Norway Dates and Calendars

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Norway

Dates and Calendars

Online Resources

• Norway Feast Day Calendars
  • See also Genealogical Feast Day Calendars

Background

Pre-11th Century

• Runic Calendars: Like their Scandinavian neighbors, early Norwegians used runic calendars based on lunar cycles and agricultural seasons. These calendars, often carved on wood, served both practical and religious purposes.
• Influence from Abroad: Contact with European traders and missionaries introduced the Julian calendar, a solar calendar with 12 months. However, its adoption in Norway was gradual and regional, often coexisting with older runic systems.

Christianization and the Julian Calendar (11th-18th Centuries)

• Christian Conversion (10th-11th Centuries): With the arrival of Christianity, the Julian calendar gained prominence for religious and official purposes. Feast days and saints' days became important markers of time, reflected in detailed church calendars.
• Feast Day Calendars: The church year, with its fixed and movable feast days, became another important timekeeping system. These calendars were regularly used in church records, and some church events were occasionally recorded using feast days, such as "3 søndag før Påske" (the 3rd Sunday before Easter).
• Julian Calendar Discrepancy: Over time, the Julian calendar's slight inaccuracy caused dates to drift from the actual seasons. This discrepancy created pressure for reform, a challenge faced by many European countries.

Adopting the Gregorian Calendar (18th Century)

• Adoption of the Gregorian Calendar (1700): Recognizing the need for accuracy, Denmark (which ruled Norway at the time) adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1700. Norway followed suit, adjusting by omitting 11 days from February. Sunday, 18 February 1700, was followed by Monday, 1 March 1700.
• Challenges and Reluctance: While the Gregorian system offered greater accuracy, its adoption wasn't universally welcomed. Rural regions, particularly those with strong traditional ties, often resisted the change, clinging to older methods for years. Over time, Norway's calendar evolved, incorporating new holidays and observances while refining existing ones. Today, the country uses a standardized version of the Gregorian calendar, similar to most of the world.