17 June marks the ancient celebration of St Botolph. Although he may not be that well known his legacy lives on and for those of us following Nordic traditions it's a day worth remembering.

Midsummer is a time of endless celebration, long days and beautiful weather. The midsummer celebration in the Nordics is a special event with friends and family and of course delicious food.

Few Nordic traditions capture the connection between history, nature and seasonal living quite like the ancient primstav. In this article, I explore St Columba's Day, a special date on the Nordic runic calendar marked by the symbol of a salmon. Discover the story of the Irish saint who travelled to Scotland, the legends that link him to salmon, and how this centuries-old tradition continues to echo through modern Nordic life.

Discover how Nordic Epiphany traditions blend ancient folklore with cosy winter rituals. From star-singing processions in Sweden to Norway’s candlelit blessings and Finland’s icy dips for renewal, these customs celebrate light, community, and hope. Explore the cultural roots that make Epiphany a uniquely meaningful winter celebration across the North.

13 December is a special day in the Nordics. It's a celebration of St Lucia with singing, small parades and special food. It's a moment of joy and light in one of the darkest days of the year.

Christmas traditions are fun and important to preserve. I invite you for a peek into my life in Norway as I share some of the traditions my Norwegian family and friends love.

November in the Nordics is quiet, dark, and reflective—a month of subtle traditions. From Sweden’s Mårtensgås goose feast to Norway’s candlelit remembrance of the departed, and Finland’s mindful embrace of “pimeä marraskuu,” these customs celebrate light, warmth, and connection. It’s a time to slow down, enjoy cozy moments, and notice the beauty of the season—a gentle, Nordic way to welcome winter.

The primstav might be an ancient calendar, but it is still relevant today and especially for those in the Nordics or with Nordic heritage. It's an important link to the past and a simpler time.

All throughout Scandinavia at midsummer you see bonfires burning. It's a strange time of year to light a fire and it's been done for millennia, but why?

Midsummer in the Nordics is a magical time of year with long days and an abundance of flowers. It's also a time for special celebrations

I don't usually like writing about religious and holy days but in Norway they are entrenched into normal day to day living. It's got nothing to do with the country being religious, because it's most definitely not, but more about tradition. Many of the religious holy days in Norway are included in the primstav (runic calendar) and as it's something I take a keen interest in and have been sharing with you, I feel the need to include as much as possible.

Every country has it's special dish for celebratory days and as you know in the Nordics, a celebration is a perfect excuse to indulge a little bit. What I love about traditional Norwegian food is that it so often follows the seasons and makes the most of whatever is in season at that time. This is something that people have been doing for millennia and the traditional dishes have simply evolved and followed the patterns of the seasons. These days with easy access to exotic

The 14th April is a significant day on the Nordic runic calendar. It's the time to turn to the summer months and look forward to warm days

Eggs benedict is a delicious classic recipe, but this one has a couple of exciting and unexpected Nordic twists.

Fastelavn is a joyful and fun celebration throughout the whole of Scandinavia. It's a time to embrace joy before the start of Lent

One thing I learnt when I first moved to Norway was that people here rally like to celebrate any special day that comes along. This has been going on for many years. Many hundreds of years, in fact. The simple pleasures of celebrating a day and noticing anything significant about it makes daily life much more interesting. Blåsmesse is a saint's day that is marked on 3 February in Norway. It's a day that is special on the Nordic primstav (runic calendar) and I thought it w

The Nordic primstav or calendar stick is a special part of Norwegian culture with important days still marked today

In Norway it seems like each food has its own day of celebration from apples to fårikål. It's a simple way to enjoy seasonal produce.

Midsummer in Scandinavia is magical to say the least and each country celebrates in a slightly different way

Easter is a time for slowing down a little in the Nordics and enjoying the arrival of spring with some more unusual traditions and habits