And while Norway awaits the return of the sun, further south, Paris creates its own light. Included are 14 complete live concert performances of music. Fixed iFrame Width: in pixels px Height: in pixels px. Every good child knows the Julenisse is coming with an exciting reward. Seasonal treats are saffron buns, rice porridge, and marzipan cake. For a little extra holiday cheer, join Rick for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. (6½ min). From England to Wales, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, you'll see the bright Christmas markets, hear local choirs, share holiday traditions with families...and even play in the snow. … The child who discovers it wins a… marzipan pig. Watch the full episode without commentary: European Christmas The children have baked the traditional Santa Lucia saffron buns - the same ones these seniors baked when they were kindergarteners. Norway Travel Guide by Rick Steves For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, see our FAQ . Join Rick Steves for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. keywords Available on DVD, you get the beautifully filmed, hour-long "Rick Steves' European Christmas" PBS-TV special — plus 45 minutes of content you won't find in the TV version, including full-length choir performances, Pope John Paul II's last midnight Christmas Mass, interview … Jule Ol or Christmas beer also goes back to medieval times when the Vikings liked to celebrate the winter solstice with a particularly stout brew. Being Norwegian, I admit that I was biased…and Norway was destined to make the cut. Christianity Here, in the heart of the old town near the magnificent medieval Abbey, Bath hosts an annual Christmas Market. All over Nordic Europe, little candle-bearing Santa Lucias are bringing light to the middle of winter and the promise of the return of summer. In comes a procession of girls, led by a young girl dressed as Saint Lucy (the Lussibrud, or Lucy bride), with a white robe, a crown of lights on her head, and a candle in her hand. Carols are a deeply ingrained part of the English Christmas tradition. Norwegians celebrate St. Lucia Day on December 13, when candle-bearing girls bring light to church concerts, and candles flicker in cemeteries to remember loved ones. From Norway to Rome...we're celebrating Christmas all over the Continent. It's reminiscent of the old days when a peasant family's wealth was tied up in its precious pig. Food In Norway, as in the rest of Europe, pagan symbols - like the evergreen tree - survive disguised as Christmas traditions. Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Norway. Published by: Gabe (Rick Steves' Europe) To learn more about European Christmas celebrations and how many contemporary Christmas traditions came to be, please join Rick in an exploration of Christmas in Europe by following along with this playlist. The old Aker church, which dates back to the 12th century, hosts the Norwegian Girls Choir for an Advent concert. In writing the script for the special, I had to choose which countries would “make the cut.” I could fit only seven into the mix. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, For scenes straight out of a box of old-fashioned Christmas cards, we head to England — to the city of Bath. Then comes the Feast of St. Nicholas is on December 6th, Santa Lucia day is on the 13th. Christmas in Oslo feels low key. Norway. These mischievous elves-from-the-forest visit each Christmas not on reindeer… but with a horse, pig and mouse entourage… and a bag of gifts. And all over Norway, communities gather together in churches just like this as choirs cap Santa Lucia day with a concert. European Christmas. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | The Christmas season in Europe stretches for well over a month - not to maximize shopping season but to fit in the season's many holy days: Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas Eve. It's streaming, on demand, for free! In Norway, as in the rest of Europe, pagan symbols - like the evergreen tree - survive disguised as Christmas traditions. While I grew up leaving Santa Claus milk and cookies by the fire place, the kids here leave a bowl of porridge out by the barn… for the Julenisse. A common theme across cultures is a legendary gift giver - not always fat and jolly — who kids butter up with treats. Youthful voices fill the city's oldest church. It's Santa Lucia Day… December 13th — one of the darkest days of winter — and an important part of the Scandinavian Christmas season. Contemporary Rick Steves Classroom Europe® is a free online video library for teachers, students, and parents. From England to Wales, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, you'll see the bright Christmas markets, hear local choirs, share holiday traditions with families, and even play in the snow. To celebrate the season, I’m sharing clips, extras, and behind-the-scenes notes from Rick Steves’ European Christmas. Created by Rick Steves' Europe Staff Featured Playlist. Taking their cue from Santa Lucia, Norwegians — cozy in their homes — brighten their long dark winters with lots of candles, white lights — you'll never see a colored one — and lots of greenery. The same is true with this sprig of mistletoe. He begins his travels in England, where the From manger scenes and mistletoe to wintry wonderlands, RICK STEVES' EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS celebrates the Christmas season throughout the European continent. Children set out food for gift-bearing elves. Join Rick Steves for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. To celebrate the season, I’m sharing clips, extras and behind-the-scenes notes from Rick Steves’ European Christmas. Storyline Join Rick Steves for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. From England to Wales, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, you'll see the bright Christmas markets, hear local choirs, share holiday traditions with families…and even play in the snow. In Norway, a dozen days before Christmas, Santa Lucia Day is celebrated in family gatherings, churches, schools, day-care centers, nursing homes, and hospitals. "Rick Steve's European Christmas" is a very captivating dvd to watch. The same is true with this sprig of mistletoe. Being Norwegian, I admit that I was biased…and Norway was destined to make the cut. Christmases everywhere come with special meals. In Scandinavia, it's associated with the Viking goddess of love. Create custom playlists with more than 400 educational clips featuring the best of European history, art, culture, and experiences (plus topics beyond Europe) . In Scandinavia, it's associated with the Viking goddess of love. Join Rick Steves for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. (6½ min) Watch the entire hour-long European Christmas special. Candles flicker in grave yards as families