entire city was aghast. The public consensus was, it's all well and good for baby to nap in the fresh air, but not in New York City. At the time, smoking was allowed in bars and restaurants, so we understood where she was coming from, but all she would've had to do was turn her head for a moment and her wee one would have been gone. The police could've handled it better, though.
Load More Replies...I completely agree. I leave my window open or cracked all winter to keep fresh air flowing. I never catch the colds everyone else in my house gets.
not only norway, all baltic countries do that. i was born in november and went straight to sleep in balcony. mom says it was -15C. nobody freezes as there's no bad weather, just bad clothes
It can be because when they dress the babies with 20 kg clothes and they go inside the places,they have to undress the baby because inside is warm, but if baby is sleeping make no sense take of clothes and wake up the baby.
I read of a woman being arrested I think it was in the US for leaving her child outside whilst being it a pub. She was from Denmark and didn't expect it was not allowed in other locations
True ! I remember the the story in the news in Denmark.
Load More Replies...I live on the Atlantic coast of Canada and this was common here about 50 years ago too.
I got really nervous at the 23 number, thinking it was -23, but then if it's just -5 and they're covered in warm stuff - sure.
Why does it make you nervous? The cold isn't bad for you in itself. Norwegian babies sleep outside in far colder temperatures than -5, we just wrap them up warm in clothes and sheepskins etc. ;)
Load More Replies...How is this special for Norway? They do this in Sweden and in most nations too?
There is a difference in "most nations" and "most European nations"....
Load More Replies...Yes when I visited I couldn't believe it! I'm from the US. I'm scared to leave my dog outside unattended people are so crazy.
yeah... the ylaso stealing little kids fromt heir parents andnever returning them back... even when court said they must return the child to their parents they refuse and delaying the time, so then they said the child is already used to his 'new family' and must stay there...
My stepdad is in his 90s and says his mother did the same, here in the US. It was thought to "harden the lungs".
Hardening in the lungs is why people have to carry around oxygen tanks and get lung transplants - you don't want to get that pulmonary fibrosis. I assume that idea was made up by people who didn't really know how lungs work.
Load More Replies...It is in Norway (and the other Baltic/Scandinavian countries doing this)
Load More Replies...Norway may not have a lot of luck in the summer Olympics, but they definitely rock the winter games. They have the most winter Olympic medals, 329 to be exact.
In Norway, you can get a harsher penalty for speeding than, for getting caught with drugs. Norway is probably the only European country where you can go to jail for speeding. 150km/h on a motor road can land you in jail for 18 days.
It is forbidden to die in the small town of Longyearbyen. The town hasn't buried any dead people for 80 years, because bodies can’t decompose in the permafrost. Terminally ill people are flown out of the town to die elsewhere.
Seems like it would be easier for all involved if they just cremated them.
Since 1901 the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony has been held in Oslo, Norway.
I also got to meet King Karl and shake his hand as the only exchange student in Almhult that year
Norway is one of the world's biggest consumers of coffee. Annually, Norwegians consume 9.9 kg coffee per person.
Furniture retailer Ikea names its beds, wardrobes and hall furniture with the names of places in Norway.
There was a funny test where you had to figure if a word was the name of an Ikea item or a metal band. http://ikeaordeath.com/
Famous Voss bottled water comes from the municipal water supply in Iveland, Norway.
Norway's supermarkets only sell beer and cider. To get any other alcoholic beverage you have to visit a specialized store called a Vinmonopolet.
While major cities in Norway have several of these stores, you can only find one in smaller towns, and none in the countryside.
In 1971 Norway abolished life imprisonment. Now the longest possible term in jail they have is 21 years.
Norway's unofficial national dish - Gransiosa frozen pizza. Apparently, Norwegians are huge fans of frozen pizza, they consume around 24 million pans each year.
It probably comes as no surprise that modern skiing was invented by a Norwegian. During the late 19th century Sondre Norheim created a ski design that allowed him to swing and jump with a lower risk of falling. His design inspired the modern skis we use today.
Every Norwegian who owns a TV set has to pay a TV license fee of 2680,56 kr ($318) each year.
