Photos of the Culture of Norway

The culture of Norway is closely linked to the country’s history and geography. Traditional folk costumes (called Bunad) may be worn in folk dancing, like Springar dances from the Valdres, a traditional district in central, southern Norway. The women working in open-air museums showcasing traditional buildings, like in Lillehammer, also will showcase traditional costumes.

There is a great tradition of sculpture and statues can be seen in most towns. Most impressive is the Vigeland Park in Oslo, a sculpture park with more than 200 nude sculptures by Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943) in bronze, granite and cast iron. Statues of a different kind are those of trolls, mythical beings in Scandinavian folklore, including Norse mythology.

The Sami, the indigenous people of the northern parts of Norway, have a rich culture, with their colourful “gákti” traditional clothing and handicrafts made of reindeer skin. They also have a unique form of vocal music, called “joik” (yolk).