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

Simple, traditional and warming, Norwegian Jerusalem artichoke soup is quick and easy to make

Norwegians certainly know how to celebrate. Birthdays are organised in a special way, but we can do the same wherever we are in the world.

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

February is such a romantic sounding month. It has the promise of an early spring, longer days and the romance of Valentine's Day. In the Nordics Valentines Day is not celebrated as much as elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world. It's marked but in a very understated way and there is no exchange of cards and gifts in schools for example. We do, however, celebrate some other days and in true Nordic fashion these are not allowed to go unnoticed or without cake and a

Motti is a very traditional dish from Finnskog in Norway. It is a combination of Finnish and Norwegian food culture from a uni region

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

Enjoying winter also means being healthy through it regardless of the weather. Let's look at how Nordic people embrace winter wellness

Norwegian pancakes are the ultimate in Nordic comfort food. This 4 ingredient recipe is what you need for a typical Norwegian warming dish

Oslo is a beautiful city to visit at any time of year with an abundance of culture, history and green space. It's small but mighty

Life is not perfect and you don't need to be either. Despite what we see on social media you are enough as you are. Let me tell you why

As delicious as gravlaks is on it's own, this mustard sauce really elevates it to something special and memorable

The Icelandic legend of the yule cat is not the cosy Christmas fireside tale you might hope for. It's a piece of scary Nordic noir

I know that as soon as I mention Christmas in the Nordics it conjures up a picture of snow-covered wooden houses, long evenings, crisp days and the smell of candles, gingerbread and gløgg in the winter air. In fact something very much like a fairytale Christmas market, that goes on for a month and ends in a magical Christmas celebration that will linger on in the memory for years to come. And would you believe me if I told you that much of a Norwegian Christmas is exactly th

Sjokolademousse med polkagris is a simple, luxurious treat What could be a more delicious treat than a smooth and creamy chocolate mousse studded with one of the Sweden's most beloved candies? In the Nordics on Wednesdays we have something called lille lørdag or the simple habit of making the most of the midweek and celebrating having got this far through the week. I like to make a little treat for Wednesdays and glasses of slightly decadent chocolate mousse are definitely

I've noticed a move in recent years from the shiny plastic, glittery Christmas decorations to the more natural, simple, Nordic style. It's a style of decorating that is so typically of Scandinavia, known for its charm, simplicity, and warmth. This approach combines minimalism with cosy elements, offering a refreshing break from traditional holiday decorations and a reminder to keep things simple. Most Nordic homes have fairly natural decor in very muted colours Yes, admit

Lagom, how to have not too little, but not too much. The Swedes seem to do it effortlessly, and so can you wherver you are in the world

Welcome to the cosiest of cosy months in the Nordics. December is all about Christmas, snow and cosiness.

Silppu or silpo is a traditional dish from Finnskogen in Norway. Bacon, potatoes, onion and milk are cooked together for best comfort food.

The beautiful art of rosemaling is so typically Norwegian. This unique style of painting on wood has a rich and exciting history