In this publication, All-Holidays.Info covers the following topic: holidays in Norway 2024. We will give the dates of public and unofficial Norwegian holidays, flag days. Let’s tell you how they differ. We will also describe some holidays celebrated exclusively in the Kingdom of Norway.
Holidays in Norway 2024: what they are and how they differ
There are three types of public holidays in Norway: public holidays , flag days and unofficial holidays .
Public holidays are celebrated throughout the country. In 2024, there are 12 such holidays in Norway. 10 of them are official holidays, two are working days. Their dates are determined by the Law on Holidays and festive rest of February 24, 1995. Many public holidays coincide with flag days.
Flag days in Norway are tied to religious, historical or political significant dates. Also, the days of the flag are the birthdays of members of the royal family. On these dates, all state institutions raise the Norwegian flag. Local residents are also encouraged to hang flags on their homes.
Fun fact: Norway usually has 15 flag days a year. But every 4 years, another one is added – the day of parliamentary elections. The last time was in 2021. The next extra flag day will be in 2025.
Unofficial holidays can be religious, historical, international and local. On these dates, residents of Norway have a normal working day. But local governments often hold events dedicated to unofficial holidays.
Below we have listed the holidays in Norway 2024. For convenience, they are placed in chronological order by month. Public Norwegian holidays 2024 are in bold. The description indicates whether a public holiday is considered a working day or a non-working day (according to the Law on Holidays and Public Holidays).
January
January 1, 2024 – New Year (Flag Day), public holiday (non-working day).
January 17, 2024 – Pig Day.
21 January 2024 – HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra (b. 2004) (Flag Day).
February
February 6, 2024 – Day of the Sami people (flag day).
February 10, 2024 – Mother’s Day.
February 14, 2024 – Valentine’s Day.
February 21, 2024 – His Majesty King Harald V (b. 1937) (flag day).
How is Valentine’s Day celebrated in Norway?
Valentine’s Day, also known as “Alle hjerters dag”, is celebrated on February 14th. In Norway, this is not a public holiday. The celebration is usually low-key compared to other countries. Couples exchange gifts like candy or flowers, but Valentine’s Day isn’t just limited to romantic love. This is also a time for friends and family to express their love and appreciation for each other through small tokens of affection.
March
March 6, 2024 – Fish day.
March 8, 2024 – International Women’s Day.
March 22, 2024 – World Water Day.
March 24, 2024 – Palm Sunday.
March 25, 2024 is Big Waffle Day.
March 28, 2024 – Maundy Thursday, Maundy Thursday, public holiday (non-working day).
March 29, 2024 – Good Friday, Good Friday, public holiday (non-working day).
March 31, 2024 – Easter Sunday (Flag Day), public holiday (non-working day).
April
April 1, 2024 – Easter Monday, public holiday (non-working day).
April 8, 2024 – Cake Day.
May
May 1, 2024 – Labor Day (flag day), public holiday (working day).
May 8, 2024 – Liberation Day 1945 (flag day).
May 9, 2024 – Ascension, public holiday (non-working day).
May 11, 2024 – First BBQ day of the year.
May 17, 2024 – Constitution Day (Flag Day), public holiday (working day).
May 19, 2024 – Trinity (Flag Day), public holiday (non-working day).
May 20, 2024 – Trinity Monday, public holiday (non-working day).
June
June 1, 2024 is World Milk Day.
June 7, 2024 – The collapse of the Union 1905 (flag day).
June 8, 2024 – Seafood Day.
June 21, 2024 – School Bread Day.
June 23, 2024 – Summer Solstice.
The collapse of the Union 1905
This day marks the dissolution of the political union between Norway and Sweden, which was established in 1814 after the separation of Norway from Denmark. The collapse of the union ended on June 7, 1905 with the adoption of a resolution declaring that Norway would henceforth be a sovereign and independent state. This significant event is celebrated every year throughout Norway.
School Bread Day
School Bread Day, also known as Skolebrød, is an annual event in Norway where schoolchildren are treated to legendary pastries. Skolebrød is a sweet bun stuffed with vanilla custard and coconut flakes. The tradition dates back to the 1950s, when bakeries across the country began selling these pastries to schoolchildren during lunchtime.