remember lost loved ones. You'll find it best not on the streets or in the malls, but in the homes, with friends… and in music. Here in Norway, families treat children to a rice porridge… and it comes with a hidden almond…. This colorful companion book to the "Rick Steves' European Christmas" TV special takes you on a wintertime wander among local holiday celebrations in England, Norway, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. They used it to heal the sick and enhance fertility. And Europeans don't wrap things up on December 25th. From England to Norway, Burgundy to Bavaria, Rome to the top of the Swiss Alps, locals brimming with holiday cheer celebrate Christmas in seven European countries, including a very memorable Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's in Rome. We're in Drobak, about an hour south of Oslo. From England to Wales, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, you'll see the bright Christmas markets, hear local choirs, share holiday traditions with families…and even play in the snow. More info about travel to Europe: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe Christmas Eve is finally here. To celebrate the season, I’m sharing clips, extras and behind-the-scenes notes from Rick Steves’ European Christmas. If the ceremony is in a village church, the finale of the service is not Silent Night but Santa Lucia — the same song popular in Italy but with Norwegian lyrics. For Celtic people, it was a sacred … To celebrate the season, I’m sharing clips, extras and behind-the-scenes notes from Rick Steves’ European Christmas. The TV Special: Experience Christmas with Rick Steves in England, Norway, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland! We'll check back with the Santa Lucias and Julenisse later. And holiday desserts are a big part of Norway's Christmas season: the local Christmas fruitcake called Julekaca and a towering marzipan krenzikaka. Here's a holiday slice of Norway from Rick's European Christmas TV special. Just up the fjord, Norway's capital, Oslo, celebrates Christmas with a more urban charm. Terms of Service | Privacy. All over Europe, people are celebrating in their own unique ways. Filming Christmas in Europe: The story behind the special And as the congregation follows the Santa Lucias out — more light of Christmas spills into this little fjord-side community. Lucia was a fourth-century Sicilian saint who (legend says) helped pe… Today is one of the darkest days of winter — and an important part of the Scandinavian Christmas season: Santa Lucia Day. Buy your Rick Steves' European Christmas Book: Quantity: Add To Cart What's Included. Norwegians need a boost during those weeks when high noon feels like twilight and it’s dark by 4 p.m. A high-“light” of the season is December 13, the feast day of Santa Lucia, the “Queen of Lights” — a tradition which started in Sweden. Religion Rick Steves' European Christmas DVD provides a vivid and authentic portrait of how Europeans celebrate the holiday from England to Norway, Burgundy to Bavaria, and Rome to the top of the Swiss Alps. Join Rick Steves for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. Being Norwegian, I admit that I was biased…and Norway was destined to make the cut. For Celtic people, it was a sacred plant. All over Nordic Europe little candle bearing Santa Lucias are bringing light to the middle of winter and the promise of the return of summer. This home has housed widows and seniors for over 200 years and today the kindergarteners are bringing on the light in more ways than one. From England to Wales, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, you'll see the bright Christmas markets, hear local choirs, share holiday traditions with families…and even play in the snow. As they sing, the children's choir with their leader wearing her crown of candles processes down the aisle and into the night, as if to spread light to the needy community. Christmas Streets are decorated, locals not ready to rely on the Julenisse are out shopping, and good cheer is abundant …. As they sing, the children's choir with their leader wearing her crown of candles processes down the aisle and into the night, as if to spread light to the needy community. For most of us, it's just a handy excuse to steal a little Christmas kiss. Here in small-town Norway, Christmas is celebrated with a unique intimacy and a Scandinavian flair for community. In writing the script for the special, I had to choose which countries would “make the cut.” I could fit only seven into the mix. These processions are led by a young Lucia wearing a crown of lights. From manger scenes and mistletoe to wintry wonderlands, RICK STEVES’ EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS celebrates the Christmas season throughout the European continent. Merry Christmas! In the special, Rick visits friends and families in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal their customs and practices of the holiday season. To celebrate the season, I’m sharing clips, extras and behind-the-scenes notes from Rick Steves’ European Christmas. Christmas in Norway, especially since the advent of electricity, is a festival of light — a promise of longer days and the return of the sun. see our FAQ. Festive Fun: Rick and his crew experienced 12 carol concerts, 11 mugs of Glühwein, 10 living mangers, 9 happy families, 8 Christmas feasts, 7 Euro-cultures, 6 mistletoe kisses, 5 alternative Santas, 4 pounds of weight gain, 3 midnight Masses, 2 exhausted cameramen, and a very merry Christmas for one and all (go ahead, sing it)! All three for just $20 in our Travel Store! The Norwegian spirit of Christmas extends even to the departed. In the special, Rick visits friends and families in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal their customs and practices of the holiday season. Buy the video-book-music gift set. It's streaming, on demand, for free! Posted on: Friday, ... Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal … Watch the entire hour-long European Christmas special. Join Rick Steves for a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe. Monday, December 21 at 9 pm on KRCB TV in the North Bay. Rick Steves’ European Christmas – Monday, December 7 at 9:30 pm. ... Rick Steves' Europe. In writing the script for the special, I had to choose which countries would “make the cut.” I could fit only seven into the mix. Written by Rick Steves The custom goes back to Shakespeare's day. While its Norway's self-proclaimed capital of Christmas, Drobak feels like any idyllic town on a fjord. Rick Steves' European Christmas gives viewers a look at sacred, intimate family Christmas traditions. Here's a holiday slice of Norway from Rick's European Christmas TV special. A highlight for our crew was filming the Midnight Mass at the Vatican on Christmas Eve in 2004 — which happened to be Pope John Paul II’s last Christmas.