FACTS

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Area (only Total) total: 323,802 sq km

Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Population: 4,644,457 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Bokmal Norwegian

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital (Name): Oslo

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

March 21 Good Friday

March 23 Easter

March 24 Easter Monday

May 1 May Day

May 1 Ascension

May 11 Whit Sunday (Pentecost)

May 12 Whit Monday

May 17 Constitution Day

December 24 Christmas Eve (Half day from 12 noon)

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 Boxing Day

December 31 New Year's Eve (Half day from 12 noon)

1The Constitution was signed at Eidsvoll in 1814 (Norway remained united with Sweden until 1905)

Non-Holiday Observances

February 2nd Sunday Mother’s Day

February 21 Birthday of King Harald V

May 8 Liberation day (Liberation from Germany after WW2)

June 7 Union Dissolution (Norway gains independence from Sweden, 1905)

June 23 Midsummer's Eve

July 4 Birthday of Queen Sonja

July 20 Birthday of Crown Prince Haakon

July 29 St.Olav's Day

September 22 Birthday of Princess Martha Louise

November 2nd Sunday Fathers' Day

You should know:

Many Norwegians take holidays during the week from Palm Sunday to Easter Monday, so it may be difficult to do business during that time.

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday