Easter In Norway

I am approaching the end of Easter week in Norway. Easter week in Norway is a big deal, at a minimum for the number of days off. In general, the official days off are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and the Monday after Easter. A larger number of Norwegians add in a few days of holiday (vacation) and use it as an opportunity to get away for over a week. For many Norwegians they spend this week at their cabins in the mountains. My interactions with Norwegians and their cabins reminds me of Minnesotans and their summer lake cabins. It seems that many families have a cabin and it is the go-to escape whenever there is the opportunity. For Norwegians, going to their cabins in the mountains is also likely their last opportunity to get in cross country skiing before the final changeover to spring, and then summer. It is also an opportunity for families to escape to warmer climates for the Easter week. I was told by at least a half-dozen people, during the week leading up to the break, that I needed to plan ahead with groceries as everything will be closed. A few of them shared stories of how they learned their lesson the hard way and it got dicey to get through the long weekend with the stores closed. I followed their recommendations and I had my grocery shopping done by Wednesday. I have seen an occasional store open throughout the weekend, although it is worth pointing out that I live in the touristy harbor area rather than the suburbs servicing locals.

I had originally planned to use the week before Easter as one of my opportunities to travel around Norway and to experience other parts of Norway during my 3+ month visit. Unfortunately, those plans never came together as I had hoped. The Easter trip falling apart coincided with me feeling very far behind in my research project and a sense that it was best for me to not take a full week away from the office. I did prioritize an overnight trip to the Sognefjord region to explore parts of the Western Fjords of Norway. I did a one-day car rental, starting on Thursday. I planned my day to line up with an amazing weather day. Thursday was the second-best weather day that I’ve seen in all of my time in and around Bergen. It was sunny, without a cloud in the sky, and temperatures in the low-40s. I drove approximately 2-1/2 hours north to the Sognefjord. Once I took the ferry, for the E39 highway, across the fjord to Lavik, I started driving around exploring the region. It was spectacular. The mountains had a dusting of snow on their tops from the weather over the preceding week, as well as lingering snow from the winter. I decided to drive along the Dalsfjorden, which is a smallish fjord north of the Sognefjord. I would stop to take photos whenever I felt I had a picturesque view, which was all of the time.  I also found a nice four-mile hike to get out on a trail. I stayed night at a hotel in Lavik and returned to Bergen in time to get the car rental back the next day. It was only a 24-hour escape, but it was fabulous.

This morning I attended an Easter service at Mariakirken (St. Mary’s Church), which is a church built in the 12th century. It is considered to be the oldest building in Bergen. I have attended church at Mariakirken a few times during my visit to attend the Bergen Anglican Church. The Anglican church has what is the only weekly English-speaking church that I have found in Bergen. Today was different as it was a joint service with the Bergen Anglican Church and the local Church of Norway. (The Church of Norway is a Lutheran evangelical church, and it is considered the state church of Norway.) The service was done in a mixture of English and Norwegian. It was a truly unique Easter service. I was very happy that I was able to include it as a part of my 3+ month visit to Norway.

I have been posting additional photos to Instagram. Feel free to check them out at @megawx.