13. Nov 2019
Varme hjerter i kalde landskap
As winter approaches, Trøndelag shows the richness of its diversity: from wind-whipped seas to its vast, snow-clad, upland moors. Nature and culture combine to create a memorable experience for the visitor. There is always something going on. Winter in Trøndelag may chill the bones, but it will certainly melt the heart.
In December, there are several different Christmas markets to enjoy.
Røros Christmas Market, 5 – 8 December 2019
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Røros was once an important mining town. Today, you can take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered streets of this charming 17th century town, drawing admiring glances from the visiting crowds. Afterwards, you can warm up with a steaming glass of gløgg, Norway’s traditional hot, spiced toddy. You will have plenty of opportunities to complete your Christmas shopping even if you only stay a day or two. And it is easy to reach Røros by plane, train or bus.
Trondheim Christmas Market, 6 – 21 December 2019
Trondheim’s Christmas Market, featuring 75 stalls and 100 cultural events, lasts for a full two weeks. Trøndelag’s capital city is not only a great place to shop, it also has several award-winning restaurants for those looking for a gourmet experience.
https://julemarkedet-trondheim.no/
Christmas Time Again at Stiklestad, 7 – 8 December 2019
Winter is here at last
That lovely, cold time is here again. The whole of Trøndelag lies beneath a blanket of crisp, white snow that scintillates with the glow of countless Advent and Christmas tree lights. And at Stiklestad, you will find all the traditional Christmas atmosphere you could want this weekend.
Thousands of visitors make their way to Stiklestad to enjoy this festive pre-Christmas weekend. Christmas Time Again has been staged every year at Stiklestad since the late 1980s. Here, you can experience the atmosphere that is created when hundreds of flaming torches are lit and every house twinkles with Christmas lights.
During the Christmas Time Again event, the museum houses spring back to life, with Christmas preparations underway in every yard. Children can try their hand at traditional skills, like candle dipping and whittling, or make their own Christmas decorations. The programme also includes several popular storytelling sessions for children.
The traditional slaughter of the Christmas pig will take place, too, though this year it has been moved to the medieval farm Stiklastadir. In addition, over 40 producers of local foods, arts and crafts will attend the event to show off and sell their wares.
Highlighting the local community’s stories about feast days
This autumn, over 50 local people have worked with staff from the Stiklestad National Culture Center to answer the question: “What really makes a feast day for you?” The result is a thought-provoking exhibition that fills the first floor of Molåna during the Christmas Time Again event. The exhibition is entitled “Our Feast Days”. What do feast days mean for us? What expectations do they arouse? What emotions do they provoke?
Over 30 Advent calendars tell just as many pre-Christmas stories. Seven tables laid for a feast tell of a family get-together, Christmas for two, Christmas at work, Christmas under the shadow of substance abuse and Christmas in jail. Nine display cases show nine different interpretations of what a feast day can be, including a harvest festival, historic commemoration, a Pride parade and the day you learn you will not be deported from Norway this year. A film has captured various emotions linked to feast days, ranging from joy to sorrow; from excitement to indifference. The exhibition is wide-ranging in its scope. “Our Feast Days” highlights the diversity of personal stories to be found in every local community. The exhibition is also open to the public in the week following Christmas Time Again.
Christmas Time Again takes place at Stiklestad, 7 and 8 December.
Dog sledding
Wintertime is more fun outdoors! In Røros, you can drive your own dog sled on well-prepared trails and with experienced dog sledders to keep you safe and sound. You can also borrow the clothing you need to stay warm as you drive.
The Femund Race, 31 January – 5 February
In early February, the world’s longest dog sled race starts and finishes in Røros. The course of the Femund Race winds through the counties of Trøndelag and Hedmark, and the event has several different classes. The race starts in Røros’s Kjerkgata, where you can see the world’s best mushers and their teams at close quarters. You can also buy a package deal that allows you to experience the Femund Race from the inside.
Røros Winter Fair, 18 – 22 February 2020
This is an authentic market fair, with over 250 stalls filling Røros town centre and attracting more than 70,000 visitors every year. The Røros Winter Fair has been held since 1854, making it one of Norway’s oldest surviving open-air markets. Today, it is an event that preserves the region’s cultural heritage through the sale of local foods and traditional arts and crafts, the street atmosphere, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and much, much more besides.
http://rorosmartnan.no/rorosmartnan/
Classical music in the snow, 12 – 15 March
Røros’s Winter Music Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019. In March, you will have the chance to experience the very best classical music – high in the snowy mountains. The programme ranges from chamber music performed in intimate venues to splendid orchestral concerts played at the town’s iconic parish church, also known as “Bergstadens Ziir”