Easter in Norway means three things (religious message aside): chocolate, ski and crime. For many it means a last ski outing before spring comes in and snow starts melting. So many Norwegians head for the mountains (causing big traffic jams on the main access roads in the process) and spend the Easter week on the slopes during the day, and relaxing in their hytte (cabin) in the evening, reading crime novels by the fire, and scoffing chocolate. Not a bad way to wave goodbye to winter if you ask me. But did you know that:

Easter in Norway also marks the beginning of the BBQ season, with the hot-dog reigning supreme: 1,200 tons of sausages are eaten over Easter every year. That’s a lot of pølser!! No proper BBQ to hand? No worries: engangsgrill (a little disposable BBQ that weighs next to nothing and can be packed into pretty much any rucksack) begin to appear in shops around that time of year.

If you’d rather have something a bit more fancy, or if the weather’s not on your side for a grilling session (which might well be the case this year, if the forecast is anything to go by), then there is always lammelår – in everything but name a good old-fashioned lamb roast. Some dishes just seem to reappear in many a culture, and country.

The same applies to Easter eggs (påskeegg), which are of course one of the first things that spring to mind when the word ‘Easter’ is uttered pretty much anywhere, and Norway is no exception. But in Norway there is another contender to the title of Easter chocolate. Kvikk Lunsj (with its ubiquitous red, yellow and green stripy label) is the nation’s favourite chocolate to have på tur (i.e. when out walking or skiing), and that means consumption goes through the roof at Easter.

On the topic of sweets (godteri): Marsipan is also very popular this time of year. In fact in the fortnight before Easter sales increase by around 35%. Nidar, one of the biggest chocolate-manufacturers in Norway, expects to sell 23 million Easter marsipan and chockies this year. Not bad for a country with just over 4.5 million inhabitants!

Boxed wine (pappvin) is another winner over the Easter holiday: cheaper, and more convenient to carry around, it’s a favourite to take to the hytte. In 2009 over 1,850,000 liter of boxed wine were purchased in the run-up to Easter. And unlike some other countries, where boxed wine is a synonym for cheap, rather nasty stuff, in Norway some good quality wine is also available in that format.

Oh, and because I don’t want you to think I’m only interested in food and booze… Klister is another thing that’s associated with Easter (at least if you’re into cross-country skiing). Not familiar with it? Think very sticky gluey stuff (as opposed to hard wax) that one applies to skis when the snow is particularly icy (and yes, it’s a nightmare to get off in case you were wondering). On a more serious note, by the way: Easter, when the mercury starts inching its way back over the zero mark, and the weather turns milder, is also a record time for avalanches (snøskred), so if you’re heading for the mountains, be careful!

Last, but not least: Påskekrim is almost as popular as skiing this time of year, so crime novels get pride of place in bookshops, while crime series are the order of the day on TV. As it happens there are many talented Norwegian crime authors out there, many of whom have been translated into English. Karin Fossum, Jo Nesbø, Anne Holt and Gunar Staalesen are among the most famous, although there are others. So you’re in luck if you want to follow the Norwegian tradition and get your teeth into a good detective story (OK, OK, and maybe a chocolate bar or two too!). For more on these authors check www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/01/top-5-norwegian-crime-writers/

God Påske alle sammen! (Happy Easter everybody!)