July
July 4, 2024 – Her Majesty Queen Sonja (b. 1937) (flag day).
20 July 2024 – HRH Crown Prince Haakon (born 1973) (Flag Day)
July 29, 2024 – Olsok (Olaf’s Wake, Olaf’s Vigil).
What do Norwegians celebrate on Olsok holiday?
Olsok Day is dedicated to the life of Saint Olaf, the patron saint of Norway. He was known for his successful efforts to unite the country under Christianity during the medieval period. On Olsok Day, Norwegians participate in various activities such as traditional processions and church services.
In Trondheim, the city where the tomb of St. Olaf is located, there is a grand parade with platforms and orchestras. On this day, it is customary to have picnics with family and friends. On July 29, many Norwegians make pilgrimages to important religious sites across the country.
August
19 August 2024 – Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit (b. 1973) (Flag Day).
September
September 4, 2024 is International Bacon Day.
September 24, 2024 – Norwegian Apple Day.
September 25, 2024 is World School Milk Day.
September 26, 2024 – Foricol Day.
What is foricol?
Forikol is a traditional Norwegian dish. It is lamb stewed with cabbage and black pepper, sometimes with the addition of wheat flour. In many countries it is called “lamb in Norwegian”.
October
October 2, 2024 – Potato Day.
October 2, 2024 – Lutefisk season begins.
October 4, 2024 is Cinnamon Bun Day.
October 11, 2024 is World Egg Day.
October 16, 2024 is World Food Day.
October 16, 2024 is World Bread Day.
October 23, 2024 – Porridge Day.
October 25, 2024 – Cheese Day.
October 31, 2024 – Halloween.
What is lutefisk?
Lutefisk is a traditional Scandinavian dish consisting of dried fish, usually cod. It is soaked in alkali for several days. The lye breaks down the proteins and turns her fish into a jelly-like substance with a characteristic pungent aroma. Then it is thoroughly washed with water, boiled or baked. Lutefisk is usually served with boiled potatoes, peas or bacon.
November
November 1, 2024 – All Saints’ Day.
November 10, 2024 – Father’s Day.
November 11, 2024 – Saint Martin’s Day.
November 28, 2024 – Thanksgiving Day.
December
December 13, 2024 – Saint Lucia’s Day.
December 25, 2024 – Christmas (Flag Day), public holiday (non-working day).
December 26, 2024 – Boxing Day, second day of Christmas, public holiday (non-working day).
December 31, 2024 – New Year’s Eve.
Who is Saint Lucy?
Saint Lucia is a revered saint in Norway. According to Norwegian folklore, Saint Lucy was a brave and kind-hearted martyr who lived in Syracuse in the late third and early fourth century AD. She dedicated herself to spreading Christianity in Sicily, which eventually led to her tragic death after being persecuted by the emperor Diocletian.
It is believed that Saint Lucia appears in one form or another to bring light and hope to people during the long winter nights in Norway. She is traditionally considered the protector of peasants, blind girls, glaziers, coachmen, seamstresses, notaries, school watchmen, saddlers, tailors, clerks, porters, weavers, penitents. Now the Feast of Saint Lucy on December 13 marks the beginning of the Christmas holidays for Norwegians.
Number of working days and hours in Norway in 2024 by month
January – 22 days, 176 hours.
February – 21 days, 168 hours.
March – 19 days, 152 hours.
April – 21 days, 168 hours.
May – 21 days, 168 hours.
June – 20 days, 160 hours.
July – 23 days, 184 hours.
August – 22 days, 176 hours.
September – 21 days, 168 hours.
October – 23 days, 184 hours.
November – 21 days, 168 hours.
December – 20 days, 160 hours.
There are 254 official working days in Norway in 2024. They amount to 2032 working hours (with an 8-hour working day).
Holidays and flag days 2024 in Norway (calendar)
Holidays in Norway 2024. Designations: red – public holidays, yellow – flag days.
In this publication, we talked about the holidays in Norway 2024. We gave the exact dates of public and unofficial holidays, non-working days, flag days. We hope you have found the information you are interested in. On All-Holidays.Info you will find more articles about holidays and school holidays in different countries. Don’t forget to share this post with your friends!
