Photo from the gingerbread town (Pepperkakebyen)

The (slightly quirky) Bergen Christmas traditions

You probably already know a little bit about Christmas traditions in Norway... But as we all know, Bergen likes to do things a little bit differently to the rest of Norway, and Christmas time is no exception. Here are some of our favourite (uniquely) Bergen Christmas traditions and things to do in Bergen during Christmas..

Festival of Lights

In Bergen, the beginning of Christmas is marked with the Festival of Lights! Families and friends come together to watch the fireworks, sing christmas carols, and watch the Bergen city Christmas tree be lit up.

Pepperkakebyen (aka the world’s largest gingerbread city!)

Every year the people of Bergen come together to create the worlds largest gingerbread city! This year you can view the gingerbread city in Kode Permanenten, Nordahl Bruns gate 9. It is open every day until December 31st (except the 25th of December) .

The Chocolate Tennis Racket

This one might just be our favourite of the Bergen Christmas traditions... the chocolate tennis racket. If you don’t live in Bergen you might never have considered how festive a tennis racket really can be, but spend a christmas here and you’ll discover it really isn’t Christmas without it.

A traditional gift wraped chocolate tennis racket.

Julehuset 

In Bergen, Christmas never ends! At Julehuset, the Christmas shop at Bryggen, you can find beautiful Norwegian Christmas decorations all year round. Normally, the shop has just one floor, but from November, the holiday spirit takes over all three floors! 

Fløyen Advent Candles

On the four Sundays leading up to Christmas a new candle is lit on Fløyen, marking the advent calendar! 

Huge "advent candles" at top of mount Fløien

Christmas tradition with Newcastle 

Did you know Bergen and Newcastle share a special Christmas tradition? For over 70 years (1949–2022), Bergen sent a Christmas tree to Newcastle as a symbol of friendship. While the tree tradition has ended, the festive bond lives on! Every November, delegations from both cities meet, and their mayors exchange handmade ornaments from local artists to decorate each other’s trees. 

Christmas Markets

Usually starting around the middle of November, Bergen has yearly Christmas markets filled with delicious food, handcrafted christmas gifts and lots of Christmas spirit!

Want to read more about Christmas in Norway? We also have a list of Norwegian Christmas traditions here.

Lots of people in the Bergen Christmas Marked.

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