Norwegian Customs of the Past and Present
Norway is a country that is located in Northern Europe. One of the many things that this country is known for is its customs. Norwegians greet other people with a smile, firm handshake and direct eye-contact. They also shake hands with people that they meet for the first time and when they say good-bye. Norwegians also have a custom of bringing a gift when they go to someone else’s home. They also do not believe in giving carnations or flowers because they are used at funerals. Norwegians do not send out formal invitations, but use word of mouth to get the news of an event across.
At parties, Norwegians always make toasts with alcoholic beverages, but not with beer. After making the toast, woman are required to put down their glasses. Norwegians have a custom of eating everything with utensils and that includes sandwiches. When a person finishes eating, he or she is required to put the fork down across his or her plate. Other Norwegian customs include being negotiable, maintaining eye contact while speaking and not interrupting others while they are speaking. Respect is also highly valued in this culture and women are treated better in this country than they are in many other countries.