Eastern Norway - People, Culture and Folklore

People, Culture and Folklore

The Norwegian dialects spoken in the south-east share a common intonation, but there is some variation in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The dialects of the interior mountainous areas (Hedmark, Oppland, and interior parts of Buskerud and Telemark) are all distinct and some are even hard for other Norwegians to understand. The dialects of the coastal areas (Telemark, Vestfold, Akershus, Buskerud, Oslo and Østfold) are more similar to the written language (bokmål).

The eastern forests of Finnskogen were the home of an ethnic minority, immigrants from Finland that came in the 17th c. Their language and culture was preserved into the 20th century, but now only folk tunes and food specialities remain. The southernmost group of Norway's Sami population is to be found in the north-eastern corner, in Engerdal.

The culture of mountain valleys is preserved to a greater degree than the more urbanized metropolitan areas. The area is distinguished with traditional architecture (stavkirke, lafting), folk music and food. Some are concerned for the loss of local culture in the face of modernization. Especially in the ski resorts in the mountain is transformed by the people from the cities, with increased building of shops, hotels and vacation houses.

The coastal region is densely populated both by Norwegian and European standards. This region was the early industrialized. Traditionally the biggest export was timber and shipping, now employment in the industrial sector is in decline and most people are working in service oriented companies. The coastal area is varied, from the metropolitan Oslo to the more quiet and idyllic old maritime city of Drøbak, and the oldest city in Norway, Tønsberg

Oslo, the capital of Norway, has attracted people from all over Norway. Most of the immigrants settle here as well. There are numerous mosques, Hindu shrines, Sikh temples, and Buddhist temples, giving Oslo a cosmopolitan feel.