You've missed #21 Barnevern ( social services) will kidnap children that are not raised by 'norvegian standards' and will send then to different foster homes, separating brothers and sisters whitout any legal consequences.This mostly affects foreigners and there are hundreds of cases where children reported they have been forbidden to make any contact with their parents.Why is this missing ?
our social services is so underfunded, abused children are sometimes warehoused in hotels, where they have to fend for themselves when they are lucky enough to be removed from homes, or they die at that hands of parents or relatives after signs of abuse have been overlooked. Some few enter group homes or foster homes, where, sadly, they are sometimes mistreated and sometimes find support
Load More Replies...And in the neighbourhood country Sweden we have real funny jokes about these Norwegians ha ha ... :)
And also about Finnish and they're so old and naive that not so funny anymore😂
Load More Replies...I aways wanted to move to Norway,they have such a nice country and beautiful nature...
They have a very strict immigration policy. But if you have something like 200-250.000 euros to be invested in a commercial activity that can bring more jobs to norwegians, you are welcome... ;)
Load More Replies...One of my travel goals is to stay at one of those hotels in Norway with a glass ceiling in your room to see the Northern Lights while in a warm and snug bed, drinking hot chocolate. Because why not?
Not really.. The pizza, the kings marriage, sushi, Olympics, coffee, etc
Load More Replies...I'm reading Bernard Cornwell's 11th novel in his the Last Kingdom series, and watching the series online. This post is all very interesting, as the Danish presence the British Isles is a prominent part of the plot line. Those ancient Danes are our modern Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians! (Those who left to return to the Nordic mainland. Many Danes settled in the British Isles and became part of the fabric of modern Great Britain.)
I have some informations about Norway.... their Barnevernet STEALING CHILDRENS!!!!! http://www.norwaynews.com/czech-mother-ready-to-fight-for-sons-in-norway-trial-begins/ ____ https://www.facebook.com/BarnevernetStealsChildren/posts/maxine-still-isnt-by-her-parents-althoug-parents-won-2-courts-barnevernet-appeal/768386059999654/
Good for you! I only knew a few. But honestly, in a couple days, I’ll probably only know a few again ;)
Load More Replies...I’ve lived all my twenty years in Norway, so sure, probably don’t know sh*t😛
You've missed #21 Barnevern ( social services) will kidnap children that are not raised by 'norvegian standards' and will send then to different foster homes, separating brothers and sisters whitout any legal consequences.This mostly affects foreigners and there are hundreds of cases where children reported they have been forbidden to make any contact with their parents.Why is this missing ?
our social services is so underfunded, abused children are sometimes warehoused in hotels, where they have to fend for themselves when they are lucky enough to be removed from homes, or they die at that hands of parents or relatives after signs of abuse have been overlooked. Some few enter group homes or foster homes, where, sadly, they are sometimes mistreated and sometimes find support
Load More Replies...And in the neighbourhood country Sweden we have real funny jokes about these Norwegians ha ha ... :)
And also about Finnish and they're so old and naive that not so funny anymore😂
Load More Replies...I aways wanted to move to Norway,they have such a nice country and beautiful nature...
They have a very strict immigration policy. But if you have something like 200-250.000 euros to be invested in a commercial activity that can bring more jobs to norwegians, you are welcome... ;)
Load More Replies...One of my travel goals is to stay at one of those hotels in Norway with a glass ceiling in your room to see the Northern Lights while in a warm and snug bed, drinking hot chocolate. Because why not?
Not really.. The pizza, the kings marriage, sushi, Olympics, coffee, etc
Load More Replies...I'm reading Bernard Cornwell's 11th novel in his the Last Kingdom series, and watching the series online. This post is all very interesting, as the Danish presence the British Isles is a prominent part of the plot line. Those ancient Danes are our modern Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians! (Those who left to return to the Nordic mainland. Many Danes settled in the British Isles and became part of the fabric of modern Great Britain.)
I have some informations about Norway.... their Barnevernet STEALING CHILDRENS!!!!! http://www.norwaynews.com/czech-mother-ready-to-fight-for-sons-in-norway-trial-begins/ ____ https://www.facebook.com/BarnevernetStealsChildren/posts/maxine-still-isnt-by-her-parents-althoug-parents-won-2-courts-barnevernet-appeal/768386059999654/
Good for you! I only knew a few. But honestly, in a couple days, I’ll probably only know a few again ;)
Load More Replies...I’ve lived all my twenty years in Norway, so sure, probably don’t know sh*t😛